alcohol abuse

November 9 2020

What Happens When I Blackout? (Guide)

admin Alcohol Abuse addiction, alcohol abuse

If you’re asking yourself “what is alcohol-induced amnesia?”, you need to familiarize yourself with blackouts from alcohol. Someone who is in the midst of a blackout from alcohol may seem fully functioning, but they will not be able to recall parts of events or entire activities when they’ve sobered up. Any blackout incident is a cause for concern. If you’ve blacked out, you need to immediately reconsider your relationship with alcohol. What happens to your body when you blackout can have long-term consequences.

If you black out frequently when you drink, it’s time to talk to a professional about rehabilitation and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Call 385-327-7418 now to speak with medical professionals who can help you establish an individualized plan that will help you regain long lasting sobriety.

To jump to any section of this article, click the corresponding link below:

Defining a Blackout
The Cause
Anything Can Happen
How Much Is Too Much?
Tell-Tale Signs
What to Watch For

Defining a Blackout

A blackout from alcohol is the most common form of blackout experienced by substance abusers, although it is possible to black out on other drugs. A blackout while drinking occurs when your memory is affected, and you experience lost time. What causes blackouts from drinking is excessive alcohol consumption, and there are generally two types of blackouts. These definitions are an attempt to gauge the depth of memory impairment experienced by the person who is blacked out.

A fragmentary blackout describes when a heavy drinker has a mottled recollection of what transpired while drunk. There will be isolated memory “islands” where the user recalls what was going on surrounded by missing periods of time. Some circles also call this a greyout or a brownout.

So what is full-blown alcohol-induced amnesia? An en bloc blackout describes when you’ve experienced the loss of hours or sometimes even days. When blackouts are this severe, no memories are formed, and nothing will be able to jog your memory about what occurred. To you, what transpired just never happened.

Remember that individuals experiencing a blackout may appear normal, as blacking out simply refers to the inability to transfer short term memories into long term memories. It doesn’t directly affect speech cognition or other brain pathways, but since short term memories are not stored, no memories are created to recall when sober.

The Cause

A blackout can occur when your blood alcohol level is very high. Your ability to create new memories while drunk is hindered, although memories you’ve created before getting drunk remain intact. The more you drink, the higher your blood alcohol level gets. The length and severity of blackouts will increase along with your intoxication level, and the duration of blackouts varies from person to person.

Alcohol poisoning is more likely to occur while blacked out or passed out. If you or someone you’re drinking with experience the following signs, seek medical attention immediately:

Severe confusion
Difficulty staying conscious
Extreme vomiting
Seizures
Trouble taking breaths, especially less than 8 breaths per minute
Sluggish breathing with more than 10 seconds between breaths
A slowed heart rate or pulse
Clammy feeling skin, turning blue, getting very pale, or a low body temperature
The loss of a gag reflex or other dulled bodily responses

If someone experiencing these symptoms does not receive immediate medical attention, not remembering what happened during a blackout will be the least of their concerns. Alcohol poisoning easily causes permanent brain damage, a comatose state, and will quickly turn deadly.

Blackouts from alcohol are more likely to occur if you are drinking alcohol quickly as opposed to slowly consuming alcohol over a prolonged period. Drinking without food in your stomach will cause you to become intoxicated faster, so keep this in mind before you decide to binge drink.

Anything Can Happen

Unfortunately, anything can happen while you’re blacked out. Since high levels of blood alcohol are what causes blackouts from drinking, it’s possible for you to lose your ability to remember anything you’re doing while highly intoxicated. It turns out that blackouts are much more common than previously thought among social drinkers. It is especially prevalent in college-age binge drinkers first experimenting with alcohol and their tolerance levels.

What happens to your body when you blackout can range from mild to traumatic depending on where you are and who is taking care of you when you’re blacked out. You may carry on full conversations that you later cannot recall, you may drive your vehicle without remembering it, and you may engage in intercourse.

Keep in mind that any kind of sex act that you engage in is considered nonconsensual when you’re in a blackout from alcohol since you are not consciously able to consent to sex. If you find that you are upset upon finding out that you had sexual contact during a blackout, you have every right to feel violated. Since you aren’t making memories while blacked out, it’s easy to drink so much during a blackout that you give yourself alcohol poisoning. If you or someone you’re drinking with is showing signs of alcohol poisoning, it’s time to go to the emergency room.

How Much is Too Much?

What causes blackouts from drinking is the amount of alcohol that is in your bloodstream. When your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) begins to hover or exceed .16 percent, you are at risk of blacking out. This is twice the legal driving limit, which means you have to be intoxicated before you’re really at risk for blacking out. Every drink you have in an hour raises your BAC by about .02 percent, so 8 drinks in an hour (less if you’re taking shots) are likely to bring on a period of blackout. If you’re on sleep aids or take anti-anxiety medication, this threshold is greatly reduced and even one drink can trigger a blackout.

Every person’s metabolism and ability to clear alcohol from their system is different, so these are not ultimate rules you can follow if trying to avoid what causes blackouts from drinking. If you’re trying to avoid answering the question “what is alcohol-induced insomnia” with your personal experiences, refrain from drinking altogether.

Women tend to weigh less than men, and women have less water in their bodies naturally, so females are more likely to experience intoxicating BAC levels before men. This is why there are more feminine accounts of blacking out than there are stories told by males. Blackouts sometimes occur before your BAC has reached its maximum level due to your consumption. You may black out before you are rendered unconscious or you pass out due to being overly intoxicated.

Tell-Tale Signs

What happens to your body when you blackout is an individualized experience when it comes to perception, and there’s no surefire way to know when you’re blacked out. However, since what causes blackouts from drinking is severe intoxication, anyone drinking heavily with you should pay attention to tell-tale signs.

When you’re blacked out, you may exhibit the following observable symptoms:

Difficulty walking
Difficulty talking
Difficulty standing
Impaired judgment, or doing things that are out of character
Impaired vision, including believing you don’t need your corrective lenses
Short attention span, or an inability to follow a conversation or remember parts of a story being told
Constantly interrupting other conversations
Repeating the same thing over and over despite others acknowledging what you’ve said

Since the essence of what is alcohol-induced amnesia can be so individualized, there are no clear guides that can define when someone is blacked out and when they are not. If you are planning on binge drinking, it is prudent to bring along a sober individual who can carefully monitor the behaviors of the drunk people and they may be able to intervene to keep you safe in the event of a blackout from alcohol.

If you’ve passed out from overdrinking, you were likely blacked out before you lost consciousness. Overdosing on alcohol is extremely dangerous and affects your brain’s ability to properly maintain life-support functionality. Your breathing can slow, your heart rate can become irregular, and you may not be able to control your body temperature.

If your primary care physician knows you’re a drinker when you go in for a regular checkup, they may ask you probing questions related to blacking out to try and assess your risk for AUD. Answer these questions honestly and remember that anything you say to your doctor remains confidential.

What to Watch For

Blackouts don’t necessarily mean that you have an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Since blackouts from alcohol can occur any time you over drink, even if it’s your first time, simply experiencing a blackout doesn’t automatically make you an alcoholic.

It’s important to remember that the frequency of blackouts precipitates alcohol-induced life consequences, like work tardiness, missing school assignments, injuries, ER visits, arrests, or social fallout. These consequences, when compounded, do signal that you have an AUD. Events that happen to you while drunk may also indicate you have an AUD. For example, if you frequently drink until you vomit, or you’ve vomited while unconscious, you may be an alcoholic. Remember that if a person has passed out, their BAC may still rise, and they may be suffering from alcohol poisoning.

If you suspect that you or a drinking mate is suffering from alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately. It doesn’t matter how drunk you or they think they are if they have overdosed. Do not shy away from seeking medical attention for a friend that may have alcohol poisoning even if that may anger the person in distress. It’s always better to be safe than regret your inaction. If you or a friend arrive at the ER in a state of alcohol poisoning, you will be evaluated for an AUD after you sober up. Answer their questions honestly, as the medical team is just trying to ensure your continued safety and longevity.

Seek Help When Blacking Out Regularly

If blackouts from alcohol are causing major or frequent consequences in your life, it’s time to get evaluated for AUD. Since what happens to your body when you blackout can lead to other physical health consequences, it’s important to acknowledge you need rehabilitative help if blacking out is happening to you frequently.

The things that fuel your desire to know exactly what is alcohol-induced amnesia tend to indicate an alcohol abuse disorder. You need to be honest with yourself about when you blackout, how long you blackout, and how frequently you blackout.

What causes blackouts from drinking is overdrinking. If you’re frequently overdrinking, it’s time to reach out for support to quit. Call 385-327-7418 to speak with licensed and compassionate professionals who are standing by to discuss your treatment options. It’s never too early or too late to seek help.

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November 9 2020

Secondhand Harms of Drinking (Guide)

admin Alcohol Abuse addiction, alcohol abuse

What is secondhand drinking? Secondhand drinking is a term that many individuals have probably never thought about before, but it has certainly impacted their lives. Secondhand drinking is when an individual is affected by someone else’s drinking habits, often having negative effects. These negative effects can be inflicted on literally anyone. Secondhand effects of alcohol can impact someone simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and are injured or killed by an intoxicated driver. College students fall prey to secondhand drinking and are often dismissed because that is the accepted culture. Children at home learn from the actions of older individuals and can face physical and emotional harm. There are ways to try and fix the problem, but it starts are the individual level and will need support all the way to the government. It is also possible that a chronic drinker is not aware of the harm they are committing and need to be educated.

If you or someone you love struggles with alcohol addiction, call us at 385-327-7418 today. We want to help you get started with the journey to sobriety. Alcohol causes damage to not only your health but those around you. Entering treatment will help you overcome addiction and become educated on short-term and long-term damage you are avoiding.

Jump To Section

Hidden Dangers
Harms of Secondhand Drinking
Consequences of Excessive Drinking
Preventing the Effects of Secondhand Drinking
Next Steps

Hidden Dangers

When the term secondhand is mentioned, many individuals will think of secondhand smoking. In regard to alcoholic consumption, what does secondhand drinking mean? The National Library of Medicine (NLM) simply defines it as, “negative experiences directly resulting from someone else’s drinking.” This definition is similar to that of secondhand smoking which involves an individual inhaling the smoke of someone using cigarettes or other smoking substances. Media attention is often focused on one form of secondhand effects of alcohol, injuries or death by a drunk driver. Additionally, the effects of secondhand drinking related to college students around the world are often ignored.

It is common for people to excuse the effects of secondhand drinking as a part of the college experience. The NLM found that college students in New Zealand have a high rate of dangerous alcohol use, so they used their experiences to conduct research on secondhand drinking. Out of 1,910 University of Otago students, 1,564 responded, stating that they had been affected by secondhand drinking. The primary harm that occurred was sexual abuse. The data collected found that a tenth of women and a fifth of men experience sexual abuse from an individual under the influence of alcohol. They also found among college students that 16 to 24 years old were most likely to experience some secondhand effects of drinking. There are several kinds of harms that are associated with secondhand drinking. These harms are not exclusive to college individuals either. Adults, children and unborn babies are also at risk of being affected.

Harms of Secondhand Drinking

Many individuals that are addicted to alcohol are unaware of the damage they are doing to those around them. The different harms from secondhand drinking can vary from slight annoyance to physical harm. It depends on the scenario and the severity of the addiction. Some of the more severe harms faced by individuals include:

Involved in a motor accident
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
Sexually transmitted diseases

These are certainly the more serious, overreaching secondhand effects of alcohol but for individuals in college, it can be a different combination of secondhand harms. Data collected from Research Gate found that many secondhand effects of alcohol included:

Lack of sleep from noise
Increase in failing grades
Taking care of the individual drinking
Being insulted and/or humiliated
Major injuries
Death from a motor accident

Furthermore, young children living in homes with chronic alcohol users face severe secondhand harms. According to Research Gate the effects of secondhand drinking on a child include:

A decrease in finishing primary school
Lower grades in secondary education – evidence shows individuals score 20 percent lower on a regular basis.
Developing an alcohol addiction
Being left in risky, unsafe locations or situations
Facing verbal and physical abuse
Witnessing domestic violence against another individual

Harms for secondhand drinking do not stop with individuals merely taking care of a drinker. In fact, pregnant women cause a lot of secondhand harm to unborn children. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), drinking while pregnant is the leading cause of preventable disabilities in children. The APHA found that several secondhand drinking harms include:

Small, underdeveloped head size
Below average body weight
Hyperactive disorders and behavioral patterns
Underdeveloped memory abilities
Learning disabilities
Damage to hearing and vision
Underdeveloped reasoning skills

Secondhand effects of drinking do not only apply to older individuals helping their intoxicated friend or family member. Unborn children face the secondhand effects of drinking in a more severe and developmental way. This does not take away from those involved with chronic drinkers. The physical and emotional damage that can be done often takes years to repair and overcome.

Consequences of Excessive Drinking

Alcohol consumption is like most other drugs; it has consequences that affect your life for a long time. Both the short-term and long-term effects must be in your mind at all times when consuming alcohol, especially large amounts of alcohol. Each gender will react to alcohol differently for a variety of reasons. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both men and women need to ingest alcohol at a slower pace to reduce the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol.

Short-Term

It is unwise to not acknowledge the short-term damage that alcohol can cause. Excessive alcohol use can create problems in the immediate time as an individual becomes more intoxicated. The CDC lists short-term effects as the following:

Injuries from falling, driving, drowning or burns.
Violence from homicide, sexual assault or domestic violence.
Immediate health problems such as alcohol poisoning and high blood alcohol levels.
Risky sexual behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse, unintentional pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
Pregnant women experiencing stillbirth, miscarriage or FASD.

Long-Term

The long-term damage that alcohol can cause is extensive, often leading to diseases. The damage to an individual’s health is slowly and progressively gets worse as they continue drinking. According to the CDC, long-term effects include:

Increase in high blood pressure, heart and liver disease, stroke, and digestion complications.
Cancer development in the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver or colon.
Your immune system weakens, increasing the chance of getting sick.
Memory problems which affect school and work performance.
Social problems cause stress at work, school and family.
An official diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

Not every short-term or long-term effect will apply to everyone. The severity of alcohol addiction will influence the direction a person goes. Additionally, the damage of secondhand drinking is prominent, causing several issues for the individuals around a chronic drinker. This does not have to be the only way to live through. Individuals struggling with alcohol addiction can get help by entering treatment and overcoming their AUD.

Preventing the Effects of Secondhand Drinking

The effects of secondhand drinking will not simply go away as long as alcohol is easily obtainable. There is little that individuals can do by themselves to prevent the catastrophe of alcohol abuse, except give up alcohol. If it is a personal matter, entering treatment and becoming sober is a positive step to reducing secondhand effects. Not everyone will be willing to give up alcohol use though. Research Gate presented some ideas that impact Sweden and other Nordic countries that American associations are also considering.

First and foremost, public support needs to be changed to increasing policies against alcohol use. Data collected by Research Gate in Sweden found that on an individual level, people believed that alcohol was more positive than negative. In contrast, the same survey that was used to collect this data found that 75 percent of Swedish individuals believe that alcohol has more negative effects than positives within society. When asked how alcohol perception could be changed, many answered with policy changes including:

Implementing higher taxes on alcoholic sales.
Reducing or eliminating privatized alcohol sales completely.
Enforce stricter alcohol rules in restaurants.
Alcohol licenses must be harder to obtain by restaurants.

These kinds of policy changes would make the consumption of alcohol a more thought-provoking concept. Furthermore, in order for policies to be considered, individuals must feel the harmful effects of drinking. A survey conducted in Canada found that many individuals support policy change on alcohol. Those that responded to the survey stated they support changing the current policies because they have personally felt the impact of drinking and are concerned for others. This ranged from individual living with someone addicted to alcohol or strangers to a drinker who could face death or injury. Research Gate also found support that policy changes can work. The harms of secondhand drinking decrease when certain measures are put in place, including high alcohol prices and high age limits to purchase. Policy changes might not be perfect, but they can decrease individuals harming themselves and others while drinking.

Next Steps

Secondhand effects of alcohol are avoidable if individual drinkers decide to make a change. Policy changes should also be discussed at a large scale in order to prevent these preventable harms. It also needs to be acknowledged by everyone that adults, college students, children and the unborn are all victims of secondhand drinking. By approaching a chronic drinker, help them understand how their decisions are causing negative effects on those around them. These harms can range from failure at work or school to more emotional and physical damage. By entering treatment, overcoming addiction is possible. With the right help, alcohol can become a memory.

In order to get started, call us at 385-327-7418. We want to get you or a loved one set up in a personalized treatment program that will educate them on alcohol addiction. The journey to sobriety is long and time-consuming but has more positives than staying addicted. Call us now to get started on a brighter, alcohol-free future.

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Call Us (385) 327-7418

Get Program Info

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2020/01/14/addressing-alcohol-related-harms-a-population-level-response

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4024451/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338792994_SECOND-HAND_EFFECTS_OF_ALCOHOL_CONSUMPTION_-_Alcohol_and_society_20152016

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC261656/

https://www.jsad.com/doi/full/10.15288/jsad.2019.80.273

November 2 2020

Middle-Class Drug Use and Domestic Violence [Links]

admin Drug Abuse alcohol abuse, drug abuse

Domestic violence and substance abuse are closely linked. But, just as domestic violence occurs across all ages, cultures, races, and socioeconomic classes, drug, and alcohol use disorders now fall into that pattern, as well.

Popular culture would have us believe that substance abuse is found only among the poor in inner cities. But for decades, researchers have known that substance abuse is spreading to middle-class suburbs as well. The relationship between social class and drug abuse is less about who is using and who isn’t about different drugs of choice.

In the 1980s and 1990s, cocaine was the drug of choice in the suburbs. However, in recent years, we’ve seen a rise in heroin use among the middle class, particularly white women. The prescription opioid epidemic is also heavily affecting middle-class users. Domestic violence and substance abuse are so closely tied that a rise in domestic violence among middle-class users might be expected to follow. But the evidence is hard to find. Either way, victims of drug abuse and domestic violence should reach out and get help from our professionals (385) 327-7418.

Content

If you are experiencing the damaging effects of substance abuse and domestic violence, please reach out to our addiction professionals for advice and treatment resources.

From Opioids to Heroin
Middle-Class Heroin Use
Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
The Unseen Victims
Keeping Up Appearances
Getting Out

Middle-Class Drug Use and Domestic Violence [Links]

From Opioids to Heroin

The fight against the nation’s opioid epidemic is causing an unexpected and deadly consequence. Opioid users are turning to heroin. Both prescription opioids and heroin work through the same mechanism in the brain. As with heroin, opioids reduce the understanding of pain by attaching to opioid receptors.

There is growing concern that the increase in heroin-related overdoses is an unintended result of blocking prescription opioids’ availability. Research shows that prescription opioid misuse is a risk factor for heroin use. The likelihood of trying heroin is 19 times higher among those who report prior non‑medical use of pain-relievers. Eighty percent of new heroin users start by abusing prescription opioids, making the latter a gateway drug for middle-class users who can obtain them legally from a doctor.

The transition from misusing prescription opioids to using heroin may be a natural progression of opioid use disorder. Interviews with individual heroin users support that notion. In the interviews, users suggest that market forces, including the accessibility, low cost, and high potency of heroin, are driving the move to heroin from prescription opioids.

It’s Getting Worse

Since 2007, the number of heroin users in the U.S. continues to rise. About 9480,000 Americans reported using heroin in 2016. The increase was most apparent in young adults aged 18–25. That age group drives the most significant increases in heroin use. The number of people trying heroin for the first time has increased.

Middle-Class Heroin Use

Heroin use is no longer an “urban problem.” Several suburban and rural areas near Chicago and St. Louis report increasing amounts of heroin.

It also turns out that current heroin users are more likely to be white and middle-class. The suburban and rural areas are the same population that reported the most massive increases in the non-medical use of opioids. Middle-class white women especially are using heroin-like never before.

30 to 40 years ago, heroin was as an inner-city problem. In 1979, the University of Michigan researcher Victoria Binion spoke with 170 heroin-addicted women in Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami. She found that more than half of the women were black and that their drug use ties to family issues during their teen years. The typical female heroin addict was an unemployed high school dropout, struggling with money, on welfare, or turning to sex work.

Although newer heroin studies focus on middle-aged white women, there is another new group of users. Young white men tend to be at the highest risk of heroin addiction. Hero addiction can be fatal. Do not wait until it is too late. Call us today and our specialists can help you, or someone you care about, get the help that you deserve.

Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse

Numerous studies show that substance abuse does not cause domestic violence. However, drug abuse and domestic violence often co-occur. Also, addiction can mean that abuse is more violent and results in more severe injuries.

Substance abuse co-occurs in 40 to 60 percent of domestic violence incidents. Other evidence suggests that substance abuse plays a role in domestic violence by causing incidents or making them worse. Some studies also indicate that men with histories of domestic violence benefit from substance-abuse interventions.

We’ve learned that substance abuse doesn’t cause domestic violence, at least not directly. However, spousal abuse can predict whether the abuser will develop a substance abuse problem or addiction. Additionally, women in abusive relationships often report being forced into using alcohol and drugs by their partners. Thus, substance abuse and high-risk alcohol use are more prevalent among women who experience domestic violence than those who don’t.

The Unseen Victims

In a study for the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers analyzed the risk factors for women’s injury from domestic violence and drug abuse. The researchers admit that their work likely did not tell the whole story. “Risk factors for injury from domestic violence may differ greatly among women with higher socioeconomic status and women with injuries that do not require emergency medical care,” they write. “This uncertainty makes it difficult to generalize our findings.”

Psychotherapist Susan Weitzman is the author of “Not To People Like Us: Hidden Abuse In Upscale Marriages.” She says it is a myth that only underprivileged women suffer domestic violence. Weitzman realizes that this myth keeps upper-class domestic violence victims trapped in silence after treating many affluent women.

Weitzman’s book examines the many reasons why such violence goes unreported among wealthier women. It also looks at how abuse between middle and upper-middle-class couples compares to domestic violence in more impoverished communities.

Do not suffer as an unseen victim. We are here to help you. We want to help get you back on a track that will lead you to a happier and healthier life.

Keeping Up Appearances

On the surface, it does seem that domestic violence is more likely in low-income communities. But domestic violence experts say that the 11 percent figure masks the actual number of incidents among the middle classes, upper classes, and even the 1 percent. They point out that statistics primarily come from organizations such as domestic abuse shelters that care for low-income victims.

Weitzman writes that wealthier women often do not take advantage of such services. Because they have the money, they can stay in hotels or travel to places where they have family support. Also, surveys suggest that more affluent people are less likely to involve authorities in domestic violence disputes. They’re worried about police records hurting careers and status in the community.

Getting Out

If a woman is in a cycle of domestic violence and substance abuse, the most important thing is for her to get herself and any children out of the situation. Although you may love the addict, staying with them is dangerous because of the impaired judgment of addiction.

Addiction and violence are linked, so it isn’t easy to know what may be causing the power in the home. Does it happen while the person is drunk? When can a person not get a daily fix and begins to experience withdrawal? Some drugs, like meth, make addicts paranoid and violent. If you are not around the addict, the addict cannot physically hurt you.

Many towns have shelters and safe houses dedicated to serving women and children who are victims of abuse. (Men can be victims of abuse, too, but they may have a more difficult time finding a safe house or shelter). Victims may also contact a crisis center or hotline that specializes in domestic abuse. Counselors can help victims find safety. They may also be able to offer advice about the abuser’s substance problem.

Safe houses, shelters, and crisis centers do not provide victims with legal protection. No one will report the abuser to police, and everything you tell the staff will generally remain confidential. However, victims of domestic violence and substance abuse do have recourse under the law.

Family members who suffer domestic violence can report it to local law enforcement. If children are involved, it might also be a good idea to get in touch with a child welfare agency.

Laws regarding domestic violence vary by city and state. Some violent incidents are classified as domestic abuse, while others classify it as assault.

Contact Us

When you are caught in a situation of drug abuse and domestic violence, getting out of harm’s way is the most important thing. If you want to remedy the situation and allow the relationships to heal, seek help for yourself and the addict. Even if you haven’t been abused but live with an addict, remember that drug addiction can often be a precursor to domestic violence. That’s why it’s so essential for you to reach out to trained addiction counselors.

Our professionals can provide the information you need and connect you to vital resources for treatment and safety, so call us today at the number below.

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September 21 2020

Greek Life and Substance Abuse

admin Drug Abuse alcohol abuse

Going to college will introduce you to many different experiences and opportunities, such as Greek life organizations. While the films make these organizations seem like all fun and games, there is some seriousness. One aspect is the inclusion of Greek life drinking. While college drinking is undoubtedly a part of the experience, it shouldn’t be the center of your higher education experience. Greek life and alcohol are not as movies make it seem, but there is still a culture of abuse. Many organizations get into trouble for providing alcohol to minors, while others are more cautious of those involved. The use of substances in Greek life is not the sole cause of why people involve themselves. However, it is one of the reasons people stay.

Taking a step into higher education should be a fun experience, but it is easy for drinking to take over. If you or someone you know has a drug or alcohol problem due to college Greek life drinking, call us today at 385-327-7418 to get help.

Content

Are you stressing about your kid drinking in college? Are you a part of greek life and are struggling with substance abuse? Continue reading below for more information about substance abuse while in Greek life.

Alcohol and Drug Use
Harms of Binge Drinking
Changes in Greek Life Culture
College’s Interaction and Influence
Get the Help You Deserve

Alcohol and Drug Use

There are a lot of successful people in the world today who were once involved with Greek life. There are many lawyers, politicians, and significant company CEOs that came from major fraternal organizations. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to these organizations while its members are attending school. The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) reported in 2002 that there are 500,000 fraternity members injured each year due to unintentional alcohol-related incidents. Likewise, there are, on average, 1,400 alcohol-related deaths each year in fraternity organizations across the country. Due to Greek life drinking, it also more likely for sorority sisters to experience the severe trauma of unwanted sexual relations. According to the NCJRS, two out of five sorority sisters will encounter unwanted sexual actions.

The overall alcohol consumption in fraternal organizations is also higher compared to other college drinkers. While 36 percent of college students have admitted to binge drinking every month, 86 percent of fraternity members have admitted to monthly binge drinking. This alcohol consumption level leads to many devastating incidents such as major injuries, car accidents, academic failure, sexual assault, or death. Using addictive substances doesn’t merely end with alcohol. Drugs have also begun to become more present in fraternity houses. Marijuana use has risen amon0g fraternity members and prescription drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, Xanax, and Valium.

How Does This Happen?

What causes this kind of abuse in fraternity organizations? The everyday occurrences of peer pressure, constant parties, hazing, initiation rights, and wanting to fit in all play a role in substance abuse development. A 2007 article published by Psychology of Addictive Behavior found that fraternities are not inherently enforcing addictive behavior. Rather young adults in college that already have addictions or addictive behavior find the appeal of fraternities. Due to the constant pressure and supply of alcohol, addictive behavior is allowed to thrive in these households. Due to these behaviors, binge drinking is a real problem among fraternities.

Harms of Binge Drinking

A severe concern among fraternal organizations is the occurrence of binge drinking. Binge drinking is drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time. The Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (HSPH) has found that college drinking has remained stable since 1993, but the act of binge drinking has been rising. Along with this, the act of abstaining from alcohol use altogether has also been growing. Colleges are concerned for many college students, as alcohol impacts many students on college campuses. It affects more students than cocaine, marijuana, and cigarettes combined. According to HSPH, binge drinking is not as prevalent among non-fraternity members and affects four out of five fraternity and sorority members.

In their research, the HSPH also found that women are more like to be affected by binge drinking, both by partaking in drinking and secondhand effects. Women have a different metabolism than men, meaning they cannot drink as much without feeling the effects of alcohol more severely. Along with this, about 10 percent of Greek life women have been sexually assaulted or subjected to nonconsensual sex because of alcohol use. Compare this to the three percent of non-Greek life in college women who experience binge drinking.

Underage Drinking

Binge drinking is also prevalent among underage students in Greek life. The HSPH found that students under 21 drank on fewer occasions but would drink more per event than their of-age counterparts. They also report that nearly 58 percent of underage drinkers paid less than a dollar per drink, got all their drinks for free, or paid a set price for all they could drink. This leads underage drinkers to more alcohol-related injuries than those who are 21 or older. Another concern in the HSPH research is that over half of the underage drinkers began their high school binge drinking habits. This, in turn, makes Greek life very attractive to maintain their addictive behavior. There are ways that colleges can change the culture of college Greek life drinking.

Changes in Greek Life Culture

To change the culture of college Greek life drinking, schools will need to step up and promote a new anti-drug culture on their campus. Fraternities can do some good with their philanthropy events, but that is the constant harm and impending alcohol abuse problems. Schools like the University of California Berkley have taken a step in the right direction, banning all alcohol from fraternity and sorority houses in 2010. Other schools across the country have begun sponsoring alcohol prevention and treatment programs aimed at Greek life. Others have enforced zero-tolerance policies that can make an impact on Greek life drinking.

Some of the biggest reasons behind these new policies are because alcohol and drug abuse are getting out of hand. Another way anti-substance use is properly educating Greek life members, school staff, alumni, and parents. If they see the harmful effects of alcohol and drug use, there is a lower chance that members will begin using it.

After College

Changing the culture among Greek life will also affect those members after they have left college. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found that people previously involved with Greek life will continue to use addictive substances after graduation. The people tend to show symptoms of alcohol use disorder by the age of 35. Even more concerning, NIDA found in their research that “males who lived for at least one semester in a fraternity house had significantly higher rates of binge drinking. Also, after college up through age 35, compared to their peers in college not involved in fraternities, and non-students of the same age.” Drug use is also prevalent in former Greek life members, many still using drugs like marijuana through their mid-30s. College administrations need to involve themselves in the process of change if they want Greek life and college campuses to see positive alterations.

College’s Interaction and Influence

College administrations are taking different steps to prevent binge drinking in both Greek life and non-Greek life students. After the HSPH interviewed 700 colleges, they found that many of them are attempting to change the alcohol-related culture by implementing educational programs for students to attend. Unfortunately, many of these programs have only seen a partial response to these programs. Other colleges are attempting to change the social acceptance of binge drinking by working with local community retailers. There is also a push to get families, administrators, students, and police more involved to curb the increase of binge drinking.

If colleges can take these steps, we can reduce students’ binge drinking and engage in unsafe alcohol practices. A college administration’s most significant effort is working with the surrounding community to shape a new college drinking future.

HSPH 12 Steps

Another action that should be adopted by colleges is implementing a 12-step program. The HSPH outlined 12 steps to best address fraternity binge drinking.

Colleges must acknowledge and confront the problem of binge drinking by involving top administrators in the community.
The president of the university should organize administrators to provide leadership against binge drinking.
Involve as many people as possible to create solutions. Including faculty, resident advisors, greek life leaders, athletic coaches, parents, and students.
Educate students by pushing alcohol education programs for students and Greek life members to attend.
Work with the local community to reduce underage drinking and overall alcohol sales.
Help keep non-bingeing students by getting them involved in the process. Secondhand binge drinking can impact them as well, so they should have some way to avoid it. By creating alcohol-free activities, they can feel empowered not to drink.
Ensure that new rules and codes of conduct don’t hurt non-bingeing students. Those who go too far should be the only ones facing the consequences.
Create alcohol-free environments and maintain them, so students have a way to stay clear of alcohol.
Address the problem between Greek life and alcohol. This means putting restrictions on their practices to reduce binge drinking and the high rate of underage drinkers.
Maintain full-time education on Fridays to reduce the chances of binge drinking during the middle of the week.
Encourage students who are addicted to alcohol to seek help. Train staff, faculty, and student workers the signs of drinking problems so they may get those people to help on campus.
Begin the process of anti-binge drinking during freshman orientation before classes begin. Get admissions, high school counselors, and alumni involved to spread the message for enjoying school, developing friendships, and preparing for the future.

Get the Help You Deserve

Greek life is about connections, support, academic achievement, and brother and sisterhood. If alcohol and drug use become too prominent in Greek life, all of that is lost. There are ways for college campuses to reshape the current culture in fraternities and sororities. It all begins with the administration getting involved with Greek life. Greek life leaders need to approach changing the culture of using both drugs and alcohol. There are also needs to be a push for change from college students who are not in Greek life since they can be affected by secondhand drinking problems. If schools follow the 12 step program created by the HSPH and use the NIDA data, fraternity drinking can decrease, making college campuses safer for everyone.

High levels of drinking can affect you and someone you care about. If you need help breaking away from an addictive life, call us today. Do not lose hope! The cycle of drinking in college should be a fun experience where you make friends and learn to have a successful future. Don’t let alcohol or drug abuse get in the way of those achievements.

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Sources

https://wp.nyu.edu/dispatch/2018/03/23/are-fraternities-and-substance-abuse-creating-addicts/

https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=203748

https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2018/02/greek-life-membership-associated-with-binge-drinking-and-marijuana-use-in-later-life

http://archive.sph.harvard.edu/cas/Documents/monograph_2000/cas_mono_2000.pdf

August 20 2020

How Do I Help An Alcoholic?

admin Addiction alcohol abuse

It can be challenging to talk to someone about their excessive drinking. No one wants to hear there’s a problem. People do not want to feel judged or looked down on. So how do you approach a friend or family member who might have a severe issue? Understanding how to help an alcoholic friend or how to help an alcoholic in denial is crucial. You should have a plan in place and be prepared for how the person might react. Understand there is more than one way to work with someone who needs help.

Every situation is unique. First, consider consulting a professional who deals with alcoholism and addiction before confronting anyone. They may suggest a direct approach or even staging an intervention with multiple people involved. Sometimes a person may need immediate treatment depending on the severity of their problem.

If you’re reading this, it’s because you care about another person’s welfare. Alcoholism can lead to serious health issues and even death. Reaching out to an alcoholic may save their life. If a person you care about may have an Alcohol Use Disorder, reach out at 385-327-7418. You do not need to tackle the problem alone!

Alcohol Use Disorder

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) finds that around 17 million adults have an alcohol use disorder. Often they don’t realize it. As a result, friends and family members often struggle to figure out how to help an alcoholic that doesn’t want help. Most people know someone who has an apparent drinking problem. It is common to see drinking issues within a family tree, and many social activities revolve around excessive alcohol use. Our society has not only normalized alcohol, but it often glorifies it.

Compulsive Behavior

An alcoholic is not someone who drinks regularly or drinks too much. Alcoholism is a compulsion—something a person feels compelled to do without thinking about it. Furthermore, an alcoholic needs a drink to feel normal, and most of their activities revolve around drinking.

There are warning signs that someone may have an ongoing problem:

Drinking more often than usual or in larger quantities
Using alcohol to combat a mental issue, like severe depression or anxiety
Trying unsuccessfully to cut down or quit drinking
Displaying risky behaviors when drinking, like drunk driving or having unsafe sex
Exhibiting withdrawal symptoms, such as sleeplessness, shakiness, or nausea
Letting drinking interfere negatively with family life, work, or school
Being increasingly withdrawn from social activities and general communication

If the person in question exhibits more than one of these signs, they may have an alcohol disorder. For these people, it not as simple as a choice to drink or not drink. Someone who drinks heavily for years or even decades finds their mind and body need alcohol to survive. When an alcoholic isn’t drinking, they are uncomfortable both physically and mentally. Feeling calm, happy, or friendly is out of the question. Just listening to an alcoholic can clue you into their state of mind.

The person may always complain when they are in situations where they can’t drink. They might glorify or brag about “getting wasted” or doing activities while drunk. You also might notice they act like a completely different person under the influence of alcohol. Learning to recognize these red flags is a first step in determining how to get an alcoholic help. Call us today if you, or someone you love, is battling an addiction to alcohol.

Staging an Intervention

Sometimes a one-on-one conversation is all it takes to get your friend or family member into treatment. However, some people are not even aware they might have a problem. Explaining your concern, giving legitimate reasons why, and offering to help are all positive tips on how to help an alcoholic realize they need addiction treatment.

If this does not produce results, then it may be time for an organized intervention. Consulting with a mental health professional beforehand will allow you to figure out a safe and constructive plan. You can work with a certified counselor, psychologist, or interventionist. The idea behind an intervention is to confront a person about their addiction, address negative behaviors, and offer support for their recovery.

In a typical intervention, friends and family members sit down with the loved one and collectively address the situation. This may include the reading of letters addressed to the person, stating the effect their drinking has had on everyone present. It also offers a solution in the form of a treatment option… and potential consequences if the person refuses to accept treatment. Having a professional run the meeting can ensure that it is both structured and stays on topic. Additionally, this provides the presence of a neutral party in the room.

Ideally, all this leads to the person acknowledging their addiction and accepting help. However, not all interventions are successful. Sometimes further action is necessary, and a poorly planned intervention can have the opposite of the intended effect. An intervention is not meant to be an attack on a person. Rather, it is an expression of love and concern and an opportunity to assist in their struggle. It can be an important tool in understanding how to get an alcoholic help.

Options for Treatment

If an intervention is successful, people with substance abuse disorders can benefit greatly from professional treatment. This can come in several forms.

Treatment programs for alcohol dependence can be highly beneficial. Options include extended inpatient stays at a rehabilitation facility and outpatient programs that require weekly attendance. These programs feature education on substance abuse, individual and group therapy, and offer an opportunity to interact and share with others who are experiencing the same affliction. They offer an excellent opportunity for alcoholics to examine the nature of their disorder in a controlled, non-judgmental setting.

Another option is professional counseling. This will involve a licensed addiction counselor or someone with a background in substance abuse issues. Sessions allow the person to examine the psychological part of their disorder and talk openly about their drinking issues. Analyzing the problems that lead to addiction can go a long way toward helping someone get back on track.

Additionally, properly prescribed medication can help curb cravings for alcohol or address mental health disorders that may have contributed to addiction. In many cases, drinkers drink excessively to push back against mental distress or to help alleviate another ailment. Several FDA-approved medications are specifically targeted at Alcohol Use Disorder.

All these approaches aim to benefit an alcoholic and get them back on track. Sometimes a person just needs a sympathetic ear to listen. In more serious cases, a regimented program can help educate and give structure to someone with a drinking disorder. Professionals usually use the medication in conjunction with other treatment options.

Need more information about the treatment options available to you? Then call us today. Our team of experts will work with you to find the best option for you.

Tips on How to Help an Alcoholic in Denial

One of the most difficult aspects of getting a loved one help is that they sometimes refuse to acknowledge their problem. Denial can play a large role in the alcoholic’s life. Many problem drinkers insist they have everything under control. Some are even high-functioning—able to maintain a relatively stable lifestyle while still drinking to excess. If you have considered approaching a person about their alcohol use, take precautions. Consider how the person views their relationship with you. An addict is more likely to respond positively to someone they trust.

Be prepared to give concrete reasons why you believe the person is abusing alcohol. If they deny their problem, be able to honestly lay out facts about their use. This could include citing specific instances where alcohol has affected their life negatively. If the person still refuses to recognize their drinking problem, you may need to get others involved, whether informally or with an organized intervention as previously discussed. Often, hearing similar input from multiple sources close to them can be more convincing to an alcoholic.

You may also need to layout consequences if they refuse to get help. This might include declining to drink with them anymore, cutting off financial support, or even ending contact if they don’t get help. This part of the proceedings will depend on your relationship with the alcoholic and their current situation. Do not give up hope if they deny their problem at first. It is a common and natural reaction. However, you may need to be persistent or consider a different approach to helping them. It can be tough figuring out how to help an alcoholic in denial. Consider consulting a professional if the person you care for refuses to acknowledge their drinking issue. There are different ways to handle a defensive attitude.

Consequences of Being an Alcoholic

Abusing alcohol leads to adverse outcomes. In terms of health, excessive alcohol consumption can result in irreparable damage to the liver and injury to the heart. Drinking too much raises blood pressure and weakens the immune system. There is also evidence that shows a link between the over-consumption of alcohol and certain forms of cancer. This is not to mention all the social, financial, and personal disasters that drinkers may go through. In many cases, it can severely affect families and relationships.

When you are considering how to help an alcoholic friend or family member, or help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help, know the stakes. You are dealing with someone who has a legitimate health disorder and could be jeopardizing their life. Take the situation seriously, but also approach it with compassion. A person addicted to substances does not enjoy being an addict.

Getting the Help You Need

People often drink excessively to escape the pain—either physical or mental. An alcoholic can easily get caught up in a cycle, in which they consume to feel better, yet drinking too much creates a negative effect. To fight this adverse effect, they think the only solution is to drink even more. It can be hard to grasp why a person cannot stop drinking. At a certain point, it goes beyond merely “choosing to stop.” As a result, your family member or loved one may need professional assistance to do it.

In conclusion, there are many avenues for recovery from alcohol dependence. With advances in research, we now understand more about the chemical and psychological causes of addiction and how to control it. However, call us today if you are looking to help an alcoholic. We are here to provide you with the help you need to help anyone suffering from addiction.

Written by Christopher Dorsey

Sources:

alcohol abuse

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Defining a Blackout

The Cause

Anything Can Happen

How Much is Too Much?

Tell-Tale Signs

What to Watch For

Seek Help When Blacking Out Regularly

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From Opioids to Heroin

It’s Getting Worse

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Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse

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Greek Life and Substance Abuse

Content

Alcohol and Drug Use

How Does This Happen?

Harms of Binge Drinking

Underage Drinking

Changes in Greek Life Culture

After College

College’s Interaction and Influence

HSPH 12 Steps

Get the Help You Deserve

Find Help Now with

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Sources

How Do I Help An Alcoholic?

Alcohol Use Disorder

Compulsive Behavior

Staging an Intervention

Options for Treatment

Tips on How to Help an Alcoholic in Denial

Consequences of Being an Alcoholic

Getting the Help You Need

Sources: