Drug Abuse

"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."

"Regarding alcoholism, the other family members can begin to recover whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. But it can't happen until somebody picks up the telephone and asks for help. There is hope and help out there."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"With or without treatment, one fact is certain: the longer an individual abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober and avoid the negative consequences of alcohol abuse."

"Among Americans age 60 or older, 10 percent of those in the community--and 40 percent of those in nursing homes--fulfill criteria for alcohol abuse."

"Do you fail to inform your doctor that you are a regular drinker? Do you mix alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medicine, drink and drive, or operate machinery after drinking? Do you drink alcohol while you are in charge of the lives of others, especially small children? Are you pregnant or are trying to become pregnant and drink? If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative, you are taking risks with alcohol and more likely than not, you are a problem drinker."

"In the United States, a number of family-oriented interventions have been used to help prevent alcohol abuse. These interventions include the following: family preservation programs, family services, family therapy, family skills training programs, in-home family crisis services, and family education programs."

"According to U.S. research scientists, long-term excessive drinking can lead to pancreatitis (that is, an inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis is associated with severe abdominal pain and excessive weight loss and can result in death."

"According to the alcoholism research literature, alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by people who suddenly stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of repeated and excessive ingestion. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both physical and emotional components."

"Research shows that excessive and hazardous drinking leads to a loss of muscle control. Indeed, at the level of 0.10, slurred speech will likely be evident. Furthermore, poor coordination and impaired judgment are physical effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism that can lead to accidents and falls."

"According to U.S. research, alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both in about half of all homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes."

"The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws have saved 21,887 American lives since the mid-1970s."

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

"According to U.S. research, individuals with alcoholism and drug abusers are at increased risk for HIV/AIDS, as well as other infectious diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, previous studies have found that alcohol use reaches its peak level during and immediately after high school graduation and remains high through the age of 25."

"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."

"According to mental health and substance abuse experts, the finding regarding the relationship between alcoholism and depression and alcoholism is noteworthy because many people, including healthcare practitioners, tend to perceive depression and alcoholism as separate problems, when in fact, they are frequently associated with one another."

"Besides the long-term health problems that can develop, a prolonged use of alcohol can lead to a chemical dependency on alcohol itself, which can bring about a whole set of problems of its own."

"In the U.S., a clear relationship exists between alcohol use and grade point average among college students. Students with grade point averages of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn As."

"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."

"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."

"A lot of individuals swear by one method of alcohol treatment or another. The reality of the situation, however is this: not everyone is the same and what alcohol abuse rehab or treatment for alcohol dependency approach "works" for one individual may not work for someone else. The same sort of logic applies to alcohol abuse centers. That is, the alcohol abuse centers that exist in one locality may be better suited for some problem drinkers whereas the alcohol abuse centers in a nearby community may be more doable for others. Perhaps the key point in all of this is that problem drinkers need professional treatment for alcohol abuse or for alcoholism."

"If you drink to an excess, you may consume more alcohol than your body can metabolize and eliminate. Under these circumstances, the body and the brain may become "overloaded" and result in alcohol poisoning. If the amount of alcohol is great enough, the body and the brain will 'shut down' and the person can die as a result."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research demonstrates the fact that if you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will generate personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns."

"According to U.S. research, what really defines the illness of alcoholism is dependence - the fact that the patient has come to rely on alcohol physically and emotionally in his or her everyday life."

"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."

"Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink."

"Although the term 'addiction' is frequently used in reference to drug or alcohol addiction, it also applies to other compulsions such as obsessive sex, uncontrollable overeating, a neurotic desire for porn, compelling Internet use, uncontrollable gambling, and an obsessive need for love."

"Accepting the fact that help is needed for an alcohol problem may not be easy. But keep in mind that the sooner you get help, the better your chances for a successful recovery."

"Those who are drug dependent feel a need to abuse drugs consistently in order to feel 'normal,' or to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Drug dependence can be physical, psychological, or both."

"Stress and anxiety can be temporarily relieved by drinking alcohol, but this too often leads to repeated intake and dependence."

"An estimated 6.6 million American children under 18 live in households with at least one alcoholic parent."

"According to research, drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause the nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters, or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals, which is needed to shut off the signal between neurons. This disruption produces a greatly amplified message that ultimately disrupts normal communication patterns."