Nearly 14 million Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol addiction is a serious disease, affecting the lives of these 14 million and the people around them. More than 100,000 U.S deaths are caused by alcohol consumption each year. This statistic account for direct death by alcohol poisoning, as well as indirect causes including impaired driving, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, falls, and strokes. Alcohol addiction is estimated to reduce ones life expectancy by 10-12 years. Awareness need to be raised about the dangers of alcohol addiction and how to avoid it.
About 90% of the U.S. population are drinkers. Although alcohol is necessary to develop alcoholism, there are other risk factors that help predict the development of addiction. The quantity, quality, and regularity of alcohol consumption all play a role in the likelihood of developing the disease. However, other risk factors include genetic predisposition, depression, mental health, social environment, ethnicity, age and gender. Alarmingly, about 40% of those who begin drinking before the age of 14, will have a problem with alcohol abuse.
Due to the nature of alcohol being a social drug, at times an addict can be hard to detect. However, there are a number of psychological signs that are highly indicative of a problem. Anti-social behavior, blaming others for one's problems, withdrawal from family and friends, anger, anxiety, depression, mood swings, loss of interest in regular activities, preoccupation with alcohol, changes in friends, and using alcohol to calm nerves or relieve a hangover, are all things that might be considered warning signs of alcoholism.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, seek professional advice. Addicts are often defensive when confronted about their drinking and may need a formal intervention. Recovery centers and treatment groups exist all over the world to provide behavioral therapies and support to those who are fighting the disease. Although, alcohol addiction can be dangerous to the body and mind, with the right alcohol treatment, there can be a successful recovery.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Utah Drug Rehab
Alcohol and substance abuse is a growing problem nationwide and therefore so is the need for drug treatment centers. Utah is not excluded from this growing problem. For the past few years Utah has ranked among the top in per capita drug use, specifically in addiction to prescription pain medications. Because we have had several inquiries about what drug rehab options are available in Utah we will highlight a few in this post.
Gathering Place - This drug treatment center is located in Orem, UT and specialize in substance abuse treatment as an outpatient service to adolescents, men, women, pregnant/postpartum women, and DUI offenders. For more information contact them at 801-226-2255.
Southwest Center - Offers a number of outpatient drug treatment facilities across Southern Utah including Cedar City, St. George, Panguitch, and Kanab. Some facilities offer non-hospital residential (24 hour) however, most are outpatient. Their services are offered on a sliding fee scale, payment assistance is available, and most insurances accepted. Special programs available for co-occuring mental and substance abuse disorders, women, men, and DUI offenders. Click on "Southwest Center" above to choose a facility for contact information.
Blue Skies Recovery Center - Is an outpatient substance abuse recovery center, located in Ogden, Utah. They offer special programs for youth, co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, gay and lesbian, seniors (older adults), women, and DWI offenders. Accept many insurances including military and VA. Fees are based on a sliding scale. Call (801) 392-8900 for more information.
Utah also offers special drug rehabs for some Indian reservations and have residential treatment facilities across the state. If you do not find what you are looking for here, or need information on drug rehabs in any other state you can find more information at 4drugrehab.com.
Gathering Place - This drug treatment center is located in Orem, UT and specialize in substance abuse treatment as an outpatient service to adolescents, men, women, pregnant/postpartum women, and DUI offenders. For more information contact them at 801-226-2255.
Southwest Center - Offers a number of outpatient drug treatment facilities across Southern Utah including Cedar City, St. George, Panguitch, and Kanab. Some facilities offer non-hospital residential (24 hour) however, most are outpatient. Their services are offered on a sliding fee scale, payment assistance is available, and most insurances accepted. Special programs available for co-occuring mental and substance abuse disorders, women, men, and DUI offenders. Click on "Southwest Center" above to choose a facility for contact information.
Blue Skies Recovery Center - Is an outpatient substance abuse recovery center, located in Ogden, Utah. They offer special programs for youth, co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, gay and lesbian, seniors (older adults), women, and DWI offenders. Accept many insurances including military and VA. Fees are based on a sliding scale. Call (801) 392-8900 for more information.
Utah also offers special drug rehabs for some Indian reservations and have residential treatment facilities across the state. If you do not find what you are looking for here, or need information on drug rehabs in any other state you can find more information at 4drugrehab.com.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chemical Dependency
The term chemical dependency refers to an illness or a disease that involves an addiction to alcohol or drugs. It can be used interchangeably to describe the physical aspect of addiction, the psychological aspect, or both. Sometime people see an individual suffering from a chemical dependency and do not understand the magnitude of the disease. They may believe the diseased person should “just quit,” and then everything would be fine. However, chemical dependency is a deeply rooted problem and often the body becomes unable to function normally without the addictive substance it has grown accustomed to.
The body is an amazing machine that is able to auto-regulate in order to maintain homeostasis, or a natural balance. Most of our body's psychological conditions/moods are controlled by hormones acting upon neurotransmitters to produce a desired effect. However, when foreign substances are introduced through alcohol and drugs, it interrupts the chemical balances in the body, mainly those of dopamine and serotonin. The body will produce less of its own natural auto-regulating hormones as a response. When an addict discontinues or reduces their amount of alcohol or drug use, the body, which has adjusted to functioning on the foreign substance will react poorly. It may go into a state of withdrawal, feeling extreme agitation and possibly experiencing physical symptoms of illness. This is because a chemical dependency has occurred and the drug is needed for the user's body to respond appropriately to normal stimulus.
In addition to a very real physiological dependence that occurs with alcohol and drug addiction, there is a psychological component of the addicts behavior cycle. DNA studies have shown that certain genes can make one individual more likely to exhibit addictive patterns of behavior than another. Cravings for a substance that the mind has come to rely on can be very strong for an addict. Each time they use, they reinforce this pattern of behavior that becomes more and more difficult to break. All addicts need behavioral therapy in order to recover from the disease of chemical dependency and return to a normal existence.
The body is an amazing machine that is able to auto-regulate in order to maintain homeostasis, or a natural balance. Most of our body's psychological conditions/moods are controlled by hormones acting upon neurotransmitters to produce a desired effect. However, when foreign substances are introduced through alcohol and drugs, it interrupts the chemical balances in the body, mainly those of dopamine and serotonin. The body will produce less of its own natural auto-regulating hormones as a response. When an addict discontinues or reduces their amount of alcohol or drug use, the body, which has adjusted to functioning on the foreign substance will react poorly. It may go into a state of withdrawal, feeling extreme agitation and possibly experiencing physical symptoms of illness. This is because a chemical dependency has occurred and the drug is needed for the user's body to respond appropriately to normal stimulus.
In addition to a very real physiological dependence that occurs with alcohol and drug addiction, there is a psychological component of the addicts behavior cycle. DNA studies have shown that certain genes can make one individual more likely to exhibit addictive patterns of behavior than another. Cravings for a substance that the mind has come to rely on can be very strong for an addict. Each time they use, they reinforce this pattern of behavior that becomes more and more difficult to break. All addicts need behavioral therapy in order to recover from the disease of chemical dependency and return to a normal existence.
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