When are too many alcoholic drinks too much?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Alcohol offe... 

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There really is no set answer to this question, because people metabolize alcohol at a different weight. Someone with a slender build may not be able to drink but one drink before she starts feeling the effects of the alcohol, while someone with a larger frame can consume several drinks before any effects are even noticeable.

It has been said that women can’t “hold their liquor” as well as men. The same characteristics—height, build, and overall physical condition—enter into the picture where alcohol metabolism is concerned, no matter if the drinker is male or female.

About the only way to determine if a person has had too much to drink is by observing physical signs of drunkenness. These can include slurred speech, loss of coordination, red eyes, and in some instances, skin flushing. This last may be more apparent in very fair-skinned people than in those with darker skin.

Changes in temperament—a normally quiet person becomes noisy and raucous, a relatively even-tempered person becomes angry at the slightest provocation—can also be indicators of excessive alcohol consumption.

Marked drowsiness or even losing consciousness completely are definite signs of too much alcohol. If these are present, the person should be watched closely, as he not only may be intoxicated, but may also be suffering from alcohol poisoning.

If you even suspect that a person has had too much to drink, do not let that person drive away. Take the keys, disable the car in some way, or do whatever it takes to keep him from getting behind the wheel and possibly killing himself or someone else.

Filed Under: Addiction, General Tagged With: , ,

Signs Your Loved One Might Be Addicted

If you suspect that a loved one may have an addiction problem, but aren’t really sure, there are signs that you can look for that may help you determine if this is truly the case. Some of them are listed here, but be aware that there are others. These can be the most recognizable, however.

Changes in behavior are usually the “tip-off” that an addiction may be a problem. These include extreme mood swings, which can be caused by the person suffering withdrawal symptoms, inattention to personal hygiene, and failure to meet responsibilities (work, attend classes, pay debts or bills, and others).

Changes in social interaction can also be a sign that an addiction exists, especially if your loved one changes the people with whom he socializes, choosing only those who drink or engage in the same type of addictive behavior that he does. In fact, if alcohol is the culprit, you may notice that the first question your loved one will ask will concern whether or not alcohol will be served or can be brought to the function. If the answer is no, he may refuse to go.

Physical drug addiction changes can also be a sign. If you notice a change in a loved one’s appetite (generally skipping meals or eating very little), which can lead to weight loss, an addiction problem may exist.

People who are addicted to meth, for example, often do not feel hunger, and may go for days without eating. Alcohol has “empty calories” which means it causes a feeling of fullness; again something which may result in a person eating less frequently or not eating at all.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: , ,

Rehabilitation Centers Offer a New World of Sobriety

When someone becomes highly addicted to drugs their life moves downward very quickly. The drug will take over every aspect of their being and could lead them to homelessness, poverty and a life of crime. They will turn into a person that they never thought they would become and even begin alienating people that they once cared about. Luckily, there are many rehabilitation centers that will take in addicts and give them a more positive atmosphere where they can pick themselves up and change the sloping momentum of their lives.

Ninety day inpatient rehabilitation centers are popular choices for addicts that have been abusing drugs for many years. These places offer an environment of positivity that will allow the person to get well. Many people with substance abuse problems get so used to a life of anxiety and depression that they forget what it was like to actually be happy. Rehabilitation centers reintroduce the good things in life to these individuals, while removing them from the muck and mire they were used to. Add in the fact that doctors and counselors are working around the clock with the addicts, and choosing a rehabilitation center can be a great place to kick any substance abuse habit.

Removing yourself from a situation is one of the best ways to accurate see what is going on. This is one of the main benefits that checking into a rehabilitation center offers. While many people are reluctant to commit three full months of their life to living in a new place without the comforts of their addiction, the possibilities gained are endless.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab centers Tagged With: ,

Using a Designated Driver can Ensure a Safe End to Every Night

Going out on the weekend can be a great time, whether you go to a bar, go to a play or just go over to a friend’s house for a get-together. Most people have a few beers or cocktails and a good time is had by all. The problem comes in when it is time to drive home. A driver that has had even few drinks will be slightly impaired and will be putting everyone else in his car as well as other motorists at risk if he drives home. One way to avoid this problem is to have a designated driver, or sober driver.

Choosing one person to be sober for an evening, so that they can drive everyone home safely, is not too much to ask if everyone in your group of friends takes a turn. If you have six people in your group and you go out twice a week, you will only need to give up drinking one night every three weeks. When your reflexes are impaired while driving, even slightly, you may not be able to react quick enough on the road. If you are driving on an expressway at 50 or 60 miles per hour, a momentary lapse in judgment can make a big difference.

Occasionally sacrificing one night of drinking is a small price to pay for securing the lives of you, your friends and other drivers on the road. It is possible to go out and have a good time without drinking. Knowing that you are looking out for your friends and being responsible is a good substitute spending money on overpriced drinks.

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: , ,

Government Web Site Offers a Wealth of Information About Substance Abuse

Once someone realizes that they have a drug problem, they are already heading in the right direction. However, knowing what to do after admitting that a problem exists can be difficult. There are questions like ‘Which type of treatment center is right for me?’ or even ‘Where can I go for treatment?’ The United States Department of Health and Human Services has a very easy to use web site that can be a great place to check out to get the answers that you are looking for.

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (www.samhsa.gov), or SAMHSA, is designed to get people moving in the right direction when they are seeking treatment for substance abuse. They have an easily navigable map that provides information about all the substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States. You can easily locate and research all the facilities near you and contact them for more information. SAMHSA also has a 24-hour helpline, in case you have specific questions and can’t find the information on the web site.

This site is a great resource for anyone who has questions about treatment for substance abuse. This government site offers tons of reliable information that you can privately review before deciding what options are best for you. If you have decided to seek treatment or know someone who needs it, SAMHSA is great place to begin your journey towards finding the help that you need. You can log on to their site today and continue heading in the right direction.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: , ,

Admitting you have a Problem is the First Step to Recovery

Drug addiction is a very serious affliction that ruins the lives of many people. The addiction does not happen over the course of a day or two, it takes time. You may just do a drug every other weekend. Then it spills into every weekend once the winter comes along and then a few times during the week because your job or family are frustrating you. The need for the drug continues to increase and before you know it, you lose your job and all you care about is the drug.

This vicious cycle is all too familiar among drug addicts. The problem is that when you are addicted, you cannot see what is really happening. The drug will cloud your vision and take control of your life. Denial that a problem exists is one of the first signs of an addiction. If everyone else can see the problem except you, there is a good chance that other people are right. Admitting that you have a problem is one of the hardest things to do, but it is the first step at getting your life back on track.

Being able to admit that you have allowed yourself to become addicted can be extremely difficult. No one enjoys admitting that they screwed up. However, there are many directions to go to seek support if you want to overcome your addiction, including rehab centers, support groups, counseling and therapists as well as friends and family. When you have an addiction and are ready to admit that you have a problem, you will quickly find that you are greeted by many helping hands.

Filed Under: Addiction, Health Tips Tagged With: , ,

Dropping the Smoking Habit in Right at your Fingertips

Smoking tobacco has been around for a very long time. Today, many different companies have manufactured tobacco cigarettes, filling them with what seems like an unending number of chemicals and poisons, increasing the health risk that smoking already causes. Millions of people are addicted to the nicotine found in tobacco and are putting themselves in harm’s way every time they light up a cigarette. Quitting smoking now can increase your chances of living a longer and healthier life.

There are many different products available to help someone overcome the physical addiction caused by nicotine. Products designed to help slowly decrease your nicotine intake include patches, gum, lozenges, electronic cigarettes and even nasal spray. These can all be effective for different people, but you just need to find the right smoking cessation aid for you.

The bigger problem that comes with quitting smoking is the mental aspect of it. Certain activities or time of day will often trigger your brain to expect a cigarette. This is where you need to retrain yourself to a life without smoking. Many people have used therapy programs or even hypnosis. Some people can even quit cold turkey and use meditation to recondition their mind and body to accept their new lifestyle.

No matter how you go about doing it, leaving smoking in your past with help provide you with a brighter future. The mind is a powerful thing and the psychological aspect of quitting smoking tends to be the harder aspect of it in the long-term. If you have the will to do it, it will be possible. You just need to make the decision that you want a healthier body and mind and you will already be half way there.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: , ,

Methadone can Save a Heroin Addict’s Life

Heroin addiction is one of the hardest substance dependencies to overcome. The body of most high dosage users becomes so reliant on the drug that if they quit cold turkey, they could have fatal consequences. Research has come to show that weaning an addict off of heroin is best performed by replacing it with another opiate, called methadone. It may sound controversial to just replace one drug with another, but methadone is less addictive and has even been found to be safe in pregnant women.

Treating a heroin addiction is very volatile due to the extreme side effects experienced during withdrawal. Using methadone has proven to cause similar desired effects as heroin on the user, which allows for an easier time coming off of the drug. The length of time in recovery when using methadone varies, depending on the user and how quickly their body adjusts to being off of heroin. The process of reducing methadone dosage over time can last awhile if the individual’s psychological or physical state reacts badly without heroin. In the end, though, methadone has proved to be a highly effect drug for treating heroin and other opioid addictions.

Many clinics are designed to provide methadone to people addicted t       bbbbbtreo heroin on an outpatient basis. However, the addict needs regular treatment so that their body’s reaction can be observed and the dosage can be adjusted when necessary. The process can be long and arduous but worth it in the end.

Giving a new, similar drug to someone who is already addicted to one drug may sound counterproductive, but when it comes to heroin, any treatment is a step in the right direction. Methadone’s effects on the body are minimal. For someone who is serious about ending their fight with heroin, methadone is one of their few chances at surviving.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: , ,

Coping with a Loved Ones Addiction Through Al-Anon

When a friend or family member is an alcoholic, it can be a very overwhelming experience. You want the best for them but do not know how to deal the situation in a productive way. A great program available to friends and family of alcoholics or recovering alcoholics in AA is a partner program called Al-Anon. This is designed to give people tips on how to deal with someone who has a drinking problem.

Al-Anon usually meets in smaller groups and allows people to find the best way to respond to someone who is an alcoholic or in recovery. These people can share experiences with each other and find new methods to try to cope with a loved one with the disease. Most people who live with an alcoholic end up enabling them and fall into patterns that are both detrimental to themselves as well as the individual with the addiction. These meetings can help break the cycle and provide a better life for everyone involved.

Al-Anon is an especially important program for children with parents who are alcoholics. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to developing long-term issues when a parent is an alcoholic. They can easily fall victim to something that they have little or no control over at a very important time in their lives. Getting help for young people through Al-Anon/Alateen is extremely beneficial.

Alcoholism’s effects can reach far and wide beyond just the person with the problem. Al-Anon offers loved ones of an alcoholic a chance to get their own lives back and gives them the tools to help someone that they care about. While people tend to feel like they can deal with their private issues on their own, a group like Al-Anon will show them that they need help too and many others just like them exist for everyone’s benefit.

Filed Under: Addiction, Drugs Tagged With: , ,

Aftercare is the Final Step to Rehab

One of the most important parts of going through substance abuse rehabilitation is making sure that you stay clean for life. You go through the detox process and ninety day programs, but what then? This final piece of staying sober is getting involved in aftercare programs. These are designed to give a recovering addict the support they need to avoid a relapse.

After finishing up the safe environment of rehab, you have to eventually go back into the real world. Aftercare programs are designed to help you deal with situations where you may want to turn back to drugs. You never know what might trigger your addiction and once you are sober, it will be a life-long process of staying that way. People in your life may not fully understand what you are going through and so aftercare gives you sources for help outside of friends and family.

There are many different types of aftercare available to recovering addicts. You can find a sober living facility where you will be surrounded with others in the same situation as you. You will be able to talk with them when you are feeling urges and know that they understand where you are coming from. Counselors are also available to help you through tough times in person or over the phone, whenever you need them.

Getting clean and sober is a process that requires a lot of dedication and is ongoing throughout your life. Aftercare programs are designed to give recovering addicts a place to turn when they have any urges to return to their addiction. Real life can hit you quick after rehab and having a plan for when the going gets tough can be a life saver.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab centers Tagged With: , ,
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