In a previous blog we discussed the top five health risks of alcohol which include liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, and immune system issues. Today we’ll discuss items six through ten. 6. Brain damage Alcohol alters brain receptors and neurotransmitters and interferes with cognitive function, mood, emotions and reactions on multiple levels. Because…
Despite the fact that it’s legal, alcohol is one of the most lethal drugs available in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of preventable death and, as a central nervous system depressant, you can die from alcohol withdrawal. Despite this, most people don’t die of alcoholism, and the harm caused by drinking…
In a study published earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the CDC says in last month alone, 4 million have gotten behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. In this study they found that close to 2% of adults admitted to driving while intoxicated at least once over the prior month, which translates…
This is the second installment of a two-part series on drugs to treat drug and alcohol addiction. Currently, there are three categories of drugs used to treat drug dependencies. Methadone Used for opiate withdrawal and replacement since the mid-1960s, methadone has been prescribed to thousands of opiate addicts. While methadone can be used to lessen withdrawal…
Ironically, a common request in drug and alcohol treatment centers is for drugs to treat addiction. In this two-part post, we’re going to discuss the medications approved for alcohol abuse and those approved for drug abuse. Currently, there are three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcohol abuse. None of these…
As we mentioned in a previous blog on Addiction and Creating Healthy Families, drug and alcohol use comes with many negative side effects for families. Families coping with addiction can become dysfunctional in their communication, understanding of feelings and ability to feel empathy. The good news is that this is fixable. The Top 5 Rules…
Individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction create destruction in our own lives, but we also wreak havoc in the lives of our family and friends. When addicts first find recovery, looking at the lives we’ve hurt can feel overwhelming and insurmountable. The good news is that we are resilient and so are our families.…
The Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey has measured drug, alcohol and cigarette use among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Over 40,000 students from almost 400 public and private schools participated in the 2014 MTF survey. Many of the results are promising with a few notable exceptions. The use of cigarettes, alcohol, and abuse of prescription pain…
In times of great stress, we shut down our awareness emotionally, sometimes intellectually and occasionally physically. Denial is a built-in mechanism operated to screen out devastating information and to prevent us from becoming overloaded. Denial is a conscious or unconscious defense that all of us use to avoid, reduce, or prevent anxiety when we are…
According to a recent government report, nearly one in ten full-time workers in the U.S. has a problem with drugs or alcohol. Of the 14.8 million people using illicit drugs in the U.S., an estimated 70% have jobs. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCAAD) reports that employee alcohol and drug abuse costs…