THE RISKS
.When a person uses alcohol and/or drugs, the brain is flooded with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that resides in the parts of the brain that control movement, emotion, cognition, motivation and feelings of pleasure. When these systems are overloaded by substances, a person experiences euphoria--a feeling that many drug abusers attempt to recreate by repeatedly abusing a substance. However, the brain of a substance abuser adjusts by producing less dopamine or reducing the number of receptors that can receive or transmit signals. As long as people are addicted to or abusing substances, they cannot feel the joy and pleasure of everyday life. Many drug abusers feel depressed or flat when they are not taking drugs and need to take drugs to get their dopamine levels back to normal. Not everyone who uses alcohol or drugs is an addict or alcoholic. A person becomes a substance abuser when the substance becomes so crucial that he or she is willing to risk other important aspects of life in order to have the substance. This may be after the first time a substance is used, or it may take years.
A SERIOUSE PROBLEM
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S. 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than seven million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent or has abused alcohol. Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others? Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors, such as: age, gender, race or ethnicity, physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc.), amount of food consumed before drinking, how quickly the alcohol was consumed, use of drugs or prescription medicines, family history of alcohol problems.
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What does moderate drinking mean? There is no one definition of moderate drinking, but generally the term is used to describe a lower-risk pattern of drinking. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), drinking in moderation is defined as having no more than 1 drink per day for women and no more than 2 drinks per day for men. This definition refers to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days.
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Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others? Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors, such as: age, gender, race or ethnicity, physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc.), amount of food consumed before drinking, how quickly the alcohol was consumed, use of drugs or prescription medicines, family history of alcohol problems.
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Why can’t alcoholics or those who are drug dependent just stop? While many who become addicted to alcohol and/or drugs would like to stop using, they can find it life-threatening, extremely difficult or impossible to do so. Although the initial decision to use alcohol or drugs is voluntary for most people, the body and brain changes that occur over time with addiction take away a person’s self control and ability to resist intense impulses urging them to use alcohol and/or drugs
DRINKING IN MODERATION CAN A ACOHOLIC DO THIS ?????
SHOW FAITH
Always show faith in your partner let them know all the time that they are better than the drink and that they are strong enough to beat it because when the deppression kicks in a alcoholic will beleive that he/she is not strong enough to beat it when really they are there just looking for a excuse to go to the pub or where they like to go for a drink. Sometimes alcoholics can get violent and can get someone or themselves seriousely hurt or in trouble if they are becoming confrontational just walk away or pretend you cannot hear them until the situation calms down. Holucinations are extreamly bad when detoxing from drink they will see watever the mind wants them to see the limits are endless on that one. If your loved one is planning to stop never just stop alcohol right out because this is seriousely dangerouse ( this is why my mum died ) when done it will cause a heart attack the body can not handle the change all in one go so please if your loved ones stopping or cutting down then please please please make sure you have the medical assistance you need plus the medication what your going to need.
