Alcoholism Information

"As discovered by U.S. researchers, screening for problem drinking and alcoholism needs to become an integral part of the routine health screening questionnaire for adolescents and all adults, particularly women of child-bearing age, because of the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome."

"It is misinformation that abusive drinking is exhibited only by adults. Indeed, according to alcoholism research, there are approximately 3 million teens in the U.S. who are "problem drinkers." This is especially unfortunate because during the teenage years, when the body and emotions are maturing, excessive and abusive drinking can cause irreparable harm."

"Research shows that as people age, it takes fewer drinks to become intoxicated, and organs can be damaged by smaller amounts of alcohol than in younger people. Also, up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older people react adversely with alcohol."

"Over 40 percent of American corporate CEOs who responded to one survey estimated that the use of alcohol and other drugs costs them from 1% to 10% of their payroll."

"The cost of untreated drug and alcohol abuse in the U.S. in a year is estimated at $276 Billion in lost productivity, law enforcement costs, health care and welfare programs. Savings from treatment programs is incalculable."

"The following represents mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly, rapid emotional changes, feeling nervous or jumpy, nightmares, anxiety, irritability, or depression."

"Without adequate attention to the mental health needs of a person with alcohol dependence, little progress will be made."

"Alcoholism research shows that all approaches to alcoholism recovery depend on the desire of the person to get and remain sober. Effective treatment programs enhance this motivation with intervention and therapy."

"According to a report published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, the entertainment industry has glamorized alcohol and rarely shows its damaging and unhealthy effects."

"Alcoholism researchers in one study found that the largest group of alcoholics in the United States are young adults. In fact, twenty percent of these young alcoholics are highly functional and more than half do not have a family history of alcoholism."

"It almost goes without saying that most alcohol dependent people and drug addicts would probably prefer to quit their addictive behavior. Actually doing this successfully, however, has proven to be difficult at best and almost impossible at worst without professional treatment."

"A U.S. study of fifth and sixth-grade students found that those who demonstrated an awareness of beer ads also held more favorable beliefs about drinking and intended to drink more frequently when they grew up."

"Whether a baby's alcohol or drug-caused health problems will continue as the child grows older is not always known. Medical research does show, however, that children born to mothers who used marijuana regularly during pregnancy may have trouble concentrating, when they get older."

"Nearly all alcoholics have a comorbid psychiatric disorder, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders in women and drug abuse and antisocial personality disorders in men."

"Families with drug and alcohol problems commonly have high levels of tension and stress. High-stress family environments are a risk factor for early and dangerous alcohol abuse and substance use, as well as for physical and mental health problems."

"Does drinking strong coffee or taking a cold shower have an effect on the person who is drunk? The answer is yes - the result being an alert, cold, and wet drunk. Time, and only time can sober a person up."

"Although various research studies demonstrate that 40 percent of college freshmen say they binge drink (4 or more drinks on one occasion for females and 5 or more drinks at one sitting for males), a new study has found that up to 20 percent of male students go far beyond the binge-drinking threshold, consuming more than 10 or 15 drinks per drinking session."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research has shown that everyone who experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms needs professional treatment. As a result, alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal should not be done at home and instead need to be undertaken in a medical rehab or treatment facility."

"Drug and alcohol abuse statistics reveal that more than 67% of the funding for drug and alcohol treatment programs comes from public sources. Private insurance pays for about 14% of these services and the patients pay for about 10%."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, school age kids with multiple reasons to drink, including reasons related to coping with life, show the heaviest and most problematic drinking behaviors."

"U.S. research shows that many people do not go to a doctor specifically for alcohol problems but seek treatment for physical conditions (such as cirrhosis) that result from long-term alcohol use. Your doctor might ask you questions about your drinking to help see whether alcohol abuse is the cause of a condition like cirrhosis."

"Many people only think of a 'skid-row bum' when they think of someone with an alcohol problem. This is the end stage of alcohol problems, when a person has lost his or her family, job and health because of alcohol abuse. You don't reach this stage overnight."

"The findings of the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and Addiction demonstrated that, while millions of Americans habitually drink alcohol, swallow prescription drugs, smoke pot, and snort cocaine, a number of drug users who meet or exceed the standards that indicate that they need professional treatment do not realize or accept the fact that they have a drug abuse problem."

"Many people turn to the use of alcohol for pain relief and due to its ability to depress the central nervous system and slow down the brain and the nervous system. As a result, drinking alcohol for many people delivers a certain amount of pain relief."

"Substance abuse research demonstrates the fact that a man who has more than four drinks per occasion or more than 14 drinks per week is drinking too much. Simply stated: this man is abusing alcohol."

"In 2006, an estimated 13.3 percent of U.S. persons aged 12 or older drove under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol at least once in the past year. This percentage has dropped since 2005, when it was 14.1 percent. The 2006 estimate corresponds to 31.7 million persons."

"It seems likely that an individual's genetic background and his or her environmental factors interact with significant developmental stages in her life that will strongly influence her drinking behavior and perhaps make her more or less vulnerable to alcohol abuse and alcoholism."

"People who are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms should not treat these symptoms at home."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, school age kids with multiple reasons to drink, including reasons related to coping with life, show the heaviest and most problematic drinking behaviors."

"The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established procedures for mandatory alcohol testing that require the employment of a standardized breathalyzer. The categories of testing that are allowed by the DOT are the following: random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident."