Moderation or Not..?

For most people, drinking in moderation is not harmful, however if your drinking is above the level of two to three drinks per day, or if you are drinking in situations where impaired function is dangerous, you are not a moderate drinker, and alcohol is clearly harmful.

For those with a severe alcohol problem, treatment can be frustrating and can even be unsuccessful. Moderation seldom works for the true alcoholic and complete abstinence is necessary for people with this illness. Some self-help organizations, especially Alcoholics Anonymous, enjoy a success rate that is at least equal to that of any medical treatment. Associated organizations such as Al-Anon, which work with the families of alcoholics, are also effective. These programs work best with motivated individuals who truly wish to change, and the program continually reinforces the subject’s desire to remain free of alcoholic influence. They are very worthwhile.

However, not everyone does well with just support groups alone. Many require entering a treatment center to get more intense help with their addiction. Here are some strong signals that you need professional help: a drunken driving citation, an automobile accident after two or more drinks, missing work because of a hang over, a pattern of work absences, a hospitalization for alcohol-related problems such as gastritis or upper bowel hemorrhage, inability to function at top efficiency in the afternoon because of a two-martini lunch or equivalent. These signal are not subtle; if you recognize that your situation must be changed, you have become a good candidate for successful treatment.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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The Truth about Functioning Alcoholics

Not all alcoholics are readily identifiable as such. The alcoholics who drink continuously until they pass out, then get up and repeat the process, are actually in the minority. These people are incapable of sustaining a job or a meaningful relationship. Their only motivation in life is their next drink.

Most alcoholics are functional to some degree. They are able to hold down a job and some are even able to pursue successful careers. You might even find some who serve on volunteer committees and appear, on the surface, to be the salt of the earth. Their public persona is totally intact. You don’t have to consume alcohol every day to be an alcoholic. Some people can stop for days, weeks and even months at a time. But when they do drink, they cannot control it once they start. When you look behind that facade you can begin to see the problems. Their roles as spouse, parent, driver or financial manager may not be so trouble free. A large number of functioning alcoholics suffer from some degree of denial. Because it is not an every day event, they feel like they are able to control it. Some are not even truly aware that their alcohol use is a problem. Typically, the more severe the addiction, the stronger the denial.

With alcoholism there is both a physical and a psychological dependence. Alcohol affects the body in several ways. It acts as a depressant to the central nervous system which results in a decrease of activity, anxiety, tension and inhibitions. It slows reaction time while impairing judgment and concentration. It irritates the gastrointestinal tract while eroding the stomach lining. Liver disease and cirrhosis will develop over time with continual use of alcohol and it can have negative effects on the cardiovascular system. Alcohol affects the nervous system and can result in degeneration and dementia. Chronic use increases the risk of cancer of the larynx, esophagus, liver and colon.

Several well known people have publicly acknowledged their alcoholism and got treatment before their lives were destroyed. Some of these better known recovering alcoholics include Betty Ford (wife of former president Gerald), Buzz Aldrin (astronaut), Elizabeth Taylor and Mary Tyler Moore (actresses), Robin Williams (actor), Keith Urban and Eric Clapton (singers), Joe Namath (football legend) and George W. Bush (former president). You are not alone, and help from A Better Tomorrow is as close as your phone.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Facebook: facebook.com/ABTomorrow
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ABTomorrow