Alcoholism Warning Signs

"In one U.S. study, 56% of the students surveyed in grades 5 through 12 said that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink."

"According to the substance abuse research literature, at first, the individual drinks alcohol to reduce emotional or physical pain. After neuroadaptation has caused the brain to adjust to the influx of alcohol, however, the individual drinks not to reduce pain but rather to function on a daily basis. In short, abusing alcohol and drugs change the brain that in turn leads to compulsive and uncontrollable drug abuse and/or drinking."

"Alcohol withdrawal symptoms rarely occur in people who only drink once in a while. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occur in people who have been drinking heavily for weeks or months and then suddenly stop drinking."

"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%."

"Most teens are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, yet more than a few of them ignore these dangers. And many don't seem to recognize the dangers of driving after using illicit drugs such as marijuana. The point: educational efforts need to be targeted to include the dangers of driving while under the influence of drinking and or drugs."

"To help prevent alcohol abuse in children, it's a good idea to begin discussing alcohol use and abuse with kids at an early age and to continue openly communicating about it as they grow older."

"Alcoholism research reveals that alcohol withdrawal symptoms rarely occur in people who only drink once in a while."

"According to the research literature, it is important for drinkers to realize that when they frequently abuse alcohol on a regular basis, they increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic."

"Alcoholism and alcohol abuse research has shown 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 or alcoholism as compared with children who are raised by both parents in the same household."

"According to the 2000 Monitoring the Future study conducted each year for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 22 percent of U.S. 8th graders say they have consumed alcohol, and 8 percent say they have been drunk within the past year."

"In a study undertaken by the Silver Gate Group, it was found that on average, underage drinkers drink more beer and engage in more excessive beer drinking than adult beer drinkers. What is more, underage drinkers consume approximately 10% of all the been that is sold in the U.S. Due to the fact that most underage drinkers are teenagers, these statistics paint a dreary picture concerning alcohol abuse among teens."

"Alcohol detoxification is the process of letting the body rid itself of alcohol while managing the withdrawal symptoms in a harm-free environment. This form of treatment is commonly done under the supervision of a doctor or healthcare professional and is often employed as the first step in an alcohol treatment program."

"Due to increased alcohol-related problems in the schools, some U.S. school systems have started alcohol testing programs that target students who engage in drinking alcohol."

"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."

"You have an alcohol problem if your use of alcohol interferes with your health or daily living. You develop alcoholism if you become physically or psychologically dependent on alcohol."

"According to the alcohol addiction research literature, many, if not most, of the people who become alcohol dependent were abusive drinkers earlier in their lives. This finding shows the fragile and thin line that separates alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction."

"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."

"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."

"It is well-documented in the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction can not only raise havoc in families but that family members, in an effort to 'cope' with the situation, frequently contribute to the continuation of the abusive and hazardous drinking by their 'enabling' behavior."

"It is estimated that 30% of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident sometime during their lives."

"In the U.S., alcohol withdrawal is treated by oral or IV hydration along with medications that reverse the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal."

"Besides the fact that all non-alcoholic beer contains a very small amount of alcohol, there is now evidence that supports the theory that drinking non-alcoholic beer can cause a relapse for some recovering alcoholics."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research demonstrates that low self-esteem and depression make an individual more vulnerable to excessive drinking and alcohol dependency."

"In a relatively wide-spread and extensive study that was undertaken in 38 States and the District of Columbia, the cities and towns with the greatest numbers of drinking establishments such as bars, nightclubs, and taverns, had the highest rates of alcoholism. What an absolute shock! Now really surprise me and tell me that the areas with the highest expenditure for alcohol advertisements also had the highest rates of alcoholism! The bottom line: higher alcohol advertising costs + more drinking establishments = higher rates of alcoholism."

"More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke."

"In the United States during 2004, 16,694 deaths occurred as a result of alcohol-related motor-vehicle accidents. This amount was roughly 39% of all traffic fatalities. This amounts to one alcohol-related death every 31 minutes."

"Substance abuse research demonstrates that teens or young adults entering the workforce or college may be particularly susceptible to peer pressure due to their desire to gain acceptance and make new friendships. This peer pressure and desire for acceptance may lead to increased alcohol consumption."

"An increasing number of studies show that treatment is effective for adolescents with alcohol and drug-related problems, but there are unique challenges to assessing, diagnosing, and treating alcohol problems in young people."

"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 and or alcohol regularly during pregnancy may have trouble concentrating, when they get older."