illumistream

In College you drink. But have you become an alcoholic? Check out more at College.healthguru.com?YT Sure, you enjoy the occasional beer–or maybe you find pleasure from really letting loose once in a while. But does your imbibing mean you have alcoholism and just how many drinks does it take to make an alcoholic? In this video, we’ll explore alcohol abuse, from the effects of drinking too much to what it means if you spend a great deal of time drunk.

Women Hormone

Olinda Rola

Alcoholism signs and symptoms are clues that alcohol may be a problem. If left untreated, alcoholism signs and symptoms and alcoholism can affect the quality of life of the person as well as those around them. Alcoholism is a disease where alcohol consumption (beer, wine, or hard liquor) is at a level that interferes with the person’s physical and mental health, and negatively impacts family, social or work responsibilities.

Alcoholism symptoms can be recognized relatively early in the disease’s progression, but if not dealt with, alcoholism can be fatal. Here are alcoholism signs and symptoms that indicate alcohol may be a problem:

• Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking

• Daily or Frequent Alcohol Consumption Needed to Function

• Drinking Alone

• Finding Excuses to Drink

• Food Intake Neglect

• Hiding Alcohol Related Behavior

• Inability to Stop or Reduce Alcohol Consumption

• Memory Loss, Blackouts

• Morning Shakes

• Nausea, Vomiting

• Physical Appearance Neglect

• Violent Episodes Occur When Drinking

When considering alcoholism signs and symptoms, alcoholism can be broadly divided into two categories - alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Alcohol abusers may drink heavily at various times, but they have not yet become alcohol dependent. Alcoholism signs and symptoms for alcohol abusers can be problems that happen while being intoxicated such as drinking and driving, violent episodes, or missing appointments, work or school.

Alcohol dependence can develop over the years and follows a generally predictable pattern. A tolerance of alcohol develops first, which means a person needs to consume greater quantities of alcohol before the same effects are noticed. Over time, the person may lose control over their drinking and may not be able to stop even if they want to. And if alcohol consumption is reduced or stopped, withdrawal symptoms can be experienced which can range from annoying to life-threatening.

If the alcoholic continues drinking, he or she may become obsessed with drinking to the exclusion of almost everything else. Many of the above alcoholism signs and symptoms may be noticed. The most severe kind of drinking is called ‘binge drinking’, periods of time with continuous heavy alcohol consumption.

If alcoholism continues to progress, the mental and physical health of the alcoholic can seriously deteriorate. Many of the body’s organs can become damaged which lowers resistance to disease and infections. Relationships at home or socially may become damaged, and there can be financial and legal problems due to the alcoholic’s inability to stop drinking.

If the alcoholic continues to drink, alcohol can ultimately cause their death one way or another. Accidents and related injuries, suicide, drownings and falling asleep in bed while smoking and intoxicated and burning to death are examples of the consequences of alcoholism. Health-wise, damage to the body’s organs and systems due to long-term excessive drinking means the person will likely suffer from a number of diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, malnutrition and cancer.

Are there different stages of alcoholism? Yes, most definitely. If the alcoholism signs and symptoms indicate that alcohol consumption is becoming or is already a problem, there are resources available to help with alcoholism and the serious consequences of this disease.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Pam

Christin Shire

There are a number of myths that pervade our social consciousness pertaining to addiction, and these myths are almost universally unhelpful to addicts afflicted with the disease of addiction, and contribute greatly to the stigma that even recovering alcoholics and drug addicts must endure.

Addicts don’t have to hit “rock bottom” before getting help. In fact waiting this long almost always makes things far more difficult, and the necessary therapy and recovery needed that much longer. Addicts do not need to decide for themselves to get treatment either, and statistics show that addicts mandated to attend drug or alcohol treatment are just as successful as those that attend of their own accord.

But the possibly the most harmful myth related to addiction is that addicts are somehow weak, or lacking in willpower.

The impulses of addiction are beyond conscious control

It’s easy for us to explain addiction and the behaviors of use out of a framework of personal strength and willpower, and for those not addicted, willpower does control how much we drink, or even use illicit drugs. But for an addict, once drugs or alcohol abuse becomes addiction, willpower becomes irrelevant.

With addiction comes a physical change in the processes of the brain, and these changes occur in the mesolimbic dopaminergic area of the brain, an area that operates outside of our conscious control. The mesolimbic creates the impulses and cravings to abuse, and these impulses are not of a conscious nature. Although the behaviors and use of an addict appears at the surface considered and deliberate, those actions are in fact controlled at a preconscious level, and are beyond the scope of willpower.

It takes strength to overcome addiction, but not willpower

Although these impulses operate at a preconscious level, there are strategies, medicines and life changes that have proven effective in minimizing the impact exerted by the preconscious impulses to use. Willpower has nothing to do with it, but it takes enormous strength, courage and will to participate fully in difficult therapies of recovery and to make the life changes required to minimize the impact of these triggers to use.

We can never control what we are not fully aware of, but we can take steps to minimize the occurrence of these impulses. We do so through medications that affect the mesolimbic, and by cognitive and behavioral strategies that reduce out exposure to situations and environments likely to trigger a preconscious impulse. It’s not easy to change your life in such a way as to minimize these triggers to abuse, and those that can do so should be celebrated for their strength and determination, and never castigated for their weakness or lack of willpower.

Although addiction is medically recognized as a disease, the stigma associated with addiction recovery has a lot to do with myths and misunderstandings of the true nature of addiction. Recovering addicts deserve our support and admiration, and never the lingering stigma of personal weakness.

Lenny

anonymous

Besides the workplace, there are several other types of organizations that rely on substance abuse testing results. The latest trend is hair alcohol testing and hair drug testing. Hair alcohol testing is also considered one of the least evasive substance tests around. Instead of urine alcohol testing, breath or saliva testing that demands personal body fluids, hair alcohol testing only asks for a small sample of hair, taken discreetly from the base of the scalp. This is done by trained nurses that can collect a person’s hair sample inconspicuously in their home or place of work.

The need for hair alcohol testing to prove a history of alcohol abuse is just as necessary to disprove any abuse. Several places are looking into hair alcohol testing verses urine alcohol testing as their preferred method. Not only because it’s less invasive but because hair alcohol testing can show a 30-day history of abuse or lack of abuse, where a urine alcohol test can only show at the most, a week’s notice.

Other Scenarios Where Hair Alcohol Testing is Used

•    Hospitals looking to hire a surgeon or an airline hiring a pilot will likely be interested in knowing the alcohol abuse history of a surgeon or pilot before they’re hired.

•    Social workers or lawyers trying to prove the lack of alcohol abuse of a parent trying to gain custody of their child.

•    A rehabilitation service can use alcohol hair testing to watch the progress of a recovering patient

Once a small hair sample is taken from the base of the head, it is taken to a laboratory where several tests will be performed to see if certain markers show up on the hair shaft. These special markers only appear if the person has been drinking alcohol or abusing drugs.  One specific marker, called EtG, ethyl glucuronide is one of the most exciting parts of the hair test. The more alcohol or drugs a person consumes, the greater amount of EtG markers are present in the hair.

No Long-Term History of Alcohol Abuse Was Available Until Now

EtG alcohol testing is unique compared to other alcohol tests EtG alcohol testing this test shows a history of abuse instead of hours or at most- a couple days like urine alcohol testing would. EtG testing can prove up to 12 months of alcohol abuse- unlike urine alcohol testing, which can only show about a week’s worth of alcohol abuse- because alcohol is so quickly filtered throughout the body through urine, sweat and evaporation.

As more companies and other organizations discover hair alcohol testing as an alternative to urine alcohol testing, they will find that it is more cost effective way to test for substance abuse in that no more than twice a year will it be necessary to test employees due to the length of history that it provides.

Hair alcohol testing gives peace to employers who hire for certain high profile positions, or positions that demand mentally stable individuals like surgeons, airplane pilots and those in childcare. Next time you are in an interview for a job, you may not be handed a cup, but a seat in a barber chair.

Julian

Drug Alcohol Test

The fact that nearly half of the automobile and industrial accidents are associated with alcohol abuse in the United States stresses the need to check alcohol abuse at all levels. Alcohol saliva test is one of the common methods used at schools, businesses, and safety sensitive works to test the suspects of alcohol abuse. The most important advantages of alcohol saliva test are easy sample collection and quick results.

Applications of Alcohol Saliva Test:

Alcohol saliva tests are used at various locations and situations to test the alcohol levels in a suspect.

•    Schools: Saliva alcohol tests are preferred in schools as the samples cannot be adulterated and can be collected easily.

•    Businesses: Many employers in United States use random alcohol testing.  Employee dignity is a question that is often raised while drug testing at workplace. Alcohol saliva test enables random alcohol tests, which are non invasive and give instant results.

•    Safety Sensitive Works: US Department of Transportation (DOT) approved alcohol saliva test as effective testing method that is required for testing of all transportation and safety sensitive employees.

Advantages of Alcohol Saliva Test:

Alcohol Saliva Test has many advantages such as,

•    Convenient: These tests are simple to use anywhere and at anytime. They work in a clean, non-invasive manner, so this test is considered as the simplest method to detect alcohol levels in the body.

•    Quick & Economical: When compared to other alcohol testing methods, it is time and cost efficient. These tests provide results within minutes.

•    No Adulteration: Saliva tests are very difficult to adulterate, as the samples can be obtained under direct supervision.

•    Employee Dignity: The collection of samples is donor friendly, dignified, secured, and less embarrassing when compared to other tests such as urine or hair tests.

•    Accurate: As the ratio of alcohol content in saliva and blood is 1:1, this method is as accurate as blood and urine drug tests.

•    Recent Drug Abuse: These tests detect the recent alcohol drug abuse.

Over consumption and abuse of alcohol has led society to many problems. In order to deter alcohol abusers, many schools and employers are using alcohol tests. Of them, Alcohol Saliva Test is a good tool in maintaining a drug free and safe environment.

Brandon

marie

I’m really confused. Are they different or are they similar? What are the differences between alcoholism and alcohol abuse (if there are any)? Which one is worse?

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Tom alter

Alcoholism is defined as an irresistible urge to consume alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism are very well aware of the dangerous effects alcohol could have on their bodies, but still they are unable to resist the urge to consume it. They will usually drink beyond acceptable limits and will be in an inebriated state most often, causing embarrassment and inconvenience to the people with them.

Most people who consume alcohol have more than they can manage. This is seen in alcohol drinkers who lose control of their senses when they have one drink too many. Such an overstepping of limits is called as alcohol abuse. People who abuse alcohol are having more alcohol than their body allows them, but they have not yet come totally under the control of their alcohol habit. However, if they continue drinking for long, then they will not be able to resist alcohol and will become totally addicted to it. This situation is called as alcoholism.

Constant alcoholism will interfere with the functioning of all the vital organs of the body. The major organs affected are the liver, brain, heart and kidneys.

Liver is perhaps the most seriously affected in the long run. With prolonged alcoholism, the liver may develop cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver tissue. Once cirrhosis sets in, it is very difficult to return the health back to normal.

In the stomach, alcohol can cause several gastric problems which may interfere with digestion. At the same time, each time a person has alcohol, it numbs his/her nervous system. In due course, the person may lose some or all of the fundamental senses.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Alcoholism

1. Aloe vera (Aloe vera)

Aloe vera helps to strengthen the liver which is the first organ to be affected by the habit of alcoholism. Aloe vera can improve the functions and strength of the liver, and can prevent cirrhosis which is developed due to continuous intake of alcohol.

2. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is an herb that is taken to reduce vata vitiations. This is important since vata plays and important role in strengthening the brain and nervous coordination. Use of ashwagandha can make the alcoholic person stronger.

3. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

The gotu kola herb revitalizes the brain. This is essential in people who want to overcome the withdrawal symptoms accompanied with alcohol.

4. Musk (Nardostachys jatamansi)

Known commonly in Ayurveda as Jatamansi, musk is a nervine for the vata vitiation. Its cooling effect helps the body to fight against then effects of alcoholism.

(2) Ayurvedic Treatment for Alcoholism

Ayurvedic treatments for mada work on various levels. There are different kinds of treatments for people with different degrees of alcoholism. Common therapies employed are cold irrigations on the head, providing a cold diet and applying cold mud packs on the body.

However these therapies work only for people who are not habitual alcoholics. These are the people who are beginners to drinking and hence get intoxicated easily. Ayurvedic medicines like Brihat vata chintamani rasa, Vata Vidhwansa rasa, Brahmi ghritam and Sarvatha choorna can be given to the alcoholics.

But if the person is a habitual alcoholic, then severe treatments are necessary. The medication is done based on the doshic constitution of the person.

1. For people with a vata constitution, the prescribed Ayurvedic treatments are Suvarachala choorna, Shuktapana and Amla Snigdhaadi yoga.

2. For people with a pitta constitution, the prescribed Ayurvedic treatments are Vata Srugadi pana and Kshundramalaki hima.

3. For people with a kapha constitution, the prescribed Ayurvedic treatments are to induce vomiting, fasting and to provide digestive medicines.

(3) Home Medications

Fruit juices are very effective in lowering the effects of alcoholism. For removing the effects of a hangover, the juice of a lemon or orange will be very effective. Eating an apple or banana helps to flush out the toxins from the body which collect due to alcoholism.

Both grapes and dates are very beneficial in reducing the urge to consume alcohol. If alcoholics are kept on a diet of only grapes for a couple of weeks, then most likely the temptation to drink will be totally gone.

Introduce many other drinks in the person’s diets so that the craving for the alcoholic drink is reduced.

When the person feels the urge to consume alcohol, having a glass of carrot juice will help to reduce the temptation.

For an alcoholic, avoiding alcohol could be a very difficult task. The withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism may be very severe. So it is not advisable for a hardcore alcohol to stop drinking entirely. Instead, the alcohol should be carefully phased out.

The following steps can be taken to reduce alcohol intake

1. The person must be made to take interest in constructive hobbies and sports.

2. Love and affection from family members and friends could strengthen the resolve of the person to give up alcoholism.

3. Attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous will show the alcoholic how people have managed to kick their boozing habits. This will create a very positive outlook in the alcoholic.

4. Instead of alcohol, other drinks with less alcohol in them can be used, such as wine and cocktails. Eventually even these can be stopped.

Melissa Peterman

There has been a lot of talk about hair alcohol testing and how it matches up against traditional forms of alcohol testing. Some argue for the price of the specific test, there are others out there that can reveal alcohol abuse for half the cost of hair alcohol testing. The fact is, other tests like breathalyzers and urine alcohol testing can reveal alcohol consumption but not anywhere near the precision or the scope of hair alcohol testing. Essentially, by testing for alcohol abuse with hair alcohol testing once, you can reveal 12 months of abuse, whereas a urine alcohol test’s findings could only reveal up to a week or 10 days at best. Hair alcohol testing is extremely sensitive and exact, and for many employers, social services and others, exact information is priceless.

How Small Is Too Small Of A Trace Of Alcohol To Be Found In Hair Alcohol Testing?

Hair alcohol testing is so sensitive to alcohol that it can pick up traces of alcohol in a person’s hair if they were to visit a pub or in a dentist office or other environment where medicine with alcohol is involved. Alcohol is around us in the air in different forms whether we are aware of it or not. Ethanol is present in all hair including those who abstain from alcohol altogether.

To avoid the confusion of those who ingest alcohol and those who happened to be in the environment of alcohol present, hair alcohol testers use EtG alcohol testing, a special form of hair alcohol testing that measures the amount of alcohol ingested and metabolized by the body. When a person consumes alcohol, part of it reacts with fatty acids to produce esters. The test adds up the concentrations of four fatty acid ethyl esters, (FAEEs) that are apparent in the test and uses them as indicators of the alcohol consumption. As the hair grows, it absorbs special markers called fatty acid ethyl esters and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) into its structure, which remain in the hair indefinitely. These patented markers are only produced when there is alcohol in the bloodstream, and the more markers there are, the more alcohol you consumed.

The amounts found in hair are measured in nanograms (one nanogram equals only one billionth of a gram)- however with the benefit of modern technology, it is now possible to detect such small amounts.

Pros and Cons of Other Traditional Methods Verses Hair Alcohol Testing

• Hair Alcohol Testing Window of Detection: Up to 12 months

• Traditional Methods: Less than 4 weeks

• Possibility of False Positives or Tampering with Hair Alcohol Testing: None

• Possibility of False Positives or Tampering with Traditional Testing Methods: Yes

• Invasive Testing Procedure with Traditional Testing Methods: Yes

• Invasive Testing Procedure with Hair Alcohol Testing: No

Whether your school, office, hospital or legal system should use hair alcohol testing as its preferred method of testing for alcohol abuse is a very personal choice that depends on many factors. You can’t put a price on your company’s name as a reputable provider of safe services. When it comes to paying for piece of mind on your staff or student’s safety, there isn’t anything more valuable than that.