Let’s talk about problem drinking. Do you know someone who drinks just half a glass of wine and gets a little tipsy? Do you know someone else who has struggled with alcohol in the past and now can’t even touch the stuff? Maybe you’d place your drinking patterns somewhere in between these two extremes. But it’s actually this “in between” that can complicate things.
Problem Drinking: A Deeper Look
So, when does drinking become a problem? Let’s assume that you’re not physically addicted to alcohol and you don’t have any withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink. Let’s also assume that your drinking is starting to cause some issues in your life. Maybe you’re spending too much money going out with friends. Or maybe you’ve been using alcohol to deal with daily stress and anxiety.
But do you really have a problem?
It always helps when you know what to look for. Signs of problem drinking include:
- Regularly drinking alone
- Feeling guilty after drinking
- Feeling angry or violent when drinking
- An inability to stop drinking once you’ve started
- Preferring drinking friends over non-drinking friends
- Drinking to alleviate anxiety or stress
- Financial or employment difficulties brought on by alcohol use
- Experiencing blackouts
- Taking risks with your life or the lives of others
What Are Experts Saying?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women who drink no more than three drinks on any single day and no more than seven drinks per week are at “low risk” for developing an alcohol addiction. Those numbers increase to no more than four drinks per day and 14 drinks per week for men.
The more drinks you have on a daily/weekly basis, the farther you move from the category of “safe” drinking and the closer you get to “problem drinking.” Even if you’re able to consume 20 drinks per week and experience none of the symptoms of problem drinking, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Consider your health!
The CDC states that excessive drinking is associated with numerous health problems, including:
- Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, various cancers (including liver, mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus), high blood pressure and psychological disorders.
- Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
- Violence, such as child abuse or neglect, homicide and suicide.
- Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Alcohol use disorders
Get the Help You Need
If you think you might have a drinking problem, don’t wait to get the help you need. We offer comprehensive addiction rehab services that focus on your physical and psychological needs before you take your first step toward sobriety. There are a variety of alcohol treatment programs available, and our counselors will work with you to help you choose the best program to support your goal of an alcohol-free life. Facing your addiction alone can be overwhelming. We’re here to help. Fill out this form or call today at (661) 630-4176.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#bingeDrinking
If you’ve recently become aware that a loved one is using heroin, or suspect they might be, it’s time to take action. It only takes using heroin one time for some people to become addicted. And like all other addictions, early detection and intervention is always the best strategy.
Heroin: The Basics
Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants. It can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin.
Loved ones addicted to heroin will likely do their best to hide the habit from you. It’s important that you know what to look for when trying to identify a problem.
- Paraphernalia. If a loved one uses heroin on a regular basis, he will have his own supplies. That could include a little bowl to dissolve the heroin in, needles, lighters, spoons, belts, rubber ties, pipes or foil. Search everywhere. You might be surprised how easily these things can be hidden.
- New Friends. If your loved one suddenly starts hanging out with a whole new group (especially if she has no obvious ties with them) that’s one of the earliest signs of drug use.
- Lack of Interest. Keep an eye out for a loss of interest in favorite hobbies or activities. Grades that have dropped or poor work performance can go hand-in-hand with heroin use as well.
- Trance-Like State. If your loved one is having a hard time staying focused and looks like they’re falling asleep, that’s a classic sign of opiate use. When heroin enters the brain, users feel a strong euphoria, followed by a trance-like state.
- Track Marks. These are often found on the inside of the elbow, on the wrist, on the back of the hand, behind the knees or even between toes. Keep an eye out for long-sleeved shirts and other attempts to hide such marks.
- Change in Personality. Heroin is the only thing that matters in an addict’s life. Family commitments and other people’s problems will be ignored, and lying to protect drug use will be normal.
- Legal Issues. Theft or other crimes, resulting in legal issues, is common among addicts. They might steal money from your purse, steal your jewelry or take your credit cards.
Overdoses on the Rise
Heroin is a highly-addictive drug. People who regularly use heroin can quickly develop a tolerance (meaning they’ll need higher and more frequent doses of the drug to get the effects they’re looking for). This puts them at increased risk for an overdose.
When people overdose on heroin, their breathing often slows or even stops, potentially decreasing the amount of oxygen reaching the brain (a condition called hypoxia). This can have short- and long-term mental effects and effects on the nervous system, including coma and permanent brain damage.
Heroin deaths are on the rise and many victims are first-time users. Knowing how to handle an overdose can save someone’s life. A person who has overdosed on heroin can be unconscious, extremely drowsy, delirious or disoriented. They could have very small pupils, a dry mouth, discolored tongue and uncontrollable muscle movements. They may have a bluish tint to their lips, nails or skin and may be breathing shallowly or not at all. Call 911 immediately if you see any of these symptoms in your loved one.
Get Your Loved One the Help They Need
If you think a loved one might be using heroin, get them the help they need. Dealing with a drug-addiction is not something you can do on your own—it’s a disease that needs to be treated. Our certified counselors will work with your loved one to help them choose the best program for their unique needs. Facing addiction alone can be overwhelming. We’re here to help. Fill out this form or call us today at (661) 630-4176.
What if the answer to substance addiction was building healthy attachments and being in a loving family environment? What if the types of “cages” (or houses) that people live in can trigger or hinder substance addiction?
According to Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days on the Wars on Drugs, dysfunctional family environments, and alienation from other human beings cause substance addiction.
In a Huffington Post article, Hari compares two groups of clients who are treated with opiates at a hospital. After discharge, some patients become addicted, and end up on the streets trying to get a fix, while others return home, and stop taking drugs. According to Hari, both groups received opiates for the same length of time. He believes that the patients with loving families do not become addicts, while those who live lonely lives, or who reside with dysfunctional relatives turn to drugs.
It appears that the author has no factual evidence to back up his claim about the clients receiving opiates. And his concluding statement, “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection” is confusing at best.
The bottom line is that the field of addiction science has already proven certain truths about substance abuse.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic disease, which is defined by drug seeking and use that is difficult to control. Factors that contribute to the manifestation of a substance abuse disorder include biology (or genetics), and environment. While Hari argues that a loving family environment is the key to a person not becoming an addict, the reality is that the environment is not limited to family members. Human beings do not live in a bubble. Influences from the outside world, including peer pressure, social media and economic status, are risk factors.
Another dynamic that influences substance addiction is growth. Drugs and/or alcohol alter the areas in the brain that control cognitive abilities. For teens, that’s a real concern because their brains are still in development. By trying drugs at a young age, there is a probability that they could acquire a substance abuse disorder.
According to the New York Times review of Chasing the Scream, Hari, who is British, once wrote columns for The Atlantic, The Independent and The Huffington Post. His career as a political writer bloomed until 2011, when he was caught for plagiarism and for creating quotes. After a period of silence, he resurfaced with Chasing the Scream. The first half of the book profiles three Americans, including singer Billie Holiday. Hari viewed these individuals as prototypes for his message regarding the war on drugs. While the review says that the first part of the book shows empathy on the part of the author, the second half of the book shows Hari’s unsuccessful attempts at classifying the causes of substance addiction, as well as his failed effort at discussing effective treatment options.
His main sources are three scientists including Gabor Mate, a Hungarian-born Canadian physician who believed that the roots of substance addiction stemmed from childhood trauma. This correlation had already been established in the field of addiction way before Mate’s declaration.
Another source is the Canadian psychologist Bruce Alexander and his Rat Park. Back in the seventies, Alexander studied an experiment that was used to illustrate substance addiction. The trial consisted of putting two rats in separate cages, which were both empty except for bottles of water. One rat’s bottle contained heroin-infused water, while the other rat drank plain water. Naturally, the rat with the heroin water died. Alexander felt that the rat cage experiment was a bad example of illustrating substance addiction. So he created the Rat Park. This recreational area included rats, toys, food, and two bottles of water, one plain, the other one mixed with heroin. The rats sampled the bottle of water with heroin, found it distasteful, and moved on to the healthier option. These rats never became rodent junkies. Not only were they happy and content, but also they created a fellowship.
In the book, Hari writes, “It isn’t the drug that causes the harmful behavior—it’s the environment. An isolated rat will almost always become a junkie. A rat with a good life almost never will, no matter how many drugs you make available to him. As Bruce put it: he was realizing that addiction isn’t a disease. Addiction is an adaptation. It’s not you—it’s the cage you live in.”
Besides Alexander and Mates, Hari’s study includes the principles of psychiatrist John Mark, who believed in administering prescription narcotics to addicts. The bottom line is that Hari’s theory is more of an opinion based on the research of three questionable sources.
When it comes to learning about substance addiction, as well as obtaining comprehensive treatment, its best to consult professionals in the field. Not only are comparing rats to human beings ludicrous, but also the statement lacks compassion and insight.
Addiction is not an adaptation.
Addiction is a disease.
At Cycles of Change Recovery Services, we offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, along with 12-step facilitation. If you are an addict, or the relative of a loved one who struggles with substance addiction, please do not hesitate to call us. Our drug rehab is comprised of specially trained professionals who will provide individualized treatment plans for you or your loved one. Many of us have been there ourselves, and we are passionate about helping you or your loved one heal from the bondage of addiction, and learn how to live a life in recovery.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sources
Hari, Johann. “The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think.” Huffington Post. 20 Jan. 2015.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html
Mnookin, Seth. ‘Chasing the Scream’, by Johann Hari. The New York Times Book Review. 13 Feb. 2015.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/books/review/chasing-the-scream-by-johann-hari.html?_r=0
Monbiot, George. “The Age of Loneliness is Killing Us.” The Guardian. 14 October 2014.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/age-of-loneliness-killing-us
“Understanding Drug Addiction.” National Institute of Drug Abuse. 2016 August.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
On an annual basis, the Psychiatric Times reports, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with 34,000 individuals taking their own lives, and with 5% of American adults making a serious suicide attempt. About 90% of those who commit suicide have a mental health disorder, and one third of those people are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Addicts with co-occurring disorders are six times more likely to commit suicide than the average population. These individuals typically require a drug rehab that features a solid dual diagnosis program.
Addicts suffering with depression, or with Bipolar Disorder I or II, are especially vulnerable to having suicidal ideations.
For addicts who have suicidal thoughts, hope has run out, (or so they believe). They become conscious of their chaotic lives, which are a result of losing jobs, being shunned by family and/or other factors. Additionally, substance abuse leads to clinical depression because drugs of abuse tamper with the brain stem, cerebral cortex and the limbic system, the latter being the part of the brain that is known as the “reward center.” Drugs target the limbic system, releasing excessive amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates feelings of euphoria. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, long-term drug abuse causes the brain to put the brakes on the dopamine. Let’s imagine the amount of dopamine being released is like accidentally turning up the volume all the way up on a car stereo. While the driver will turn down the volume, the brain curtails the capacity of dopamine.
The brain’s restraint of dopamine causes the addict to feel depressed. Then life becomes a vicious cycle. To combat those dark feelings, addicts use a larger quantity of drugs to get high. Ultimately, the drugs stop working, and the addict feels lifeless. This is a dangerous place to be, both mentally and physically.
Another perilous aspect of substance addiction is isolation. Addicts are in their own world, and often their loneliness can be unbearable. Whether they are by themselves, or in the presence of others, it’s hard for them to connect. They are too busy obsessing about their next fix and/or drink, and feelings of shame, guilt and remorse make them withdraw from other people. So they turn to their drug of choice or contemplate suicide. Sometimes they drink and/or use more than their bodies can handle, and die of an overdose.
Suicidal feelings not only affect those who are still using and/or drinking, but also can target newly clean and sober addicts, because without their drugs of choice, painful emotions often emerge to the surface. A comprehensive substance abuse and addiction treatment program could have really helped them deal with those painful feelings, which are often the reason they drank and/or used to begin with.
And then there are the pink cloud people who talk about how great their lives are, even though they are newly clean and sober. In reality, their lives are a mess. Perhaps they are facing jail time for DUI’s, have lost their jobs, and/or have had family shun them. While they experience a pink cloud, they are immune to facing reality. Eventually, painful feelings will emerge, and what happens next, really depends on the individual. While others work on their recovery, some relapse. And then there are those who contemplate suicide because their pink cloud has turned into a thunderstorm.
Many years ago, at an AA meeting, I heard a speaker say that when he became newly sober, he did not have a pink cloud. (As a matter of fact, neither did I, if anything, I felt like that character from Charlie Brown, who had the rain cloud over his head). The speaker said that he was wading in a sea of remorse. While he discussed the importance of the 12 steps in helping him heal from those feelings, I felt that I needed more than the steps, because after I got sober, depression hit me like a two by four, and often immobilized me. Sometimes it was hard for me to open my Big Book, let alone do step work.
I wish I had gone to Cycles of Change Recovery Services where I could have built a solid foundation in recovery.
Cycles of Change Recovery Services offers a clinical, evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, as well as 12-step facilitation.
Set against the picturesque landscape of the Antelope Valley desert, the beautiful gender-specific homes at Cycles of Change Recovery Services provide the perfect atmosphere for healing from the damages of substance addiction.
Instead of isolation, clients receive ample support, from staff and their peers. And the spacious houses give clients space and room for reflection. At night, colorful water fountains cascade from the pools, creating a sense of serenity.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance abuse disorder, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are here to help.
Sources
- “Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain
- IIgen, Mark, and Felicia, Kleingberg, MSW. “The Link Between Substance Abuse, Violence and Suicide.” Psychiatric Times. http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/substance-use-disorder/link-between-substance-abuse-violence-and-suicide
- Cycles of Change Recovery Services Las Vegas Office
Since Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith founded Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) back in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, the organization, whose primary resolve is to help alcoholics stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety has evolved to include other self-help organizations. Like AA, these organizations use 12-step principles. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a fellowship of men and women whose major problem is drugs, and Cocaine Anonymous (CA) is a fellowship for those who are newly clean cocaine addicts. And besides CA and NA, there is Marijuana Anonymous (MA), Al-Anon (for family members of alcoholics and/or addicts), OA (overeaters anonymous) and a plethora of other 12-step organizations.
Since its inception, AA has been the subject of controversy. In 2011 an article, published in The Atlantic, and written by anti-AA author Gabrielle Glaser (Her Best-Kept Secret: Why Women Drink-And How They Can Regain control), systematically ripped apart the organization. Glaser wrote how AA’s faith based approach, of which five of the 12 steps mention God, was a turn off to a newly clean and sober attorney, J.G. Not only was J.G. an atheist but also he was discouraged because of AA’s belief in total abstinence. J.G. felt that other AA members would consider him a failure if he went on a “bender.” Why would J.G. care so much about what others thought of him? The fact that he considered going on a bender was an issue that had to be addressed.
When Glaser discusses how The Big Book’s chapter, For The Wives is derogatory to women, I chuckled. When I initially got sober in August 2011 after over a decade of heavy drinking, I went to a Big Book study. Guess what chapter the group was discussing? For the Wives. I reacted the way Glaser did. Not only did I get into a heated debate with the rest of the group, calling the chapter misogynistic, and archaic, but after I left the meeting, I carried around that anger for weeks. Then, I relapsed. I think the resentment was not about the chapter, but something deeper, specifically my own hurt over a past relationship.
Thankfully, I finally got sober in November, 2011.
But to give J.G. the benefit of the doubt, I used to get annoyed by the mention of God. While I was born and baptized Greek Orthodox, I considered myself an agnostic. Even today, I question the concept of God, and yet I have felt a Higher Power work in my life. Perhaps I can’t quite put a face to this Higher Power, but I feel its positive force and energy. My mom died in 2002 as a result of cancer, and while I have not “seen” her, I have felt her presence. It’s the same feeling I get with this Higher Power, and its easier to get in touch with God, by having clarity of mind.
While the 12 steps mention God, lets give Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson some credit, ok? They were pioneers of a movement! During the early part of the 20th century, alcoholics were sent to hospitals and sanitariums, and often treated like criminals.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob not only worked at changing the stigma that surrounded alcoholics, but also gave them the promise of a new life, one that allowed them to have hope and dignity.
Out of all the AA members who contributed to the writing of the Big Book, Bill Wilson had the longest period of sobriety, and that was four years. (I have a little over five years, as of this writing!) After a lifetime of drinking, he did his best. Some concepts that inspired him while he wrote the Big Book were borrowed from the Gospel of Matthew, and the General Letter of James. As I perused through the Book of Matthew, this verse popped out at me. (“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Other ideas used by Bill W. and Dr. Bob to write the Big Book were inspired by the Oxford Group, a Christian-based organization that believed that the root of all problems was fear and selfishness, and that the key to serenity was turning one’s life over to God’s design.
I am not sure if Matthew 22:37 inspired Wilson, but the concept of surrendering to a Higher Power is hinted in the Biblical verse, as well as in the ideology of the Oxford Group.
And who wrote that infamous For the Wives? Bill W. authored that chapter. Ironically, his wife Lois said, “Bill wrote it, and I was mad.” She added, “I wasn’t so much mad as hurt. I still don’t know why Bill wrote it. I’ve never really gotten into it.” She told Bill that perhaps she should have written that chapter, but he insisted on doing so, because he wanted it to match the style of the Book.
So it was a stylistic choice.
While AA stresses abstinence, Glaser believes that alcoholics (unless they are severe drinkers) can drink in moderation, even by using the drug naltrexone to ward off cravings.
How does one distinguish between a moderate and severe drinker? Alcoholics are not always rational, and many are in denial. And moderation can lead to relapse. After some period of sobriety, relapse causes horrible withdrawal symptoms. While cravings might remain the same, the alcoholic’s tolerance level has decreased. Drinking can be a death sentence.
According to a Scientific American article, Alcoholics Anonymous works best in conjunction with other therapies.
The Scientific American article reports that other forms of therapy that work with AA include evidence-based treatment, as well as treatment that has a 12-step facilitation approach. Basically, clients work with professionals who help them work through the first four or five of the 12 steps, and introduce them to 12-step meetings.
At Cycles of Change Recovery Services, we offer that same protocol.
Should you or a loved one suffer from alcoholism, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
We are here for you.
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