Many people do not understand the facts about alcoholism. Knowing the facts may lead to a person being ready to stop drinking.

What is alcoholism? When is it time to consider the choice to stop drinking? Once you have the answers to these questions it may be easier to understand the problem and deal with it in a positive way.

There are all kinds of people who enjoy a drink from time to time with friends or in social settings. People sometimes drink at weddings, parties or other gatherings.

Unfortunately this type of drinking differs from the nearly 14 million Americans who are alcoholics. These numbers do not include the several million more adults who take part in drinking that can be harmful and lead to health problems. Binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular basis are
part of these numbers.

As with other risky and dangerous habits, the misuse of alcohol can have very negative consequences. Some of these consequences are life threatening.

When people engage in heavy drinking they are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the liver, throat, larynx or esophagus. Heavy drinking can also result in brain damage, cirrhosis of the liver, immune system problems and often causes problems for an unborn fetus.

Drinking heavily is costly. It has been determined that alcohol-related problems cost our society at least $185 billion per year. Also consider the personal cost of relationships that are ruined, jobs that are lost and families that are broken because of alcohol abuse.

Another term for alcoholism is alcohol dependence. Alcoholism is a disease and there are four symptoms associated with is.

A craving to drink is one symptom. This craving is a very strong need to drink. Another symptom of alcoholism is tolerance. This means that a person develop the need to drink more and more alcohol so that she can get “high.” The third symptom of alcoholism is loss of control.

When this happens a person becomes unable to limit his drinking on any given occasion. The fourth symptom of alcoholism is physical dependence. When alcohol is not used a person experiences withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, nausea, sweating or anxiety.

If these symptoms sound too familiar to you it may be time to stop using alcohol and seek professional help. Many alcoholics feel they can do this by themselves and there are people who have succeeded. Others have found professional help and support is much more successful.

There are people who can handle drinking and never have any of the symptoms. They often do not understand why alcoholics can’t use some willpower and kick the habit. Alcoholism has very little to do with willpower. The craving for alcohol often can override the strongest amount of willpower.

All kinds of people who suffer from alcoholism have been able to stop drinking. It can be difficult and painful to stop drinking but it is possible.

Want to find more information on how to stop drinking then visit http://www.stopdrinkingadvice.org/

About the Author:

Discover how to stop drinking alcohol permanently, within 21 days guaranteed
For more information go to:
stop
http://www.stopdrinkingadvice.org/guide/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – If Alcoholism Is A Problem You Can Stop Drinking

Wastin' away in margaritaville? New evidence on the academic effects of teenage binge drinking.(Report): An article from: Contemporary Economic Policy $9.95 This digital document is an article from Contemporary Economic Policy, published by Western Economic Association International on January 1, 2010. The length of the article is 13750 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.From the author: Using...

Sociodemographic differences in Binge drinking among adults--14 states, 2004.(Statistical data)(Clinical report): An article from: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report $9.95 This digital document is an article from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by U.S. Government Printing Office on April 3, 2009. The length of the article is 2846 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Sociod...

Binge drinking on campus: Results of a national survey $4.99 ...

How Can I Reduce My Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking?

I start drinking and do not know when to stop. This is because I’ve developed an immunity to it. I just drink on weekends, but I’m a lush and I can drink more than all my friends. I realize that I involve myself in binge drinking. I don’t ever drink and drive and when I drink, I always call a taxi because I don’t want hurt anyone. I’m an adjuster with the Union and haven’t missed a day of work in 8 years.

Answer. If you do not know when or how stop drinking once you start you have a problem with alcohol and you may be an alcoholic. Talk to your doctor and join AA before you mess up your life. There’s nothing worse than seeing a person die a slow and painful death of as a result of liver or pancreatic cancer

Stop Binge Drinking: Hypnosis CDs that actually work! $29.95

Official Irish Beer Drinking Glove $3.99 The official drinking glove tells people that drinking is a serious commitment youre willing to put the time and effort into doing right....

Funky Binge Responsibly Oversized Funny Beach Towel $27.99 Towel reads "Binge Responsibly". Be the envy of all your friends with this attention getting towel. Perfect for the pool or at the beach....

Binge Drinking (List of Reasons) Art Poster Print - 24 X 36 $4.99 This poster says at the top "Binge Drinking". It has a list of funny statements about binge drinking, such as "The more you drink, the more you'll realize you're the smartest person there" and "Seeing double of your partner is the closest you'll ever get to a threesome."...

It's Always Fair Weather (1955 Movie Soundtrack) (Rhino Handmade) $17.23 ...

BMV Quantum Subliminal CD Binge Drinking Aid: Stop Excessive Alcohol Consumption (Ultrasonic Subliminal Series) $14.99 Program your subconscious mind to stop binge drinking and reduce excessive alcohol consumption. Create amazing results using state-of-the-art subliminal and brainwave entrainment technologies. Tune your brainwaves to specific frequencies by listening to this CD! Program your subconscious mind for positive lasting results, created by a Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic...

Wrongs of Passage $16.2 Nuwer explores the often undiscussed or dismissed dark side of collegiate Greek organizations and their hazing habits in his grim account.

From Binge to Blackout $10.1 Description not available.

Skins - Vol. 1 (DVD) $29.92 Drugs, sex, and binge drinking fight for space in this unsparing British series about teenagers. Consider it an edgier O.C., or--depending on one`s perspective--a considerably more lighthearted draft of KIDS. The comic drama centers on charismatic lead...

Saving Grace - Season 2 - 4-Disc Set (DVD) $30.36 For a functioning alcoholic, detective Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter) is an unusually effective asset to the Oklahoma City police department. Spending her time off the job sleeping around with married men, flashing her elderly neighbor, and binge-drink...

Saving Grace: Season 1 (DVD) $24.27 For a functioning alcoholic, detective Grace Hanadarko is an unusually effective asset to the Oklahoma City police department. Spending her time off the job sleeping around with married men, flashing her elderly neighbor, and binge-drinking herself int...

Cindy was watching a special on cable TV about the short term and the long term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.  As Cindy watched the program she started to think about her drinking behavior.

Could she become a moderate drinker rather than getting drunk a few times every month?  Are her terrible hangovers a symptom of a serious drinking problem?  Did she abuse alcohol on a fairly regular basis?  Will she become alcohol dependent like her uncle?  Is her binge drinking a sign of chronic alcohol abuse?   Does she need to get alcohol treatment for her problem drinking?

While the focal point of Cindy’s attention was on the long term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, she also began to think about the short term effects of excessive drinking.

She reasoned that by centering her attention only on the long term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, she might ignore what is taking place in her “drinking” behavior in the here-and-now.

To her credit, Cindy actually began to think about and do something positive about her current drinking issues so that she would not have to address more significant problems in the future.

Kenny is a junior at a small public high school in the Northeast.  Similar to a lot of his friends, he drinks wine and beer on the weekends.  While watching TV one Wednesday night, he stumbled upon a special program about teenage alcohol abuse.

Until he saw this program, Kenny never saw himself as an alcohol abuser.  He didn’t drink everyday and he “only” got drunk once or twice every month.  In Kenny’s mind, getting intoxicated was less about abusive and excessive drinking and more about doing what all of his best friends were doing.  After watching the TV program about teen alcohol abuse, however, he now realizes that every time he gets drunk, he is engaging in a special form of alcohol abuse called binge drinking.

The issue now is what Kenny will do about this information.  Would he continue to drink and get drunk with his friends?  Would he significantly “cut back” on his drinking and drink in moderation, or would he refrain from drinking entirely?

What is the most important alcohol information that an individual can apply in his or her daily life?  Might it be that one instance of binge drinking can result in a fatal alcohol overdose?  Perhaps it is knowing the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Some people would say that the most important bit of alcohol information is the fact that the earlier an individual begins drinking the more likely he or she will engage in excessive and abusive drinking?  On the other hand, maybe it is knowing about fetal alcohol syndrome and how to avoid this totally preventable disease.

From a different perspective, some would argue that the most important bit of alcohol information is that alcohol abuse can and does eventually lead to alcohol addiction.

While all of the above topics are significant and relevant, I believe that the most important bit of alcohol information that we can incorporate into our daily lives is this:  drinking to an excess, even if it is one time, often results in unhealthy and damaging outcomes.

The other day I was thinking about alcohol abuse and alcoholism and I began wondering how much alcohol advertising influences our drinking behavior.

As I began thinking more intensely about this I reflected on the pervasiveness, the acceptability, and the availability of alcohol in our society.  For example, I can look outside my office window and see a convenient store, a restaurant, and two bars, all of which are within 500 feet from where I live.

In a sense, each one of these businesses is an “advertisement” for drinking.  Indeed, once an individual goes inside any one of these businesses, he or she can buy just about as much alcohol as he or she wants.

Now consider the alcohol advertisements that are in magazines, in the movies, on TV, on the radio, and on the gigantic billboards that are scattered throughout our highways.

After viewing drinking from this perspective, it becomes clearer why so many alcohol problems such as alcohol abuse, binge drinking, hangovers, alcohol poisoning, and alcoholism occur so frequently in our society.

Why does binge drinking so frequently lead to alcohol poisoning?  Binge drinking is defined as having 4 or more drinks at one sitting for females and consuming 5 or more drinks at one drinking episode for males.

In truth, binge drinking and alcohol poisoning make a lot of sense from a logical point of view.  To be more specific, when a person drinks more alcohol than his or her body can process, he or she frequently experiences symptoms of alcohol poisoning such as nausea, seizers, irregular breathing, confusion, and vomiting.

By definition, binge drinking means that the drinker has had at least four or more drinks at one sitting.  Due to the fact that the binge drinker has ingested a relatively large amount of alcohol, it is probable that he or she may have consumed more alcohol than his or her liver can metabolize.  Unfortunately, when this happens the individual experiences an alcohol overdose and needs immediate medical attention.

Kathy has been an excessive drinker her entire adult life.  Now that she is almost forty-five years old, she is beginning to become more health conscious and actually wants to learn more about the negative effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

For example, is it possible for a long-term abusive drinker to significantly reduce her drinking and start to drink in moderation?  Is her drinking negatively affecting her circulatory system? Is her drinking adversely affecting her sex life?  Are heart problems and strokes linked to heavy drinking?  Has she involved herself in binge drinking? Is her excessive drinking adversely affecting her organs and bodily systems?  Is she running the risk of becoming alcohol dependent if she continues her heavy drinking?

By asking these questions, Kathy has concluded that her irresponsible and abusive drinking has probably contributed more to her health problems than any thing else she has done.  And now, she wants to reverse or stop the damage so that she can live in a healthier, more productive manner.

Sharon was a problem drinker who had just received her third “driving under the influence” arrest.  When Sharon went before the court, the Judge told her that her drinking behavior was unpardonable and as a consequence, he was going to sentence her to serve four months in jail.

While in jail, Sharon would be required to get alcohol treatment and learn more about alcohol abuse and alcoholism, binge drinking, and the adverse outcomes of abusive and excessive drinking.

The judge highlighted the fact that unless Sharon gets professional alcohol rehab and learns how to live in an alcohol-free manner, she would be spending a considerable amount of time in jail.  Sharon seemed to understand but told the judge that she still believed that jail was not the proper punishment.  The judge disagreed, saying that it was his responsibility to keep drinkers who receive multiple DUIs off the roads.

Please call this number for info about drug and alcohol rehab

Miss Billings was a seventh-grade teacher at the local junior high school that was located on the North side of town.  In addition to her master’s degree in education, Miss Billings also had a master’s degree in drug and alcohol counseling.  In a word, Miss Billings was very knowledgeable about alcohol abuse and alcoholism information.

One of the things that Miss Billings emphasized was the fact that the later people began drinking, the less the likelihood they would involve themselves in alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency later in life.

As a consequence, it made sense to her to teach her seventh-graders about the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, about binge drinking, and about the many different adverse effects that are directly or indirectly linked to hazardous and excessive drinking.

Sandra has been an executive assistant with a major painting manufacturer for twelve years.

She had a reputation as a kind of person who thought through every decision she made, someone who wasn’t much of a party person, and someone who called off work just once or twice every year.

It was therefore odd to see her empty chair on a Wednesday morning at the office.  In fact, all the people in the office were wondering where Sandra was until the CEO of the company received a phone call from a hospital administrator who said that Sandra was hospitalized for an alcohol overdose and wouldn’t return to work until Monday or Tuesday of the following week.

Apparently Sandra went out drinking with some friends, engaged in binge drinking, started exhibiting alcohol poisoning symptoms, and was rushed to the hospital for alcohol poisoning treatment.

The CEO of the company didn’t want to broadcast the fact that Sandra had been hospitalized for an alcohol overdose, so he simply said that he received word that Sandra would be out of the office until the following Monday or Tuesday morning.

While waiting to see her healthcare practitioner, Nancy started to read an article in the Wall Street Journal about alcoholism, alcohol abuse, binge drinking, and the need to teach more relevant alcohol information in our educational system.

One of the things that immediately captured Nancy’s attention was the fact that most of the alcohol that teenagers and preteens drink is purchased by older friends and relatives.  “Do these individuals think they are honestly doing the young persons a favor when they purchase their alcohol for them?” Nancy thought to herself.

Another thing that Nancy learned was that there is a difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.  This was important because Nancy honestly thought that these two forms of abusive drinking behavior were the same.  Overall, Nancy was pleased that she read this article because she learned some important alcohol abuse and alcoholism information while waiting to see her physician.

Due to the number of inquiries that had been made over the past few months, the local public health center decided that it was going to sponsor a special event that discussed how people could learn more about alcohol abuse and alcoholism.  Included in the event would be guest speakers from the mayor’s office, the local hospital, the police department, the local board of education, and the local drug and alcohol rehab clinic.

The main points of emphasis will be on discussing the most common problems and dangers linked to excessive and abusive drinking, uncovering ways in which pre-teen and teenage alcohol abuse can be prevented, identifying basic alcohol poisoning symptoms, clarifying the key differences between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, and outlining the main reasons why people involve themselves in binge drinking.

The event will be free and based on the number of people who show up, similar or more comprehensive events will be offered the next year.

What is the most relevant and important alcohol information that an individual can apply to his or her life?  Is that alcohol abuse can and does eventually transition into alcoholism?  Perhaps it is the fact that the earlier an individual begins to drink the more likely he or she will engage in excessive and abusive drinking.

On the other hand, some would argue that the most important bit of alcohol information is knowing the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency.  In a somewhat different way, while some individuals might claim that the most significant alcohol information is knowing about fetal alcohol syndrome, others might argue that it is knowing that one instance of binge drinking can result in an alcohol overdose.

While all of these topics are significant and pertinent, I believe the most important and relevant bit of alcohol information that we can apply to our daily lives is this:  drinking in an abusive and excessive manner, even if it is one time, frequently results in damaging and unhealthy consequences.

Last night the TV news anchor reflected on the death of a fifteen-year-old girl who died from alcohol poisoning and then asked the following questions: “How can we teach our teenagers more about alcohol abuse and binge drinking so that they do not kill themselves from an alcohol overdose?  Do we need to overhaul our educational system so that our students can better learn how to avoid the risks of hazardous and abusive drinking?

In a similar manner, what part do parents play in substantially reducing the incidents of teenage alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency in our society?  Is it possible that many of our pre-teens and teenagers gravitate to alcohol when they face difficulties because they lack the coping skills that are needed to deal with their problems?”

For years when I went to a bar or a nightclub, I would drink NA beer (non-alcoholic beer).  While I still like the taste of NA beer, I have discovered another non-alcoholic drink that virtually all of the bars and nightclubs can make.  Without further ado, here’s my latest non-alcoholic drink:  ½ cranberry juice and ½ soda with a twist of lime or lemon.  If I feel like having a sweeter drink, I increase the cranberry juice.  On the other hand, if I want I a more tart taste, I increase the soda.  Heck, I don’t even know what this drink is called but it tastes good and I would imagine that it’s probably a healthy drink in that it is beneficial for a person’s urinary tract.

Probably the biggest benefit of this drink, however, is that a person can still associate with friends at a bar or a nightclub, avoid all the hassles of binge drinking and alcohol abuse, and still have a good time “drinking.”

According to various research studies, even though 40 percent of college freshmen say they binge drink (four or more drinks on one occasion for females and five or more drinks on one occasion for males), a new study has discovered the fact that that up to 20 percent of male college students go quite a bit further than the binge drinking threshold, ingesting more than 10 or 15 drinks per drinking occasion.

Not only is this statistic shocking because such drinking behavior can lead to major problems if any of these college students were to drive, but this kind of hazardous and abusive drinking can also lead to alcohol poisoning, which in some instances can be fatal.

Drinkers who experience blackouts typically drink too much alcohol too quickly, a combination that leads to a relatively fast increase in an individual’s blood alcohol level.  Since an alarming number of college students involve themselves in binge drinking, students who engage in this form of alcohol abuse may be substantially increasing their risk for experiencing blackouts.

The alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse research findings demonstrate that men are significantly more likely than women to drink in an excessive and unhealthy manner.  To reinforce this fact, according to a fairly recent national survey of 19- to 30-year-olds, 26.7 percent of females and 45 percent of males reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the two weeks prior to the survey.  What is more, this survey revealed that nearly three times as many men drank on a daily basis compared to women.

It would appear that findings such as these need to be incorporated in alcohol abuse prevention and education programs as well as in the alcohol abuse treatment community.

The alcoholism and alcohol abuse research findings demonstrate that for every 10 people in the U.S., one person has an alcohol problem.  Exactly what are some of these alcohol-related difficulties and problems?  Some individuals manifest chronic alcohol abuse, alcohol dependency, hazardous “social drinking,” or a form of alcohol abuse known as binge drinking (males consuming 5 or more drinks in one sitting and females ingesting 4 or more drinks in one sitting).  All of these problem drinkers should get an evaluation of their drinking condition so they can avoid an escalation of their drinking problems.