Increase Your Knowledge: Its Alcohol Awareness Month
Knowledge is Power in the Fight Against Alcoholism
Alcohol is a factor in more than half of American homicides, suicides, and traffic accidents. It is a key factor in many domestic, relational, and financial problems including crimes against family members or spouses. It is often the reason for job loss, financial loss, property loss, and destroyed relationships.
Alcohol awareness month provides a platform for education, addiction treatment and recognition of recovery for all who recognize it. One way to combat alcoholism and to highlight the detrimental effects of drinking is to spread knowledge. Fresh Start of California is your source for Orange County addiction and recovery, and we are happy to help our community increase their knowledge of the truth about alcohol.
Reach out to the team at Fresh Start of California and take the first step in recovery.
Alcohol’s Effects: What Is Your Drink Doing to You?
Alcohol is often considered the social lubricant, “helping” drinkers get comfortable in social situations, open up to friends and loved ones, and be more apt to have fun. But, in reality, it inhibits the gut feelings and instincts that protect us from danger and keep us from saying things that may be left unsaid.
It is the cause of many negative reactions to its poison including:
- Mood changes
- Impaired vision
- Impaired speech
- Loss of balance
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of inhibition
- Impaired reaction to danger
These are all signs of acute alcohol or being drunk. We are often affected by alcohol to a point of self-endangerment before we even feel the “positive” effects of social ease.
Alcohol Use Disorder: Signs and Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol use disorder is characterized by increased tolerance for alcohol, physical dependence, loss of control and loss of limitation of the consumption of alcohol. Many alcoholics or those who suffer from alcohol abuse disorder are thought to be genetically predisposed to the disease, while also being influenced by their physical and psychological environment as well as social cues and pressures. A person’s risk of alcoholism increases by 3-4 times if a parent is an alcoholic.
Alcoholism can involve binge drinking on occasion, drinking moderate amounts daily or a combination of the two.
Chronic alcohol abuse can cause numerous physical ailments that include:
- Liver damage
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Stomach ulcers
- Impotence
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Cancer of the larynx, esophagus, liver, breast, or pancreas
Not only does chronic alcohol abuse cause disease and physical changes, but it also greatly affects the function of the brain and changes the brain’s chemistry.
Treatment is Available: The Time to Change Is Now
No matter how long a person has been addicted to alcohol or has abused alcohol in his or her life, there is always a reason to get help. Treatment and recovery can repair families, can mend and reestablish relationships and can provide a new life. There are many options when it comes to addiction recovery and healing from the conditions that caused alcohol abuse in the first place.
Treatment for alcoholism and other addictions may include:
- Inpatient or medically assisted detox
- Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation
- Short term residential treatment
- Outpatient counseling
- Group and individual therapy
- 12-step programs
- Medication to help remain sober after recovery
- Support groups
- Sponsorship and one-on-one mentoring
You Are Not Alone
If you are ready to make a change, reach out to our Orange County rehabilitation and addiction specialists are Fresh Start of California. We are here to help you every step of the way. It is our goal to help our patients find a new way to live without the chains and shackles of addiction and alcoholism.
