Signs of Alcoholism

An individual who is physically dependent on alcohol will often display physical and behavioral signs including the following:

• Feeling the need to drink more over time to achieve the desired effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, shaky hands, sweating, nausea and headaches, when alcohol leaves the system
• Feeling out of control while drinking
• Focusing on drinking instead of other responsibilities and drinking even when it causes serious problems socially and professionally

Causes of Alcoholism

Experts may debate the exact causes of alcoholism, but groups like the National Institutes of Health agree it often takes a combination of several risk factors to lead to the disease. Researchers have identified a genetic link to alcoholism, but individuals who have genetic markers are not always destined to become alcoholics. On average, more men struggle with alcohol problems than women and people who begin drinking early in life, at age 14 or younger, are more likely to abuse alcohol as adults. Alcoholism is also more common for people with a mental health condition, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other risk factors include a stressful lifestyle, low self-esteem, association with peers who drink and association with a culture where drinking is common and accepted.

Identifying Alcohol Abuse Problems

There are many signs that may indicate that a person has a problem with alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers four questions that can help identify if a person has an alcohol abuse problem. If an individual answers yes to one or more of the following questions, it is likely he has a drinking problem.

• Have you ever felt you should decrease your drinking?
• Have you ever gotten defensive when someone criticizes your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

Need Help Finding Alcoholism Treatment?

If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism or alcohol abuse, please call our toll-free helpline. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to help answer your questions about alcoholism and the steps toward recovery. Do not let problems with alcohol stand in the way of a better life. Call us today.

Using Insurance to Pay for Addiction Rehabilitation

Health insurance can help you cover the cost of rehab; but, no matter what your insurance will pay for, it shouldn’t deter you from attending treatment. Call our helpline or your insurance company and ask them what your policy will pay for. Also ask if there are any limitations to the type of treatment you can receive while still receiving monetary coverage. If they won’t pay for your preferred form of treatment, you may be able to work out a payment plan with the rehab center to help you manage the cost.

What If My Insurance Won’t Pay for Addiction Rehabilitation?

You need treatment for your addiction, so don’t let insurance get in the way of your goals. Getting treatment is the only way you will be able to live a clean life and heal from your addiction. Look for alternative ways to fund your rehab. Talk to your family about your addiction treatment, talk to friends, and let everyone know you are having problems paying for it. Rehab is a serious treatment, and money should not keep you from receiving such beneficial help. Do whatever it takes to get your rehab paid for so you can receive quality treatment for your addiction.

Help Signing up for and Getting to a Drug Rehabilitation Program

If you are searching for a rehab center or want to find out if rehab treatment is right for you, call our toll-free helpline today. We will answer any questions you have about rehab treatment or your addiction. We can provide more information about your health insurance policy and find out if it will pay for rehab. We can direct you to a treatment center that will help you with your addiction, and we are here to speak with you 24 hours a day. Call us now.

Binge drinking is an increasingly prevalent health and social problem. Although it is not limited to any specific demographic, some people may be more likely to binge drink than others. Men are more likely to binge drink than women, and adolescents and young adults are more likely to binge drink than older adults.

Consequences of Binge Drinking

There are a number of adverse effects that may be associated with binge drinking, including the following:

• Alcohol poisoning – Alcohol poisoning may lead to overdose, which can be fatal.
• Health emergencies – Binge drinking can increase one’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
• Suicide – Adolescents who binge drink may be more likely to commit suicide than their sober peers.
• Violence – Male binge drinkers may be more likely to physically harm or assault others as a result of alcohol use.
• Accidents – Especially among adolescents, binge drinking can increase the risk of causing or suffering accidents, including traffic accidents, bicycle accidents and falls.
• HIV infection – Binge drinking can increase one’s risk of contracting an HIV infection. This may be partially explained by the fact that binge drinking is often associated with higher rates of unprotected and unplanned sexual activity.
• Cost to society – Binge drinking does not only cost the drinkers but costs society at large. A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control found that binge drinking costs society $223 billion per year, about $2 per drink. These costs can include health care, property damage, legal and criminal costs and loss of productivity.

Finding Help for Binge Drinking

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, please call our toll-free helpline now. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions about binge drinking. We can also help you check your health insurance coverage and find the best treatment option for your situation. Please call now.

In addition, alcoholics often have compromised health to begin with, so they may suffer troubling side effects with greater frequency and severity than does the general population. Regular, heavy alcohol consumption makes drinker more susceptible to serious and possibly fatal liver damage, which also increases overdose of acetaminophen (a pain medication found in many prescription drugs).

If you are an alcoholic, tell your doctor. She understands the nature of alcoholism, the way alcoholics react to certain drugs and the need to consider that condition when prescribing medication. Your doctor is concerned first and foremost with your health and well-being, has taken a solemn oath to treat you to the best of her ability and she is not there to judge you. Failure to inform your doctor about your alcoholism may result in serious damage.

Can I Mix Alcohol and Opiates?

Opioid painkillers like hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) and oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan, OxyContin) are capable of causing death by overdose when used alone, but combining them with alcohol is quite dangerous. Both substances are central nervous system (CNS) depressants; combining two or more CNS depressants greatly increases the risk of overdose death. Death from overdose is usually caused by depressed breathing. Drinking alcohol while taking opioid painkillers is extremely risky and may be a ticket to the morgue.

Can I Mix Alcohol and Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) are often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia. Benzodiazepines and alcohol are both sedative/hypnotics as well as CNS depressants. Combining sedatives together is very risky. Benzodiazepines usually do not cause overdose death by themselves, but combining them with alcohol may lead to coma or death.

Benzodiazepines produce tolerance, meaning that over time more of the drug is needed to achieve a high. As an alcoholic you have most likely experienced this phenomenon first-hand. Furthermore, since alcohol and benzodiazepines are both sedatives, they are cross-tolerant with each other, meaning that a tolerance for one automatically produces a tolerance for the other. In other words, if you already have a tolerance for alcohol, then it is likely that benzodiazepine drugs will affect as greatly. As a result you may be tempted to take higher doses than recommended to achieve the desired effect; combining high doses of benzodiazepines with alcohol is extremely dangerous and greatly increases the chance of overdose.

Help with Alcoholism and Prescription Drug Abuse

If you are an alcoholic, inform your doctor, especially in the event that he prescribes medication. If you have any questions about alcoholism, prescription drugs, addiction or treatment, call us. Our helpline is toll free and we are available 24 hours a day.

While many renowned research facilities and organizations that focus on alcoholism have attempted to develop assessments to help people understand their alcohol use and potential for addiction, one trusted source for defining alcoholism is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also known as the DSM-IV. This manual helps by providing a specific set of indicators for alcohol abuse and dependence.

Alcohol Abuse Indicators

According to the DSM-IV, a person may be considered to have an alcohol abuse problem if he has engaged in certain activities in the past year, including the following:

• Drinking alcohol in hazardous situations, such as while driving
• Continuing to drink despite social or interpersonal problems
• Experiencing legal problems related to alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to alcohol use

Alcohol Dependence Indicators

The DSM-IV also defines a person as being alcohol dependent if he has engaged in a number of alcohol-related activities in the past year, including the following:

• Drinking larger quantities or for longer periods than intended
• Being unable to decrease or stop alcohol use
• Requiring a larger quantity of alcohol to achieve the desired effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped
• Neglecting other important responsibilities and activities due to alcohol use
• Continuing to drink despite psychological or physical problems

Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcoholism

Once an alcohol addiction is established, the user may experience a number of withdrawal symptoms if alcohol use is stopped, including the following:

• Anxiety
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Headache

Conducting a Self-Assessment for Alcohol Addiction

The following questions are often used in assessments to determine if one has a problem with alcohol abuse. If a user answers yes to at least one third of the questions, alcohol treatment professionals would often suggest that he seek help.

1. Do you miss time from work due to your drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you experienced financial difficulties as a result of your drinking?
7. Does drinking make you careless regarding your family’s welfare?
8. Has your ambition decreased since you began drinking?
9. Do you crave a drink at a specific time every day?
10. Do you want a drink in the morning?
11. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
12. Has your efficiency decreased since you began drinking?
13. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
14. Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?
15. Do you drink alone?
16. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your drinking?
17. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
18. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
19. Have you ever been in a hospital or institution because of drinking?

Finding Help for Alcohol Treatment

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse, please call our toll-free helpline now. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions about what it means to be an alcoholic. We can also help you find the best alcohol abuse treatment option for your situation. Please call now.

What Will Happen during Alcohol Withdrawal?

The body creates certain chemicals in order to function. When it gets those chemicals from alcohol, it stops producing its own chemicals, thereby relying upon alcohol to feel normal. When alcoholics quit drinking, their bodies endure intense pain because the need alcohol to feel well. This pain and discomfort are withdrawal symptoms. Specific withdrawal symptoms will vary from person to person, however the most common symptoms of withdrawal include the following problems:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Foggy thinking
• Irritability
• Shakiness
• Mood swings
• Nightmares
• Clammy skin
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating

Alcohol withdrawal typically begins between 5 to 10 hours after you stop drinking, but they can also begin days later. After about 48 hours the symptoms will likely intensify and can last for a week or longer. Many alcoholics experience disrupted sleep patterns and difficulty focusing for months after taking their last drink. It is encouraged that you talk to your doctor before attempting to detox from alcohol.

Can I Detoxify from Alcohol at Home?

While it may be tempting to try to overcome alcohol dependency without support, it is not recommended. You cannot predict how your body will react to the cessation of alcohol use, so it is important to be under the supervision of qualified medical professionals. To get through withdrawals as safely and as painlessly as possible, enroll in a program of medically supervised detox. Typically, withdrawal that is unsupervised is more painful and longer than attempting detox with the help of a doctor. It is also important to remember that alcohol problems are rarely just a physical issue. There is almost always an accompanying psychological addiction that will need to be treated alongside the withdrawal. In most cases, detox alone is not enough to cure addiction. Many people will relapse if they attempt to quit addiction on their own. In order to achieve a lasting recovery from alcoholism, seek comprehensive rehab treatment from qualified professionals.

Alcohol Withdrawal Help

Are you struggling to get free from alcohol? Please call and let one of our trained counselors teach you about withdrawals and reach your sobriety goals. We are here 24 hours a day, so call our toll-free helpline now.

Since there are varying degrees of alcohol use, abuse and addiction, it can be helpful to understand the distinction between alcohol users, problem drinkers and alcoholics. Many people enjoy alcohol in moderation and never struggle with addiction. Furthermore, some users might have a drinking problem and still not be considered an addict.

It can also be beneficial to know the factors that may contribute to alcoholism. For example, genetic predisposition may be a factor that can cause one drinker to develop an addiction while another does not. A history of alcoholism in the family may be an indicator of genetic predisposition and may cause one to face a higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.

The Differences between Social Drinking and Problem Drinking

Many people enjoy alcohol in moderation without letting alcohol use cause problems in their lives. While some may argue that even occasional drinking can cause negative health effects, adults in our society are permitted to make this choice.

Problem drinking can occur when one’s alcohol use proceeds to the point that it causes problems in the life of the drinker or the lives of others. Problem drinkers may only drink on occasion, may not have developed a physical dependence on alcohol and may not engage in other addictive behavior. One example of this would be a person who only drinks occasionally at parties but drinks to excess and acts in inappropriate, destructive, dangerous or illegal ways. A person whose occasional drinking leads him to engage in fighting, driving drunk or getting arrested for disorderly conduct may have a drinking problem, even if he has not developed a physical dependence on alcohol.

The Differences between Problem Drinking and Alcoholism

Alcoholism can occur when a person develops a physical dependence on alcohol and feels the need to drink in order to function normally. Alcoholics tend to drink every day and often drink throughout the day. If an alcoholic goes without drinking, he may feel anxious and irritable or may experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as tremors and hallucinations.

Finding Treatment for Alcoholism

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse, please call our toll-free helpline now. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have about problem drinking and alcoholism. We can also help you find the best treatment option for your situation. Please call now.

12-step Programs and Addiction Rehabilitation

Integrated addiction treatment programs that address co-occurring addiction and mental health issues will benefit your long-term recovery. Learning how 12-step programs can work in conjunction with other forms of beneficial treatment can help you to better understand the recovery process. 12-step programs work in the following ways:

• 12-step programs introduce addicts to core set of beliefs that can help them work through their addiction in a healthy manner
• 12-step programs help addicts to accept the fact that they powerless over addiction and mental illness
• 12-step programs demonstrate that individuals are strong enough to regain control of their lives and live the life that they deserve

Finding the right treatment combination for each person can be a challenge, but one of the benefits of a good rehab program is that the medical professionals treating you will do their utmost to find the perfect solution to meet your recovery needs.

Integrated addiction treatment facilities will offer benefits that go beyond receiving quality rehab help. They will offer addiction help that extends beyond primary treatment so that addicts in recovery can continue to get the valuable support needed for a long-lasting and sustainable recovery.

Get Help for Co-Occurring Disorders

Our helpline is toll free, and all calls are confidential and handled by experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate counselors. Call us today to learn more about quality addiction help that can benefit you.

No Excuse Is Needed for Not Drinking

Despite how it may feel, you don’t need an excuse for choosing not to drink. When facing peer pressure some experts recommend using the acronym JADE to remember what doesn’t need to be done. You don’t need to justify (J), argue (A), defend (D) or explain (E). The goal is to state your preference and move on, preferably without making the other person defensive or starting a long conversation about the issue.

When offered a drink, it’s best to simply respond with, “No, thank you” or some variant of that. Some people take no for an answer easily, but others will insist. When a boss responds pressures you to drink, you should simply restate your preference. Responses may include statements such as, “Not tonight, thanks,” or, “I’d rather not.”

Although excuses aren’t necessary, if your relationship with your boss is good, you can explain your reasons for choosing not to drink. This can help avoid future awkward situations. If you’re a recovering alcoholic, you may choose to disclose that. If you choose not to, you might say something like, “Alcoholism runs in my family” or “I have health reasons for making that choice.”

Understanding Motives for Drinking

Employers have varying reasons for pressuring their employees to drink. Sometimes bosses just want to bond with their employees and feel drinking together is a good way to do it. Sometimes they don’t want to drink alone and so pressuring others to drink makes them feel more comfortable with their own behavior. At other times, there are business motives. During a lunch with clients, a boss may feel that if clients drink that employees should follow suit in order to build camaraderie.

If the situation involves business, you may decide that offering some sort of explanation for not drinking is warranted. Explanations that are generally accepted are, “I have to drive,” “I’m trying to lose weight,” and “I took some Tylenol earlier, which shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol.” At a business party, people who choose not to drink can simply carry around a glass of something that looks like an alcoholic drink, even though it contains no alcohol.

Help Avoiding Alcohol

Choosing not to drink is a wise decision. If you find yourself unable to control your alcohol consumption and need help facing the issue, give us a call and let us be of assistance. We can check your insurance coverage for you and answer your other questions about addiction treatment options. Our helpline is toll free and staffed 24 hours a day. Take a step toward freedom today.

• Finances. The holidays escalate financial burdens for several reasons. People tend to splurge or buy gifts on credit cards. Holiday-related debt may take several months to overcome or may add to an already existing financial problem. Depression associated with financial stress also increases at this time, as people may be sad or frustrated that they cannot get loved ones the gifts they would like.
• Memories. During the holidays people reflect on the past year and what they did or did not accomplish. A person has an increased tendency during the holiday season to think back on holidays from previous years. Being reminded about the loss of a loved one, a divorce or other sad event can make it hard to stay positive.
• Overloaded schedules. Most people who have children and work full-time have schedules that are packed up throughout the year. When you add holiday parties, shopping, decorating, volunteering and more, stress can reach an all-time high.
• Overindulgence. There are unique holiday food and beverage treats available everywhere during the holidays, and regular eating, drinking and fitness schedules are rarely followed at this time of year.
• Loneliness. During holidays people may feel particularly alone or lonely. Single family members or those with few or no family members to celebrate with may particularly feel something is missing.

Get Help for Stress and Drinking

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and alcohol abuse or addiction, learn how you can get the best help. We are here 24 hours a day, even on holidays, and we can answer your questions and connect you to valuable recovery resources. All calls and phone services are free, so please don’t hesitate to call.