Alcoholism
What is alcoholism? Craving Loss of control Physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking
Is alcoholism a disease? Yes It is a chronic disease, meaning it lasts a person’s lifetime.
Is alcoholism inherited? Risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. Genes are a partial factor but lifestyle plays a role. Remember risk is not destiny.
Can alcoholism be cured? No, not at this time. Relapse can occur at any time Safest course for an alcoholic is not to drink at all
Can alcoholism be treated? Yes Treatment consists of both counseling and medications
What medications treat alcoholism? Three oral medications have been approved to treat the disease Disulfiram (antibuse) acetaldehyde Naltrexone (Depade, ReVia) Acamprosate (Camprol) Vivitrol, long acting injectable form of naltrexone is available
Does alcohol treatment work? It depends on the definition of success
Does a person have to be an alcoholic to experience problems? No, persons who have been drinking often engage in risk behaviors, DWI, drinking during pregnancy, other drug experimentation
Are specific groups more likely to have problems? Alcoholism cuts across age, ethnic, gender and age lines. 1 in 12 adults are estimated to abuse or are alcohol dependent Rates of alcoholism are highest among young adults 18-29, lowest among adults over 65 People who start drinking at an early age, less than 14 are at higher risk
How can you tell someone has a problem? Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? One yes, two yeses, three ?
Can a problem drinker simply cut down? Depends but not likely
If an alcoholic is unwilling to get help, what can you do about it? An alcoholic cannot be forced to get help except under certain circumstances, such as court ordered treatment after a DUI Do you have to wait for them to hit bottom or bring the bottom to them Stop all cover-ups
Time your intervention Be specific State the results Get help Call a friend Find strength in numbers Get support
What is a safe level of drinking? Moderate alcohol abuse, 2 drinks a day for men, 1 for women and older people Certain people should not drink at all: Pregnant women People who will be engaging in activities which require alertness and skill People taking OTC medications
People with medical conditions which can be made worse by drinking Recovering alcoholics People under the age of 21
Is it safe to drink during pregnancy? No
Does alcohol affect older people differently? Probably, slower reaction times, problems with seeing and hearing and lower tolerance to alcohol’s effects puts older people at risk for all types of injuries. Increased medications
Does alcohol affect women differently? Yes, women become more impaired by drinking the same amount of alcohol as men. Women have less water than men therefore alcohol is more concentrated Alcohol abuse takes a heavier toll on a woman’s heart, brain and liver
Is alcohol good for your heart? Moderate drinking Don’t start in receive possible benefits
What about medications? Stop drinking, more than 150 medications interact harmfully with alcohol Alcohol’s effects are heightened by medicines that depress the CNS such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, anti-anxiety drugs and some painkillers
How can a person get help? National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service provides a toll-free telephone number 1-800-662-HELP Al-Anon AA National Association for children of Alcoholics National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Alcohol Withdrawal Abstinence syndrome that develops is medically more severe and more likely to cause death than withdrawal from opioid drugs. Detoxification Progression of withdrawal consists of several parts.
Stage 1 tremors excessively rapid heartbeat, hypertension, heavy sweating, loss of appetite and insomnia Stage 2 hallucinations, auditory, visual tactile or a combination of these Stage 3 delusions, disorientation, delirium, sometimes intermittent and usually followed by amnesia
Stage 4 seizure activity
The 12 Steps of AA We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.
Made searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
Make a list of all persons we have harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except where to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take moral inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with god as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.