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Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Awareness Does alcohol abuse cause the same In this issue: problems as alcoholism? While the problem drinker or alcohol abuser may not be addicted to alcohol, he or she shares many of the same risks to health and life. Quality of life, • What is in particular, is severely diminished. In addition, Alcoholism? alcoholics and alcohol abusers alike may bring Page 1 havoc on the lives of their loved ones, and on others around them. • Getting Help The NIAAA reports that alcoholism and alcohol and Treatment abuse are not only a leading cause of death, but also a significant factor in violent crime, teen for a Drug pregnancy, date rape and certain other types Program of crime. Page 2 What are the effects of alcohol? What Is Alcoholism? • Impulsivity Short-term physical effects of alcohol use include: Raises Differences between dependence • Distorted vision, hearing, and coordination Alcoholism and abuse. • Altered perceptions and emotions Risk • Impaired judgment According to the National Institute on Alcohol • Hangovers Page 2 Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcoholism is “a disease that includes alcohol craving and Long-term physical effects of heavy alcohol • When Your an continued drinking despite repeated alcohol- use include: Adult Child of related problems, such as losing a job or getting • Loss of appetite an Alcoholic into trouble with the law.” It includes the • Vitamin deficiencies Parent following symptoms: • Esophagus/Stomach ailments Page 3 1. Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. • Pancreatitis 2. Impaired control: The inability to limit one’s • Liver cancer drinking on any given occasion. • Skin problems • Risk Factors for 3. Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, • Sexual impotence Alcoholism and such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and • Liver damage Alcohol Abuse anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a • Heart and central/peripheral nervous Page 3 period of heavy drinking. system damage 4. Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts • Memory loss • Avoiding of alcohol in order to feel its effects. • Anemia • Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (Heart Failure) Alcohol: How Is alcohol abuse different from to say “No” alcoholism? How can I avoid developing an Page 4 alcohol problem? Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking that can have major health and societal consequences. • Remove temptation. Don’t keep alcohol at home. Problem drinkers are prone to violence, automobile • Drink slowly. Sip your drink slowly. Take a accidents and other problems. However, alcohol break of one hour between drinks. Drink soda, dependence, or alcoholism, refers to a disease water or juice after an alcoholic drink. Eat food that is characterized by abnormal alcohol-seeking when drinking. behavior, or lack of control over drinking. Alcohol • Take a break from alcohol. Pick a day each abuse is basically on a continuum with alcoholism, week when you won’t drink at all. Then, try to stop and it is important to note that many of the same drinking for one week. Eventually you’ll start to effects are experienced. feel better, which will help you stop for good. Alchohol Awareness 1 April 2010 Alcohol Awareness • Learn how to say NO. You do not have to drink when others drink. • Stay active. Do something to replace drinking. Go out to eat, see a movie or go for a walk. • Get support. Ask family and friends for support. Your doctor may be able help, too. See a therapist who specializes in helping people stop drinking. • Watch out for temptation. Stay away from bars and people who drink a lot. Plan ahead of time what you will do to avoid drinking when you are tempted. Do not drink when you are angry or upset. • DO NOT GIVE UP! Most people do not cut down or give up drinking all at once. Just like a diet, it is not easy to change. Sometimes you may relapse. If you do not reach your goal the first time, try again. Get support from people who care about you. Remember that even if you remain sober and regain your health, you’re still susceptible to relapse if you’re an alcoholic and must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages. If a relapse occurs, it is important to try to stop drinking again and to get whatever Impulsivity Raises Alcoholism Risk additional support is needed to abstain from drinking. A relapse Mouse study finds those that crave alcohol are more should not be looked at as a failure, but as a learning experience. likely to choose quick rewards © MyOptumHealth.com Being impulsive is a risk factor for alcoholism, a new study finds. Getting Help and Treatment for a Drug Problem Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis researchers found that mice bred to crave large amounts of alcohol were more Discover resources and support networks to help your teen. impulsive than mice that consumed little or no alcohol. The rodents’ impulsivity was tested by giving them the choice between a small, Don’t panic immediate reward and a large, delayed reward. The heavy-drinking If you suspect that your son or daughter has a drug problem, don’t mice were more likely to choose the small, immediate reward. panic. Remember, drug and alcohol addictions are treatable. The The study appears online and in the July print sooner the situation is faced, the sooner your child can begin to get issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. well. Your first step may be to talk with your child and explain your ‘It is well-documented that humans with alcohol problems have concern. Don’t attempt to have this conversation while your child impulsivity issues,’ Dr. Nicholas Grahame, an associate professor is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Wait until he or she is of psychology at the university’s School of Science, said in a news sober and try to remain calm and factually honest when speaking release from the university. about his or her behavior and its consequences. You may run into resistance, but make it clear you intend to follow through on getting ‘High impulsivity, when defined as the tendency to choose small help. A parent’s motto should be: “Never give up.” instantaneous rewards over larger delayed rewards – like getting drunk instead of going to work for that paycheck in two weeks – Support network is more prevalent in alcoholics than in non-alcoholics,’ he said. Enlist the support and help of family members, friends, the ‘Because these mice had never had alcohol, we were able to show family doctor and professionals, such as school counselors and that it was the genes that increase drinking, rather than drinking psychiatrists or psychologists, who are experienced in dealing with itself, that yielded impulsive behavior.’ teen substance abuse. Numerous organizations, such as Alcoholics Grahame said the mouse study can be applied to people Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Al-Anon-Alateen (for ‘and strongly suggests that impulsivity contributes to high families and friends of alcoholics) can also provide information alcohol drinking.’ about where to get help. Whatever you do, don’t do it alone. As a result, he said, ‘the diagnosis of any disorder associated with Where to go impulsivity, such as attention-deficit disorder or bipolar disorder, is There are different levels of intervention. If your child has a serious cause for concern about future problems with alcoholism.’ drug problem, a hospital setting may be needed. If detoxification is necessary, it can be done there safely. Your family doctor, More information local hospital, state or local substance abuse agencies and The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has organizations like Al-Anon-Alateen can provide referrals for more about alcohol problems http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/ treatment programs. Your teenager will need to be evaluated General-English/. so that he or she can be placed in an appropriate outpatient or | | inpatient treatment program. By Robert Preidt HealthDay News © MyOptumHealth.com © MyOptumHealth.com Alchohol Awareness 2 April 2010 Alcohol Awareness When You’re the Adult Child of There are many paths for getting help: an Alcoholic Parent • Individual therapy. Meet with a reputable therapist who has experience with family issues relating to addiction You may not drink, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t affected by and recovery. alcoholism. If you are the adult child of an alcoholic parent, learn how • Group support. Seek out local Al-Anon and/or to cope with the effect alcoholism has had on your life. Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) meetings. • Self-education When a parent abuses alcohol, the whole family suffers. Children – Books. Check with your local library for books about are especially at risk. Growing up in an alcoholic home can seriously overcoming a chaotic childhood. interfere with the normal stages of childhood. Later, adult children of – Parent courses. If you have children, learn about child alcoholic parents often have problems with trust, control and fear development. Seek out and take part in a parent education of intimacy. course to learn skills for relating to Growing up in a disruptive home your children. Alcohol abuse interferes with a parent’s ability to provide a loving If you are comfortable, share your decision to seek help with close and structured home life for children. The home is usually filled friends and family who can support you. You may find that you are with chaos and sometimes violence and/or incest. The parent often not alone in your pain. breaks promises. Discipline is not consistent. Mood swings and The type of help you seek is not as important as the fact that you are personality changes in the parent are common. Finances may suffer. open to change. The first part of your life may have been affected by All this can cause tremendous confusion and fear in a child.
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