The Four Stages of Alcoholism

"Stress and anxiety can be temporarily relieved by drinking alcohol, but this may lead to repeated intake and dependence."

"Physical alcohol dependence occurs in consistently heavy drinkers. Due to the fact that their bodies have adapted to the presence of alcohol, they suffer alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly quit drinking."

"In one U.S. study, the intoxication rate (.08+ BAC) for male drivers involved in fatal crashes was 25%, compared to 12% for female drivers."

"When it is looked at closely, it can be seen that alcohol abuse can destroy families in a number of different ways. For instance, according to alcoholism research, more than 75% of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been using drugs or had been drinking. Research also demonstrates that 40% of divorced or separated women lived with or were married to an individual who engaged in excessive, abusive drinking."

"The most dangerous stage of alcohol withdrawal is called delirium tremens (DTs). About 5% of people withdrawing from alcohol experience DTs. This condition occurs about 48-72 hours after drinking stops."

"Alcoholism and medical research have discovered that drinking alcohol can be hazardous in smaller amounts if it is consumed along with the following drugs: street drugs such as heroin and opium; sedatives such as tranquilizers and barbiturates; anti-seizure medications such as phenobarbital; and narcotic pain medications such as Codeine, Codeine derivatives, and Darvocet. Not only this, but mixing alcohol and drugs not only compounds the drug and alcohol problems that the abuser experiences, but doing so increases the person's need for professional alcohol and drug treatment."

"Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient detox programs. The important issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used."

"According to the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature, approximately 500 million work days are lost each year to alcoholism in the United States."

"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: a man who drinks this much is abusing alcohol."

"Alcoholism statistics demonstrate that you might think you can quit drinking at any time. Many people who have alcohol problems do quit for periods of days, weeks, or even months before they start drinking again. But unless you can consistently keep your drinking under control and not fall back into unhealthy patterns, you need professional help."

"Stress and anxiety can be temporarily relieved by drinking alcohol, but this may lead to repeated intake and dependence."

"Alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both, in about half of all U.S. homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes, robberies, and incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders."

"Ironically, harmful relationship patterns such as codependency are often continued even after the alcoholic or chemically addicted person becomes 'clean' or sober. Logically, when perceived from the outside, sobriety in the household would seem to lead to a less chaotic domestic living circumstance. When looked at from the inside, however, the co-dependents may be more depressed and unhappy than ever because the earlier balance, no matter how damaging or detrimental, has been upset."

"The substance abuse research literature demonstrates that classical alcoholism takes about 15 years to develop, but it can happen much quicker in adolescents and young adults."

"Several U.S. studies have shown that about half of alcoholics who have successfully undergone detoxification will relapse within 6-12 months."

"Stress and anxiety can be temporarily relieved by drinking alcohol, but this may lead to repeated intake and dependence."

"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: a man who drinks this much is abusing alcohol."

"Telling teens and pre-teens to 'Just Say No' is simply not enough to stop them from drinking. This message neglects the underlying pressures that youth face every day. In fact, this simplistic message not only tends to turn teens off, but it also can become a source of humor for them. Rather than just telling them not to drink, teach them about the harmful effects and about the consequences of underage drinking."

"Fortunately, research is helping to define the barriers that exist in accessing care and achieving recovery from alcohol abuse and alcoholism."

"Recent U.S. alcohol abuse and drunk driving statistics reveal that alcohol-involved crashes accounted for 46 percent of fatal injury crash costs, 21 percent of nonfatal injury crashes, and 10 percent of property-damage-only crash costs during one calendar year."

"According to a 1999 Federal Trade Commission study, alcoholic beverage companies have created more than one hundred internet websites to advertise and promote their products. More than a few of these online advertising efforts have a strong appeal on our youth. For instance, some of these promotional efforts include interactive games and contests."

"Alcoholism research scientists have found that blackouts are experienced among social drinkers much more frequently than previously thought. As a consequence, blackouts need to be perceived as a potential result of acute drunkenness or intoxication no matter what the drinker's age or whether he or she is alcohol dependent."

"The alcohol abuse and alcoholism research shows that as people age, it takes fewer drinks for them to become intoxicated. Moreover, research also shows that up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older people react adversely with alcohol."

"Interestingly, hangovers are generally more common in light to moderate drinkers than heavy and chronic drinkers, suggesting that binge drinking can be as threatening as chronic drinking."

"Research shows that alcoholism tends to run in families. If there has ever been a serious drinking problem in your family, you are at high risk of having a regular drinking pattern turn into an uncontrollable addiction before you realize it. If you do have a family history of excessive drinking, it's advisable to minimize your social drinking."

"Recent U.S. alcohol abuse and drunk driving statistics reveal that alcohol-involved crashes accounted for 46 percent of fatal injury crash costs, 21 percent of nonfatal injury crashes, and 10 percent of property-damage-only crash costs during one calendar year."

"According to a 2003 edition of Pediatrics, children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to exhibit delinquent behavior in both junior high and senior high school, substance abuse, and academic problems. Following these early drinkers until they reached young adulthood revealed that they manifested violent and criminal behavior, they experienced employment difficulties, and ventured into other areas of substance abuse."

"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. A person doesn't reach this stage overnight."

"In one survey that focused on college drinking behavior during a one-month period of time, 27.4% of American college students across the nation had driven a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol during this 30-day time period."

"According to U.S. research, between 48% and 64% of the people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication."

"The substance abuse research literature presents a strong case that the most effective treatment programs for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction incorporate a wide variety of approaches such as doctor prescribed medications, social services and rehabilitation, behavioral therapies, out-patient treatment follow-up, and support groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous."

"Alcohol Addiction research demonstrates that alcohol treatment depends on whether an individual is basically abusing alcohol and not alcohol dependent or if he or she is physically addicted to alcohol. Research shows that most individuals who exhibit alcoholism and chronic and severe alcohol abuse need to totally abstain from alcohol. Alcohol treatment first focuses on the alcohol detox process and on relieving symptoms of withdrawal in a safe environment. After the individual has successfully gone through the alcohol detox and the alcohol withdrawal process, the treatment focus then shifts counseling, education, and training aimed at helping the person stay sober."