Celebrity Support Is Highly Influential
This is compounded by the fact that many high-profile drinks companies or brands are owned or endorsed by pop stars: Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, David Beckham, Blake Shelton, Dan Aykroyd, and Dennis Rodman are just a few of the dozens of celebrities who stand behind an alcohol brand. For a young adult of impressionable age, this is a desirable ideal to be emulated.
Weve seen the same troubling sensibility emerge among teens who want to model their lives after rap artists who glamorize the gangster lifestyle. This often encourages troubling behavior that includes seeking out handguns and objectifying women. Ultimately, the image is not meant to scream do what I do, but to a young mind, it becomes an archetype especially when things might not be so great on the home front.
There is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that when children are exposed to ads for a specific brand, there is greater likelihood that they will drink that brand if and when they have the opportunity. The unfortunate thing is this is not going to change anytime soon.
Finding Treatment For Alcohol Abuse
Understanding what makes someone addicted to alcohol can be the first step in helping a person seek treatment. Depending on how bad their alcohol abuse has been or if medically-assisted alcohol detox will be needed for withdrawal symptoms, entering into a treatment center may be a necessary option. Professional medical staff can assist in the difficult process of withdrawal, making the transition into sobriety less daunting.
Alcohol abuse treatment programs teach people how to move into an alcohol-free lifestyle while teaching them healthy coping strategies. They can simultaneously help treat any co-occurring mental health issues.
Contact The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake if you have questions about treatment or if youre ready to get on the path to recovery and end your addiction to alcohol.
Why Do People Drink Too Much Alcohol
There are many reasons people become addicted to ETOH, but most of them can be traced back to an underlying mental health disorder or issue. People who suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other similar conditions may use alcohol as a form of self-medication, which causes their bodies to become dependent on the drug over time. These individuals will likely need specialized treatment to overcome addiction because they have issues beyond just substance dependence.
Some people drink too much simply out of boredom or social pressure however, these behaviors usually lead down the same path toward addiction if left unchecked. It is essential to realize when youre starting to rely on ethanol for happiness rather than finding ways to solve your problems without using drugs so you dont wind up developing a severe addiction.
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How Does Alcoholism Affect The Brain
Alcohol negatively impacts the brain areas that control balance, memory, speech, and judgment, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other adverse outcomes.
Alcoholism also affects the brains reward center and produces pleasurable sensations when consumed.
Long-term, heavy drinking causes alterations in brain neurons and permanently damages brain processes and functions.
A developing brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. Misuse of alcohol while a fetus is still in utero, or later, during adolescence and early adulthood can alter the brain’s development, resulting in long-lasting changes in brain structure and function.3
ALCOHOL REHAB HELP
How To Get Help For Alcohol Addiction And Substance Abuse
If you or a loved one are drinking a lot of alcohol and think there may be a problem, Caron can help. At Caron, we provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for AUD and substance use disorders . We believe that recovery isnt just possible, its probable. Call today and start healing tomorrow. Were just one call away at 800-854-6023.
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Set Your Drinking Goal
You may decide you dont want to quit drinking entirely, which is fine. So, make an effort to limit how much youll drink, but make sure your limit is not more than one drink a day if youre a woman, or two drinks a day if youre a man. Also, try marking some days in the week when you dont drink at all. It helps.
Behavioral Therapies And Relapse Prevention
After you detox from alcohol, you need to discover the reasons why you use alcohol so you can learn to cope with challenges without substance abuse. Treating alcohol addiction with evidence-based and holistic therapies and building a sober support system are key components of alcohol rehab.
At an addiction treatment center like Footprints to Recovery, youll participate in individual and group counseling. Trained and credentialed addiction professionals will help you identify the role alcohol is playing in your life and why. These often include:
- Poor self-esteem and stress management
Youll engage in specialized behavioral therapies that help you address and better manage these difficulties. Youll also learn healthy coping skills that may prevent relapse after you leave treatment.
Common components of an addiction treatment program include:
- Mental health treatment for dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorders
- Therapeutic models like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy
- Trauma-focused therapies like EMDR
- Holistic therapies like yoga, art therapy, and music therapy
- Introduction to support groups like 12-step groups or SMART Recovery groups
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If A Family Member Was Addicted Will I Become Addicted
The vast majority of children whose parents abuse alcohol or drugs do not grow up to do the same. However, they are at some increased risk for doing so, and there are a number of reasons why. For one, they are exposed to those substances, and exposure during early adolescence may especially influence substance use.
For another, they may inherit whatever genetic or biological vulnerabilities laid the groundwork for a parental addiction. But they may also be more prone to addiction because they suffer from cognitive, emotional, or behavioral problems known to arise in children as a consequence of growing up in a home marked by substance use for example, as children they are at increased risk of neglect, abuse, or a poor quality parent-child relationship.
How Do You Diagnose An Alcohol Use Disorder
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition , there are 11 diagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder. To be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, you must meet at least two of these criteria.
The 11 diagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder are:
1. Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.
2. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use.
3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from alcohol effects.
4. Craving, or a strong urge to drink, is often present.
5. Recurrent drinking leads to a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.
6. Social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use.
7. Alcohol use continues despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol intake.
8. Alcohol ingestion results in recurrent physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses, that occur after drinking has ceased.
9. Tolerance develops to the effects of alcohol, i.e., more alcohol is needed to achieve the desired effect.
10. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drinking is stopped abruptly after a period of heavy drinking.
11. Drinking causes distressful side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
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Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders And Their Treatment
People with alcohol use disorders drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains alcohol problems and how psychologists can help people recover.
Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.
For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a pleasant way to relax. People with alcohol use disorders, however, drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains alcohol problems and how psychologists can help people recover.
What Is Alcohol Poisoning
Consuming too much alcohol, too quickly, can slow your breathing and heart rate, lower your body temperature, and cause confusion, vomiting, seizures, unconsciousness, and even death. Alcohol poisoning can also depress your gag reflex, increasing the risk that if youve passed out you may choke on your own vomit.
If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning
If someone has been binge drinking and is an unconscious or semiconscious state, their breathing is slow, their skin clammy, and theres a powerful odor of alcohol, they may have alcohol poisoning.
- Dont leave them alone to sleep it off.
- Turn the person onto their side to avoid them choking if they vomit.
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Addictive Properties Of Alcohol
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means that consuming alcohol reduces, or inhibits, overall brain activity. The most important way alcohol inhibits brain activity is by increasing signaling by a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid .
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and drugs that increase GABA signaling are used as sedatives, muscle-relaxants, and anti-anxiety medications, among other things. Increased inhibitory signaling in the brain due to alcohol is the reason people who drink excessively slur their speech, have difficulty walking, and suffer memory loss or blackouts.
If a person drinks alcohol often, their brain will adapt to the increased inhibition by increasing excitatory signaling through neurotransmitters like glutamate. The neural activity of glutamate essentially opposes that of GABA and results in a generalized increase in brain cell excitation or firing rate. Such adaptations lead to tolerance in problem drinkersover time, these individuals must drink more and more to experience the same effects from alcohol. This begins a vicious cycle of increased drinking followed by greater tolerance that eventually leads to dependence and addiction.
As alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and travels throughout the body, its effects can be felt almost immediately:
Are Teens Who Drink Alcohol More Likely To Use Drugs
Alcohol use and dependence on alcohol in teens is often linked with increased drug and substance use in the same group of young people.
Teen alcohol and drug use can sometimes be seen to go hand-in-hand. Some young people will try drugs or alcohol on a few occasions and decide that it is not something that they wish to continue. Some teenagers may find that experimenting leaves them with a desire or craving to use again. For some teenagers the psychological and physical craving may lead to continued use, increasing in frequency and amounts despite the negative consequences that result.
The latter group may develop the signs and symptoms associated with Substance Use Disorder . Teens with a history of adverse childhood experiences or traumatic events are seen to be at increased risk of experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which can lead to dependency, with related mental health issues.
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When Your Teen Has A Drinking Problem
Discovering your child is drinking can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. Its important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. Its important that your teen feels you are supportive.
Lay down rules and consequences: Your teen should understand that drinking alcohol comes with specific consequences. But dont make hollow threats or set rules that you cannot enforce.
Monitor your teens activity: Insist on knowing where your teen goes and who they hang out with.
Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Scouts, and after-school clubs.
Talk to your child about underlying issues. Drinking can result from other problems. Is your child having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which is causing stress?
What Are Treatment Options For Alcoholism
Treating alcohol addiction can be complex and challenging. In order for treatment to work, the person with an alcohol addiction must want to get sober. You cant force them to stop drinking if they arent ready. Success depends on the persons desire to get better.
The recovery process for alcoholism is a lifetime commitment. There isnt a quick fix and it involves daily care. For this reason, many people say alcohol addiction is never cured.
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What Causes Alcohol Dependence
Usually, several different factors contribute to someone becoming alcohol dependent.10
The society that you live in plays an important role in how likely you are to develop problems with alcohol. For example, how easily available alcohol is, how much it costs, and pressure from friends, family or colleagues to drink.
And alcohol dependence can run in families. Its partly down to your genes,11 but is also influenced by your familys attitudes to alcohol and the environment you grow up in.
Stressful events, such as bereavement or losing a job, can also trigger heavy drinking in some people, which can then lead to alcohol dependence.
People who are alcohol dependent have higher rates of other mental health problems than the general population particularly depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and drug misuse.12
Often, people drink to try and reduce symptoms , but in the long-term alcohol makes these disorders worse because it interferes with the chemical balance in our brains.
Developing An Alcohol Use Disorder
Because alcohol is addictive, its possible to develop an alcohol use disorder . Some people are more susceptible to developing an AUD if they have:
- a history of mental health issues
- experienced trauma
- a genetic predisposition
- drank at an early age
Others may partake in binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption in order to feel the desired pain killing effects of alcohol.
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Why Is Alcohol Addictive: Signs You May Have A Problem
Casual drinking habits can quickly turn into alcoholism under certain circumstances. The social acceptance of alcohol can mask an alcohol problem for a while. In the early stages of alcohol abuse, you may be able to hide excessive drinking from loved ones, friends, and coworkers, but it becomes harder and harder to hide the problem.
Signs of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction include:
Developing An Alcohol Tolerance
A key sign of alcohol abuse and addiction is developing a tolerance to its effects. Like with other substances, alcohol is addictive and you may be chasing that original drunk.
When your previous amount of alcohol consumption doesnt cut it anymore and you need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to feel drunk, you have a problem.
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When Does Drinking Become A Problem
For most adults, moderate alcohol use no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women and older people is relatively harmless. (A “drink” means 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer, all of which contain 0.5 ounces of alcohol.
Moderate use, however, lies at one end of a range that moves through alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence:
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Alcohol abuse is a drinking pattern that results in significant and recurrent adverse consequences. Alcohol abusers may fail to fulfill major school, work, or family obligations. They may have drinking-related legal problems, such as repeated arrests for driving while intoxicated. They may have relationship problems related to their drinking.
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People with alcoholism technically known as alcohol dependence have lost reliable control of their alcohol use. It doesn’t matter what kind of alcohol someone drinks or even how much: Alcohol-dependent people are often unable to stop drinking once they start. Alcohol dependence is characterized by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms if drinking is suddenly stopped. Withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, sweating, restlessness, irritability, tremors, hallucinations and convulsions.
Although severe alcohol problems get the most public attention, even mild to moderate problems cause substantial damage to individuals, their families and the community.
Cessation Of Alcohol Intake
Medical treatment for alcohol detoxification usually involves administration of a benzodiazepine, in order to ameliorate alcohol withdrawal syndrome‘s adverse impact. The addition of phenobarbital improves outcomes if benzodiazepine administration lacks the usually efficacy, and phenobarbital alone might be an effective treatment.Propofol also might enhance treatment for individuals showing limited therapeutic response to a benzodiazepine. Individuals who are only at risk of mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms can be treated as outpatients. Individuals at risk of a severe withdrawal syndrome as well as those who have significant or acute comorbid conditions can be treated as inpatients. Direct treatment can be followed by a treatment program for alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder to attempt to reduce the risk of relapse. Experiences following alcohol withdrawal, such as depressed mood and anxiety, can take weeks or months to abate while other symptoms persist longer due to persisting neuroadaptations.
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Think About How Alcohol Addiction Has Affected Your Health
Make a list of how binging on alcohol has affected your health. The effects are most likely disrupted sleep, memory loss, digestive issues, increased anxiety, irritability, and depression, as well as constant conflicts with loved ones. Once you realise how far you have lost it in terms of these factors, it will help you become more determined to get help to overcome your addiction.
Physical Factors In Alcoholism
Drinking alcohol triggers the release of natural chemicals in the brain that deliver painkilling benefits and generate feelings of pleasure. Research indicates that there are genetic components involved in how the brains of different people react to alcohol. For a key example, in the brains of some individuals, a greater quantity of pleasure-generating chemicals was released by the introduction of alcohol. That reaction makes those people more vulnerable to physical dependency.
Alcohol consumption can cause physical changes in the brains chemistry and functioning. This is what makes alcohol so addictive. The pleasure and reward areas of the brain are overwhelmed, and the user naturally craves repetition of those experiences of enhanced pleasure.
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