Why Alcoholism Is So Difficult To Beat

Alcoholism can be a sneaky and unforgiving culprit. It has actually been recognized by the medical community as a disease. Those suffering from alcoholism have developed alcohol dependence syndrome, which causes the body to crave alcohol in order to function normally. There are particular reasons why this disease is so hard to overcome. Many are directly related to lifestyle choices, but others are not. As with any medical condition, the key to prevention is education. By understanding more about the causes and effects of alcoholism, people can better protect or prepare themselves.

What Is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is the most brutal stage of alcohol problems. Once someone has become dependent on this substance, there are drastic symptoms. The body literally craves a drink on a regular basis. These cravings are extremely strong. These sufferers feel as if they cannot function without a drink. Without alcohol, the body goes through alcoholism withdrawal symptoms. Someone going through alcohol withdrawal usually experiences flu-like symptoms. These include nausea, cold sweats, and body aches. Alcoholism is a progressive disease. For this reason, it is also defined by a person’s desire to regularly increase the amount of alcohol they ingest. Their tolerance level forces them to drink more in order to feel the effects.

United States Alcoholism Statistics

• Every year, nearly 600,000 citizens in this country are injured while under the influence of alcohol.
• Approximately two million Americans are currently suffering from alcohol-related diseases.
• Cirrhosis of the liver is one of the most common diseases among those living with alcoholism.
• Because of the effects of alcohol abuse on the bloodstream, those who abuse alcohol are also more likely to develop infections and anemia.
• Alcoholism studies also indicate that the risk substantially increases when the person begins drinking at an early age.
• Alcoholism is also involved in nearly half of the crimes where alcohol is involved.

 

The Struggles of Recovery

Alcohol is the oldest and most prevalent addictive substance in the world. Many people use alcohol to celebrate events and recognize special occasions. For most people, drinking is normal, socially acceptable behavior. Television, radio, and even social media sites promote alcoholic beverages. That is one reason why alcoholism is so difficult to defeat. The temptation is all around. Although the legal drinking age is 21, many teenagers in this country experiment with alcohol. Young adults are generally more social, which provides more opportunities to drink. Because of this, they are at a much higher risk of alcoholism than other age groups. Also, there are certain stigmas attached to alcoholism. People struggling with alcoholism may be resistant to acknowledge their problem because of the fear of what others will think. Family members may treat you differently. Employers could believe you are unreliable or irresponsible. No matter what challenges lie ahead, sufferers of alcoholism disease have a responsibility to themselves and the ones they love. The first step is to admit there is a problem. Denial can be dangerous, if not fatal. There are doctors, treatments, and support groups to help guide people through these treacherous waters. Whether this is your fight or you are fighting for someone you love, you are not alone.

Source

National Institute on Drug Abuse

How to Find the Best Alcohol Rehab Program for Your Family Member

More than 21 percent of people who are admitted into public rehab programs are admitted because they suffer from an alcoholism disease. More than 18 percent of this 21 percent also have an addiction to one or more other drugs. With over 23.6 million people suffering from alcoholism, it only makes sense that many of their family members are constantly in search of alcohol rehab programs. By finding the best alcohol program, a family member can find much hope in the fact that his or her loved one will be able to obtain the necessary treatment that it takes to live an alcohol-free life. Only five to six percent of people who suffer from an alcohol addiction receive proper treatment. Many alcoholics never come to the realization that they suffer from an alcohol problem, meaning their family members should confront them on a consistent basis about the issue. With over 100,000 people dying every year due to alcohol-related issues, it is imperative that alcoholics get treatment as soon as possible. With the help of a family member, alcoholics are much more likely to enter into a rehab that will help them overcome their alcohol problems.

Internet

There are several ways to go about finding the best alcohol program for a loved one. One of the best places to start is the internet. Searches for alcohol rehabs can be narrowed according to rehab locations, price rates, number of attendees, types of programs offered, and more. By being able to narrow the searches according to these refineries, it becomes easily possible for a person to find a program that will best suit his or her loved one's needs.

Doctors

Another great place to start the search for the best alcohol rehab is at a loved one's primary doctor's office. Both, the nurses and doctor, should be able to refer several different treatment locations. One of the best reasons to speak with the loved one's primary doctor is that this professional will have a deep insight into the loved one's health history, which will help in choosing the rehab that will be of the most benefit to the loved one.

One-On-One and Group Therapy

The best alcohol rehab programs will be those that offer both one-on-one and group therapy.

Number of Therapists

If an alcohol rehab only has two substance abuse therapists, but has 60 attendees, this is a good indication to steer clear of the rehab. A high quality rehab center will be one that can provide much one-on-one attention to the loved one. In order to do this, the therapist/attendee ratio should be about 1:5, meaning for every five attendees, there should be at least one therapist.

Type of Treatment Facility

Alcohol treatment programs that have the highest rate of completion are those that are found in long-term, as well as short-term, residential programs. Outpatient programs tend to have the lowest rate of completion. Keeping this in mind, when searching for the best alcohol rehab program, family members should steer clear of outpatient services.

Type of Services Offered

Some alcohol programs offer a 12-Step curriculum while others offer holistic or faith-based approaches. There is no right or wrong program. Different types of programs work better for different types of people. It is best for a family member to evaluate the pros and cons of each program, which will help in deciding what type will work best for the loved one.

Source:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism