Alcoholism - Help and Guidance:

Alcoholism is a disease that reaches into almost every home in America either directly or indirectly. With nearly 18 million Americans being addicted to alcohol you can imagine the far reaching effects this disease can pose. Alcohol is a part of the American culture and people freely drink at parties, baseball games, weddings, bars, etc. We have set the legal drinking age to be 21 in the United States, but evidence shows that more and more teenagers are drinking at a younger age. Studies show that middle schoolers are engaging in risky drinking behavior and unfortunately not enough education is being presented to these children in school or at home. Parents and educators need to confront this problem head on and help the next generation realize all the dangers involved with underage drinking - car accidents, teen pregnancy, health related issues, etc. The problem is not only related to those that are drinking underage, many of those that drink legally also have a dependency on alcohol. We all probably have friends, co-workers, or family members that we know are alcoholics since we have seen them at their worst. Unlike other drug use (cocaine, heroin, marijuana), it's hard to diagnose alcoholism since many users don't drink everyday and therefore they say they aren't addicted. With alcohol, it's not a question of using everyday, it's a matter of being able to drink responsibly and not "get drunk".

---

In our society, many of us learn from a young age that when you drink, the whole idea is to get drunk. Teenagers are hardly sipping beer at their parties and college students don't just stop at one drink in bars and fraternity houses. The concept of binge drinking is sweeping across America and no longer are young people thinking of drinking as a casual pasttime with a few drinks, they literally are only interested in "getting drunk". The big problem associated with teenage drinking and even young adults for that matter is their inability to use their best judgement when drinking. Many people will adamantly say "I'm not drunk" or "I want more to drink" and not even realize they are already sloshed out of their minds. You then find them trying to drive home in potentially killing themselves or others. Alcohol dependence is characterized by "craving a drink", "loss of control (not being able to stop)", "physical dependence" often associated with withdrawal symptoms, and even an increased tolerance where you need to drink more and more each time to get "buzzed" or drunk. There is an excellent online Alcohol Abuse Screening Quiz on the About.com website which should give you a good idea of how you view alcohol and drinking if you answer the questions honestly. Check it out HERE - the 20 questions only take a few minutes to answer. Another thing to remember about alcohol is that it is a depressant and many people that drink are depressed. I think the most common misunderstanding of young people with alcohol is that they see the drug as a stimulant since it breaks down their inhibitions and gets them "out there" in crowds and groups. That is not TRUE, alcohol is a drug and categorized as a depressant. There are plenty of warning signs that alcohol is taking over your life (although some are not totally evident). If you are drinking alone or secretly then you need to reassess your drinking habits. If you can't limit the amount you drink, then perhaps it's time to stop drinking. For example, many people say "I'll just have a few drinks" and before they know it they have consumed 10 drinks and are totally wasted. If you experience "blackouts" or times where you can't remember things from the night before then your drinking is a problem. Other symptoms include feeling a need to drink, keeping alcohol in your car, room, (strange places), binge drinking or drinking shots one after the other, having relationship problems related to your drinking habits, getting withdrawal symptoms if you don't drink (shaking, sweating, nausea). The consumption of alcohol is so prevalent and acceptable in our culture that it's hard to judge when you are going over the top with your drinking. Some people have a genetic history in their families to alcohol addiction and abuse and these people should be the most concerned. We will go into the reasons why people become addicted down below.

Treatment Options - AA Meetings:

Perhaps the most famous drug treatment program in the world was created by Alcolohics Anonymous - the 12 Step Program. AA meetings are conducted worldwide everyday to help people recovering from drinking. It's totally free to attend these meetings and the support system involved is quite amazing. You can attend the meetings even if you are addicted to other drugs or you are just a friend or family member being effected by someone who drinks excessively. The ultimate goal is to achieve sobriety and live a life free of alcohol and drugs. Some individuals need to go through a detox program to cleanse their bodies of all the alcohol poisons that have built up and they need professional care for that. Rehab facilities are also a source of treatment for alcoholics, but many are too expensive for the average abuser of alcohol. The whole idea behind the 12 Step Program is to stop drinking completey, NOT to try and control your drinking. If you go to these meetings to try and find out how to stop at 2 drinks, then you are wasting your time. The reason you join this and other similar groups is to admit that alcohol has a strangle hold on your live and that you can't control your intake of it. Many people have relapse bouts with alcohol and think they can back to their old hangouts and have a drink to celebrate and find themselves back in rehab or AA meetings. Alcoholics-Anonymous.org is the official website for the group and you can find all the information you need on the websites - meetings, facts about alcohol abuse, finding a sponsor, PDF files on the 12 Step Program, and much more. It's a great place to start your recovery from alcohol and their success is legendary. The first step is to admit "you are completely powerless over alcohol" and the next step is to "believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity". It's a healing type of program that works for many people.

Social versus Genetic Addictions:

When I grew up in the 1970's and 1980's and was exposed to alcohol I was able (lucky) to say no until I reached about the age of 19 or 20. Many of my friends were getting drunk on the weekends and they accepted that as "normal" behavior amongst the crowds they hung out with. Our generation pretty much though that alcoholism was a genetic disorder which meant if your Aunt Sallie wasn't an alcoholic and your parents were functioning that you could drink to your hearts content. As drinking has become tolerable amongst the under 21 crowd, the amount of "social alcoholics" has increased dramatically. I knew several of my friends that would watch me drink a single beer and stop drinking for the night and they would say things like "why aren't you drinking more .... to get drunk". Over the years they had associated drinking with getting drunk and so it became socially acceptable to them and almost everyone else that you drink only to get drunk. I think parents needs to realize this behavior is common amongst underage drinkers and they are really learning how to "abuse alcohol" from a young age. More education is needed in schools and at home to help stop this cycle. Genetic factors do play a role in alcoholism as some people are more prone to addictive behaviors. It's a good thing to research your family history to determine which members had drinking problems. If you are parents are alcoholics then you have a much greater chance of abusing alcohol than people with parents who are not alcoholics. Stress is one of the key ingredients that go into people drinking excessively to begin with. Whether it's the job or work or your home environment, many people say they drink to "relieve stress" and decompress. You don't want to use alcohol as a tool to deal with stress, it's could be deadly. Often those with low self-esteem drink to deal with it and anyone who is suffering from depression has a higher likelihood of being addicted to alcohol - they numb the pain. Alcohol abuse is something that the Mayo Clinic defines as "engage in excessive drinking that causes health or social problems, but you aren't dependent on alcohol and haven't fully lost control over the use of alcohol". There are millions that abuse alcohol but aren't considered alcoholics. We believe the Mayo Clinic website has the most complete writeup on alcoholism, you can view their articles online HERE.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Cell Phones: - Apple iPhone Review - iPhone Wallpaper - Bluetooth Headsets Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Apple MacBook Air Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers - Kitchenaid Mixers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? - Flip MinoHD Review Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT DSLR - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera MP3 Music, Players, Speakers: - Top-Rated Headphones and Popular Earphones Rankings - iPod Touch - Free MP3 Music Downloads Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes - Adjustable Dumbells Ratings Finance - Car Insurance Quotes - Mortgage Payment Calculator - Debt Consolidation Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Fashion/Beauty Sports and Outdoors