National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

This time of year brings about holiday cheer and the reunion of family and friends. It is a time of joy, fun and celebration. In lieu of the holiday season, December has become an important month for other reasons as well. It is also drunk and drugged driving prevention month. Around the holidays, bars and restaurants are busier, parties are attended, and drinking is encouraged. Because of this, December is the month chosen for awareness towards drunk and drugged driving prevention.

It is common knowledge that drunk driving is common around this time of year, but drugged driving is a new concept for some. Like drunk driving, drugged driving presents extreme and deadly risk for everyone on the road. In 2010, 1 in 3 drivers who were killed in a motor vehicle crash tested positive for illicit or prescription drugs. Everyone at Ambrosia Treatment Center joins the staff and administrator David Strickland of the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) in observing prevention this month and working to stop drunk and drugged driving all year.

Because December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, it is a time to bring awareness towards the consequences of drunk and/or drugged driving and preventative ways to avoid these consequences in the future. A few important tips geared toward preventing fatalities and accidents this December (and always) are 1) designate a sober and responsible driver before parties and celebrations begin 2) never serve anyone underage 3) plan parties that provide non-alcoholic beverages and refrain from serving alcohol for the last few hours of the party and 4) be prepared to help people get home if need be.

The idea behind making December the month of drunk and drugged driving awareness is meant to deter people from taking part in risky activities that would lead to drunk and drugged driving. December is the month with the highest amount of drunk and drugged driving incidents. To show your support, avoid both driving and letting friends and family drive under the influence. Also, displaying a red ribbon (the symbol of substance abuse prevention) on your vehicle will shown support for drug awareness. We ask you to turn your attention to preventing drunk and drugged driving accidents and plan ahead this December, and always.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Alcohol addiction is an addiction that is often overlooked but can, and often does, result in fatality. These fatalities have made alcohol one of the top three causes of preventable death in the United States. It is challenging, to say the least, to fight an addiction as habit-forming and socially acceptable as alcoholism. Fortunately, because it is so common, there are many alcohol treatment options available. However, about 90% of alcohol addicts will fall victim to an alcohol relapse after recovery.

There are many factors that play a part in an alcohol relapse. Individuals who suffer from severe alcohol addictions may find themselves having a harder time staying sober. Many people experience cravings to alcohol in different ways, and depending on how an addiction is handled, treated and  followed up on, a relapse may or may not occur. Often times, a person will underestimate the intensity of their addictionand ignore the warning signs. In their mind, the idea of drinking alcohol may be held in a euphoric sense – a constant but ignored temptation. It is unhealthy to deal with anything in that way, more so something as dangerous as an alcohol addiction.

The goals of relapse prevention are fairly straightforward: to identify the behavioral choices that steered the individual toward recovery in the first place, create an outline of options to help manage the difficulties you will encounter while staying sober, and lastly create a plan for maintaining a sober lifestyle. To create this plan, an alcohol addict must recognize all of the intricate details that point toward their possible alcohol relapse. These details are usually very personal and going to an Alcohol Anonymous group meeting can be very helpful to know that you are not alone in your fight against alcohol relapse. There are two main factors that will draw an addict back to their addiction: direct and remote. Direct factors consist of things such as people, places or events associated with drinking alcohol. Remote factors are linked to internal triggers such as dysfunctional thinking patterns, behaviors, or feelings.

Creating and participating in an alcohol relapse prevention program will hone in on these factors as they are individual to you and what you’re going through. Having this plan will help you identify these problems, but more importantly, how to deal with and recognize them when they are bearing down on you at the turning point of your recovery. If you feel that you are in need of a treatment program or are at risk of an alcohol relapse, create a relapse prevention plan with a sponsor, therapist, counselor, or someone who you trust and who knows you well. You will not regret staying sober, but you will regret falling off the wagon on your way to a productive and healthy life.

Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Crack Cocaine Addiction

The powdered form of cocaine has always been associated with the wealth and glamor of the middle and upper class. However crack cocaine is a much more addictive and grungy drug associated with anorexic-looking inner city abusers of poverty and crime. Cocaine in the form of crack is called “crack” because of the cracking or popping noise it makes when heated up and smoked. It is very common in inner city poverty areas due to its convenience, availability and low cost. When crack is consumed, it takes effect on the entire nervous system (both central and automatic) almost immediately by mimicking the neurotransmitters that control these systems, causing high levels of stimulation.

Smoking crack sends extremely large amounts of cocaine to the lungs, allowing an overflow of dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the brain, to flood the body. This results in an intense and very brief sensation of euphoria and empowerment before a steep downhill plummet into deep depression. Normally the crack abuser will frantically look for another “bump” to escape the looming depression that is caused by crack. The cycle will continue and the user will become addicted in a short amount of time.

The side-effects of crack cocaine use can cause an increase of blood pressure, heart and breathing rates, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, hyper activity, convulsions, lack of appetite, decrease in the need for sleep, damage in the nasal septum and lungs, and can even cause heart attacks and strokes. The use of crack cocaine causes drug addiction extremely rapidly. This is because the body absorbs it quickly. Immediately after the intense high subsides, the user will experience strong feelings of depression. They will instantly want to use the drug again. Frequent users of this drug can be irritable, have a decreased attention span. They can also suffer paranoid psychoses, hallucinations and violent behavior.

Crack cocaine drug addiction is extremely prevalent in users. Even with short-term use withdrawal symptoms will shortly follow the drug abuse. Of course, these symptoms will be much more pronounced in long time cocaine drug addicts. The withdrawal symptoms that will occur will include very intense drug cravings, irritability, hunger, anxiety and paranoia. Because of the physical and psychological intensity of cocaine withdrawal, it is near impossible to stop using crack cocaine without medical attention of some sort.

There are treatment programs available to help with the process of realigning one’s life. If you or a loved one is addicted to crack cocaine, there are treatment options available. Florida treatment facilities can help you learn about drug addiction and the havoc it causes to your life. There are dedicated professionals here to help you steer your life back on track.

Crack Cocaine Addiction

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is extremely abundant in today’s society. It is culturally accepted that when a person turns 21, they will go out to bars and drink with their friends. Even before age 21, young adults and teens feel a want or a pressure to start drinking socially. Because it is so prevalent, it is also hard to tell when and why alcohol use becomes alcohol abuse. The effects of alcohol abuse are not hard to identify, but people who have a dependence of alcohol will not want to acknowledge these effects. They will continue to usealcohol even if their work, medical, or home life is suffering greatly.

The facts about alcohol can be quite surprising to some. Most people develop an alcohol dependencebetween ages 18 and 25. The symptoms of abuse will probably alternate between periods of abusing to periods of the abstinence of alcohol. During the periods of abuse, the effects of alcohol can be quite detrimental, not only to the individual but also to the individual’s family as well. There is a strong relationship between drinking and domestic violence. Also, children of at least one alcoholic parent are at higher risk for becoming dependent on alcohol as well. These children are also more receptive to negative feelings, stress, aggression and alienation. In general, people who suffer from alcohol dependence will probably experience some sort of depression and/or antisocial behavior.

To look closer at the actual substance of alcohol, rather than the psychological effects it can produce, we’ll dive a little deeper into the facts on alcohol. When alcohol is consumed, it travels through the bloodstream and into the body’s tissues. Depending on how much the individual weighs, how much he/she has eaten that day, and what age they are will affect the way alcohol interacts with their body. When alcohol is consumed in small amounts, it may cause dizziness, excessive talking and “party behavior.” In larger amounts, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, and an hangover (headache, nausea) will ensue after the alcohol wears off. Those are only the short-term effects. The long-term effects can get scary. Later on down the road leading to alcoholism, alcohol abuse can cause irreparable damage to the liver and the brain. It has been studied and shown that women suffer the long-term effects much faster then men do.

Alcohol dependence is a scary and unpredictable thing. If you feel that you or a loved one is suffering from a dependence of alcohol, do not hesitate to get help. In moderation, alcohol can be used healthily in a social setting, but when alcohol is abused, you may have the start of a chronic illness on your hands. Treatment for alcohol dependence does work, and it is available for anyone who feels out of control with their alcohol use.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcoholism is a serious disease that affects more than 15 million Americans on a daily basis. Just as withdrug addicts, there are many different types of alcoholics. Some may just have a few drinks every day, while others may drink from morning until night. Again, there are some alcohol addicts who may only drink on the weekends, but when they do, they consume beverages in mass quantities. Alcohol affects people differently. Some people develop a physical and mental dependence and need it to function normally.

Not only can it can be hard to define exactly what is an alcohol addict, it can also be hard to determine whether someone actually is an alcoholic or not. In many situations, people get up, work their daily jobs and do everything else that normal people do. However, they are either constantly under the influence of alcohol, or they immediately drink after dealing with all responsibilities and obligations. Either way, one thing is true of alcoholics. There is a constant preoccupation with drinking in their minds and in many cases they are physically dependent on alcohol. When not under the influence, they may experience irritability, anxiety and even shakiness. These are all symptoms of withdrawal and they can occur on a small scale every day until the person consumes alcohol.

Alcohol dependence occurs when a person is so use to being intoxicated on a regular basis that their body has physical cravings for alcohol and they experience consistent urges to drink. Alcohol dependence and alcoholism go hand in hand, and they are both past the point of alcohol abuse. While abuse may refer to occasionally drinking more than you should abuse and dependence refer to doing so on a frequent and/or regular basis. Once a person has reached this point, treatment is necessary. Although some people can stop drinking entirely or cut back on their drinking on their own. For some it is out of their control. Once an individual begins to suffer from health problems, or face negative consequences in their financial and social matters, it could be very well be because alcohol has taken control of their lives. In these cases, it is usually the best idea to seek professional help.

Alcohol addiction treatment can be very effective for many different people. Although alcoholism is a disease that is incurable, it can be treated with the proper daily management. One can keep themselves from going back to drinking. Alcohol treatment does more than just simply address the issue of drinking too much. The proper treatment will provide participants in the program with the necessary tools to deal with the problems that brought them to drink in the first place. These tools are implemented through a combination of group therapy sessions, counseling, and alcohol education classes. In many cases, a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous is also part of treatment, which can be very effective.

In the most severe cases, patients are admitted into alcohol detox to flush the alcohol from their system. Patients at this state drink in such large quantities that when they abruptly stop, their body goes into a state of shock. Withdrawal symptoms can be very dangerous and can include anxiety, nausea, depression, insomnia, sweating, shaking, delirium tremens, seizures, high blood pressure and even cardiac arrest. At its worst, severe alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. Drug treatment centers have teams of doctors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists that not only monitor patients’ physical wellbeing, but are also there to treat emotional and mental symptoms and ensure that patients are headed in the right direction in their recovery.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism but often leads to becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcohol addiction occurs when there is a physical dependency on alcohol, and a person needs to drink in order to get through the day and/or function normally. It is estimated that there are more than 12 million alcoholics in the United States. At least 6% of the American population are alcoholics.

There is no definite cause for alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but there are many contributing factors that are taken into account when diagnosing someone as an alcohol addict. There are certain questions that drug and alcohol treatment professionals ask people when trying to find out if someone is an alcoholic or not, but the reasons for addiction are not always the same. It has been stated that a person’s family history is a strong indicator if someone is or is not an alcoholic, and if you have at least one parent that suffers from alcohol addiction, you are more likely to suffer from the same issues.

Alcohol abuse often starts at an early age and some reasons for its occurrence include peer pressure, low self-esteem, stress, and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. In addition, if someone is exposed to alcohol frequently and has easy access to beverages such as wine, beer or liquor, they are also more likely to develop a drinking problem. Certain lifestyles are synonymous with drug and/or alcohol abuse, such as the professions of musicians, servers and bartenders. In part, this is due to the fact that these individuals are working in an environment that is surrounded by alcohol, and they can also be stressful situations. Those who have high-stress jobs, and people who make large incomes are also more apt to drink on a regular basis.

If you drink more than 15 drinks per week, or if you drink more than 5 drinks in one sitting, this has also been linked to defining alcohol abuse. Alcoholics drink despite the negative consequences of their drinking, including problems with relationships, finances, and work. There are numerous issues that have been related to alcoholism, but the fact of the matter is that alcoholics drink simply because they drink. It can be said that high stress, genetics, and other problems can be related to cause heavy drinking, but anyone can experience these issues, and not everyone abuses alcohol.

When a person becomes physically dependent on alcohol, their body becomes so used to being intoxicated that they feel the consistent urge to drink just to function. This is known as a functionalalcoholic, and these people often work regular jobs, have successful careers and well-developed relationships, but they still drink. There is no definite way to recognize an alcoholic, and they often hide the alcohol abuse so as not affect others.

Unfortunately, alcohol is so ubiquitous in the United States and other countries that it is hard to escape, and many succumb to the temptation of abusing alcohol on a regular basis. In addition, many alcoholics continue to drink, because if they suddenly stopped, they would be subject to the many different negative effects of alcohol withdrawal, such as anxiety, irritability, insomnia, nausea and even seizures that can lead to cardiac arrest or death. There are a variety of prescription drugs that are used to treat these symptoms, such as benzodiazepines and other medications that reduce the urge to drink. If you are worried that you may be an alcoholic or abuse alcohol on a regular basis, it’s important to realize that alcoholism is a disease, and it can be treated by medical professionals. Many people suffer from this disease, and you are not alone in your struggle. There is help out there for everyone.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Drug Abuse And Addiction

Drug addiction and abuse is a double-edged sword. It is the cause of ruin for an individual’s life, and abuse increases the chances of addiction the more it is utilized. Many people do not understand an addiction to drugs, even when they are the victim of an addiction themselves. It is often thought that anaddict simply lacks the moral standing or willpower to say no, or to quit. This is rarely the case. Addictive drugs actually change the brain in ways to confuse the receptors and harbor compulsive tendencies.Drug addiction should be approached at the angle of a complex, chronic disease that requires diligence and patience to overcome and stay sober. Drug abuse will never be cured because it will be an every day challenge to stay clean, but drug abuse can be successfully treated. With help and treatment, those who suffer from addiction can lead healthy and productive lives.

More often than not, initial drug use is voluntary, but this does not ever make drug addiction a specific persons fault. There are many different scenarios where an individual can become addicted. Prescription drugs are one of the most addicting substances in the world because of the way the change a person’s brain in response to pain and pleasure. Even with recreational drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and club drugs, an addiction forms because of the affect that these substances have on a person’s self-control and impulsive behavioral centers in the brain. There is a question of the nature related to drug abuse: is a person more likely to do drugs because of the way their brain works, or does drug use simply occur by chance/environment?

There are two types of addictions – physical and emotional, body and mind. Each person is affected by sides of the double-edged addiction. A physical addiction can be arguably easier to treat because it is simply ridding one’s body of the drug and tending to the withdrawal symptoms that will follow. The tricky part comes with the emotional addiction and nearly inevitable changes to the brain. How do you coach a person back to real pleasures when they have experienced a strong cognitive dissonance relating drugs and pleasure? Of course the pleasure felt while one is on drugs lacks the true qualities of life, but yet, the individual is so “high.” These feelings create a confusion that is endless, at first. It is a dangerous feeling and when an individual starts to lose the feelings of reality, they start to lose control of themselves. Fortunately, there are amazing people out there who can offer counseling and discovery as to why the individual is attracted to such unrealistic pleasures and how to bring reality back to them in a way that the addict will understand and respect.

Drug Abuse And Addiction