Alcoholism Treatment

"Research shows that even moderate amounts of alcohol can have damaging effects on the developing fetus, including low birth weight and an increased risk for miscarriage."

"Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to suffer employment problems, abuse other drugs, and commit criminal and violent acts once they reach young adulthood, according to a RAND Health study."

"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%."

"U.S. alcohol abuse researchers have discovered that children learn their attitudes about drinking from those around them, especially from their friends, their parents, and from "other adults."

"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 or an alcohol abuse problem."

"Alcoholism research has demonstrated that alcohol affects virtually every organ and system in the body and, in high doses, can cause coma and death."

"Some U.S. researchers claim that developing cost-effective alcoholism intervention and treatment for mandated populations could mean a decrease in alcohol-related problems nationwide."

"Alcoholism treatment protocols need to be targeted at the individual needs of the patient through problem-to-service matching. Such a methodology centers on specialized services for employment, family,psychiatric, or medical problems."

"Some people find that using stress management techniques during their recovery from alcohol problems is helpful. There is little research to show that using stress management techniques can increase a person's long-term chances of staying sober. But you may find that it improves your overall sense of well-being."

"According to alcoholism statistics, in the United States, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic families use 10 times as much sick leave as families where alcohol is not a problem. 80% of these family members state that their ability to perform their work is impaired as a result of living with an alcohol abuser or with an alcoholic."

"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."

"According to the DMV statistical archives, one out of every 130 licensed drivers in the United States has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. One out of 130 doesn't sound like a significant number until you "do the math." If there are 130 million licensed drivers in the U.S., then one million of them have been arrested for "driving under the influence." Is there any wonder why so many alcohol and/or drug related traffic fatalities happen every year in this country?"

"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."

"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 great difficulty regarding alcohol addiction lies in the fact that denial plays a large part in alcoholism. Consequently, alcoholics rarely seek professional help voluntarily."

"Research demonstrates that the great majority of homeless people in the United States have either a drug or alcohol problem or a mental illness and that many homeless people have all three."

"The diagnosis of alcoholism is generally made by reviewing the person's behavior except when the person has symptoms of withdrawal or damage to organs as a result of alcohol consumption."

"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."

"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.

"According to a growing group of substance abuse experts, behavioral and biological explanations of drug abuse need to be given equal weight and integrated with each other if a deeper understanding of the root causes of drug addiction are to be found and more effective treatments are to be developed."

"Many alcoholism rehab facilities provide a full complement of treatment including counseling, doctor prescribed and monitored medications for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, training, education, and alcohol detox. While most of the alcohol abuse centers specialize in out-patient programs, some of them have residential, in-patient programs as well."

"You can help police catch drunken drivers and make the roads safer for everyone. Law enforcement officers can't be everywhere at once but the cooperation of observant and concerned drivers can help them. Call 911 on your cell phone if you observe a driver who appears to be driving while intoxicated."

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, between 1,300 and 8,000 babies are born with fetal alcohol syndrome."

"Since nothing can change what took place in the past, it is hoped that all of the state and federal prisoners who abused drugs and/or alcohol in the past have access to alcoholism and alcohol abuse programs as well as to substance abuse and addiction treatment while they are still in prison."

"Some drinking common sense: If you have stopped your abusive and alcohol dependent drinking behavior, make sure that you seek professional assistance if you feel the desire to drink again. Taking this one step can go a long way in preventing a drinking relapse. Also keep this in mind: most alcoholics relapse at lease once before attaining lasting sobriety. The point: if you do experience a relapse, get immediate medical treatment so that you can once again get on the road to alcohol recovery."

"Research shows that when appropriate treatment is given, and when alcohol addicts follow their prescribed program, alcohol addiction treatment can work."

"Those who are alcohol dependent feel a need to drink consistently in order to feel normal, or to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol dependence can be physical, psychological, or both."

"Recently in some states, another type of 'driving under the influence' has been identified, namely, driving under the combined influence of alcohol and other drugs. Interestingly, the drugs contributing to the impaired condition do not need to be illegal. That is, these "other drugs" can be legal prescriptions or even over-the-counter remedies and treatments."

"Alcohol is perhaps the most sinister of drugs, one that draws a thin, often imperceptible line between social use and addictive use. Alcohol dependent individuals rely on alcohol as an essential facet of their personality. That is, without their alcohol, they simply cannot 'be themselves.'"

"In some areas, part of the DUI school curriculum puts offenders face to face with victims, who tell their painful stories of how a drunk driver changed their lives forever. The idea is that personalizing the pain that drinking and driving can cause might make the offender stop and think before getting behind the wheel after drinking."

"Getting an attorney in hopes of getting a reduced DUI sentence or pleading to a reduced charge is a waste of time and money in many states. The penalties that the judge must impose are mandated by state law. In some states, even first offenders may be facing lengthy license suspensions and a weekend in jail."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research shows that identifying and preventing alcohol abuse problems in youth necessitates different assessment, treatment, and screening methodologies than those that are employed for adults."

"Research has demonstrated that American children who are raised in single-family households are almost twice as likely to experience an alcohol-related problem such as alcohol abuse as compared with children who are raised by both parents in the same household."