Prevention Talks

Parents today are learning how important it is for them to talk to their teen about substance abuse. Adolescents whose parents have ongoing conversations with them about not trying drugs or alcohol are up to 50% less likely to try these substances. Prevention definitely starts at home, and parents can make a conscious decision to be the first and most important step in prevention.

Role Models

The example parents set also affects an adolescent. Kids who grow up watching their parents abuse alcohol are more likely to abuse alcohol themselves at a younger age. Adolescents learn behaviors from their parents and, good or bad, will start following the example set for them.

The latest study, which is published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, looked at the brain chemistry of teens in order to further understand the impact of parental influence. The small study out of Oregon performed MRI scans on adolescents who had no previous experience with drinking, but who were children of alcoholics. They found differences in the areas of the brain that control decision-making compared to teens with no family history of alcoholism. These young people showed weaker development in the decision-making areas of the brain, possibly putting them at risk for making poor choices with regards to drinking in the future.

Bonnie J. Nagel, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University concluded, “Therefore, differences in brain activity may impact the ability of individuals family history of alcoholism to make good decisions in many contexts, and in particular may facilitate poor decision-making in regards to alcohol use. Taken together with other studies on youth family history of alcoholism, these results suggest that atypical brain structure and function exist prior to any substance use, and may contribute to an increased vulnerability for alcoholism in these individuals.” (1)

This study only helps reiterate the important role parents play in keeping their children away from drugs and alcohol. Parents should first of all talk to their children regularly about the dangers of alcohol abuse. Secondly, parents need to set a good example for their teen by drinking responsibly. If a parent’s drinking is out of control, they should seek help right away in order to provide their child with the best chance at living a sober life.

Sources

(1) Familial alcoholism affects teen brains

Teenagers with alcoholic parents more likely to have impulsive and addictive personalities

Parental Alcoholism Linked to Brain Changes in Kids

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Wisconsin is just now proposing a law that would require anyone with an OWI to have an ignition interlock device installed in their car. The state has been known for its relaxed laws on drunk driving, but is working on getting tougher with its intoxicated drivers. The law would require interlocks, which prevent a car from starting if they detect alcohol on the driver’s breath, for even first time offenders.

Installing Interlock Devices

New York’s law went into effect in 2010, and it requires monitoring and supervision of offenders with the device in their car. To date, 14 states have laws that mandate ignition interlocks for first time offenders. Nebraska is one of those states. “I think the message is that no drinking and driving will be tolerated by the law. The legislature’s enacted stiff penalties to punish those people,” said Sarpy County, Nebraska Judge Jeffrey Funke. (1)

While these laws are making a difference because they put strict penalties on first time offenders, there are some concerns. The cost of carrying through with installing the interlocks and monitoring them can be a huge burden on states. Some states require the offender to cover the costs, which can be $75 to $100 per installation. In just one year, New York installed 5,775 devices, the cost of which adds up quickly.

Beating the System

The interlock devices are not fool proof. People find ways around them, get bystanders to blow into them, or they take a friend’s car. While there are stiff penalties for doing this, someone unwilling to change their ways will try them to see if they can get away with it. “What we want people to understand,” Omaha Police Sergeant Tony Gutierrez said, “is if you say, drive a friend’s car and you’re required to have an interlock device, and you drive a car without one, you could be charged with a Class IV felony.” (1)

Preventing Drunk Driving Deaths

Imposing stricter penalties on people the first time they get caught drinking and driving will hopefully get the message out that this is a serious offense. Unfortunately, many of the drunk drivers on the roads have multiple offenses. It is frustrating anytime a drunk driver kills someone in an accident, but even more so when it is their 5th or 6th offense. The laws may not have a huge impact on people who have been drinking and diving for a while, but the hope is that it will deter others from getting to that point. “I think the changes are necessary to address the problems sooner, to make a bigger impact right away,” said Gutierrez. “We’re hoping that we have safer drivers on the road. That’s the long-term goal. Time will tell if that’s what actually takes place.” (1)

Sources

(1) New DUI Laws In Effect January 1st

NYS To Reimburse Counties For Interlock Devices

Installers Expect More Business if Tougher Ignition Interlock Law Passes

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Take Care of Yourself

Alcohol abuse and relapses in recovery can often be prevented if people would just focus on keeping themselves healthy. It starts with getting enough sleep, which is difficult when there is so much to do. Finding healthy ways to reduce stress will help us stay strong, including exercising, eating well, and getting help for any mental health issues. HALT is an acronym that is used at AA meetings, and it stands for hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness; personal needs that should to be taken care of in order to maintain health and strength to avoid alcohol.

Remember, You Are Not Alone

People who struggle with a drinking problem feel ashamed and embarrassed, and want to keep their problem a secret. But admitting that there is a problem and relying on the support of family and close friends can take a huge load off of a person’s shoulders. Don’t feel alone, because you are not. Confide in family or friends and ask them to help you in your endeavor to stay sober. Find someone who will avoid alcohol with you. Make use of local AA meetings and keep in regular contact with your sponsor. Do not isolate yourself in the hopes of staying sober, because loneliness often leads people to drink.

Start New Traditions

It may not only be necessary to surround yourself with positive influences, but also with positive activities. If you are the kind of person who usually celebrates Christmas by boozing it up with old buddies or getting drunk at family gatherings, change your habits. Instead, volunteer at a local charity, or get together with people you’ve met through AA. Don’t put yourself in a position to fail by sticking with old traditions that involve drinking. Sometimes when we want something difficult like sobriety, we need to sacrifice the old practices that would jeopardize it.

Sources

(1) Bah HumBug! Gettin’ thru the Holidays

Avoiding alcohol problems during the holidays

Recovering alcoholics face challenges during holidays

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Making Work Parties More Exciting

Holiday work parties can be awkward and boring, and to lighten things up, people often take advantage of the free alcohol that is so often served at these parties. While alcohol abuse can lead to drunken driving, accidental injuries, and even alcoholism, there are more reasons why you might think twice before drinking too much at a work party this year.

A national survey sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers found that more than half (52%) of employees who have attended work related get togethers observed a co-worker acting inappropriately after consuming too much alcohol. These people flirted with co-workers or supervisors, shared inappropriate details about themselves to others, became aggressive toward colleagues or supervisors, and engaged in sexual activity with co-workers. (1)

Consequences of Drinking at Work Parties

If a person loses control and alcohol impairs their judgment in front of co-workers and their boss, there are likely going to be consequences. Depending on the job, policies, and the kindness of the boss, employees who get drunk and hit on a co-worker, drive away drunk, or do something else inappropriate, may face repercussions at work. “We are living in stressful times and many people turn to alcohol at parties to reduce anxiety and escape their daily pressures,” said Harris Stratyner, PhD, a leading addiction psychologist and Regional Clinical Vice President at Caron’s New York office. “Unfortunately, many people struggle to manage the amount of alcohol they consume and put themselves into compromising situations that could permanently damage their reputation.” (1)

No Secrets in the Workplace

We’re in a new age now, one where there are no secrets, and gossiping at the water cooler is not necessary for word to get around. Today, we have Facebook and other social media sites that people freely use to post uncomplimentary pictures for the world to see. News of an employee’s lack of judgment may be public knowledge even before Monday morning rolls around. “Many people use social networking sites to document their lives in real-time, including work events,” said Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, PhD. “A one-time mistake that might have been witnessed by a few and quickly forgotten can now have substantially more consequences because a person’s behavior can be recorded and shared with others and relived with the click of a button. In a time when job security is more vulnerable than ever – I would encourage individuals to seek help for a drinking problem before their reputation is irrevocably damaged.”  (1) 

The message here is to be careful. Of course, alcohol abuse in itself is dangerous and leads to some serious consequences, but many people also fail to consider the implications it may have on their career. The holidays should be a time to celebrate and be merry, but they don’t need to be a time to lose control. 

Sources

(1) Drinking With Colleagues Over the Holidays Can Permanently Damage Your Reputation

Why The Office Holiday Party Can Lead to Big Trouble

Planning Office Holiday Parties Without Lawsuits

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Dr. Morris Chafetz’ Early Career

Back in 1970, when Dr. Chafetz was appointed as the very first director of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), most Americans viewed alcoholism as a social crime and a moral flaw. Dr. Chafetz himself had only recently overcome those prejudices. When he graduated as a psychiatrist from medical school, he accepted the only position he could find, which was starting a new alcohol treatment center. He is reported as not being happy about the position, mostly because of his view of alcoholics. He was quoted later in his life as saying, “I did not think much of alcoholic people. I did not like them; I just was not the least bit interested in them.” (1)

After a short time helping alcoholics recover, he changed his mind, which led him to strive to change public opinion as well. “It only took me a few months of listening to these patients to recognize my prejudices and the prejudices of others,” he said. “I realized that this issue reflected every social health policy problem being faced by the country.” (1)

Improving Public View of Alcoholism

Chafetz became the first director of the NIAAA, from 1970-1975, during which time their annual budget increased from $6.5 million to $214 million. The federal agency was created to provide funds for programs in the U.S. and around the world that promote awareness for alcoholism and that help prevent and treat it. 

Today, many people credit Chafetz with changing people’s view of alcoholics. We still have a long way to go, but more and more people today recognize alcoholism as a disease that can be treated rather than a character flaw. With more treatment programs and better treatment options, more people are able to recover from alcoholism. “I remember saying in one of my first speeches that alcoholism was America’s most treatable untreated illness, and I still feel that way,” Chavetz said. (1)

It all starts with education. If more people are open to talking about the problem, more people will admit to having the problem, and more people will seek treatment for it. “Having experienced the extent of my own prejudices and my own ignorance of the issue, I was bound and determined to turn the country around and to treat alcoholics as ill human beings who needed treatment, not as bad people who should be ignored and neglected,” Dr. Chafetz said. (1) He certainly dedicated his life to helping other people see alcoholism in a new light.

Sources

(1) Morris Chafetz, 87, Dies; Altered View of Alcoholism

Are people with addictions any “sicker” than anyone else?

State struggles to find homes for mental health patients 

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Naloxone

Naloxone is currently used to treat heroin overdoses in humans, but now, researchers are hoping the drug will provide benefits to alcohol abusers and alcoholics as well. The drug targets the same receptors in the brain that certain other substances target. When used as a remedy for heroin overdose it actually counteracts the depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system and as a result, saves the person’s life. When used to combat alcohol, it is thought to keep the user from feeling the effects of alcohol by again working on certain cells in the brain. Researchers found that mice that were given the drug in the study were less tipsy and less impaired.

No Appeal to Some

It is hard to say just what impact this drug may have, if any, on problem drinkers. If it does work like researchers are hoping it will, people who take it will not feel the effects of alcohol. For many people, this drug will hold very little appeal. After all, most people that drink do it for the feeling they get and it would be pointless to drink if it wouldn’t help them feel better. Unfortunately for too many people, alcohol becomes the tool to help them relax and to wash away life’s problems. Alcohol also helps people loosen up and be more outgoing. For these people, a stay-sober pill is the last thing they would want to take.

Beneficial to Others

For problem drinkers, however, it is a different story. Someone who acknowledges that they binge drink too often or just need to get control over their drinking might find the stay-sober pill to be very helpful. If a person doesn’t feel they have the self-control to stay sober, yet they want to stop drinking, this pill would take away the pleasure of drinking.

Naloxone can also be implanted into a person so that they do not have to be responsible for taking the pill regularly. This would allow a continuous release of the medication into their system so that whether they like it or not, alcohol wouldn’t have the effect on them that it once did. By removing the rewards for drinking, supporters of this medication hope that more people, including alcoholics, will be able to get a handle on their alcohol consumption.

While on the one hand science continues to come up with ways to better our lives and make things easier, sobriety is one of those things that requires hard work and dedication to achieve. As with any treatment program or sobriety aid, a person won’t really get better until they want to put forth the effort to do it. Thinking that a simple pill can solve an alcoholic or binge drinker’s problems is misleading. While it certainly can help with the process of sobriety, it will also require hard work and dedication.

Sources

Researchers developing stay-sober pill to help treat alcoholism

Pill to counter bad booze moments  

Is a ‘Stay Sober’ Pill in the Works?

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Boosting Profits

In a society where marketing techniques have to be both innovative and bold, these fast food chains are just trying to make a profit. Ron Paul, president of a restaurant industry consulting firm, knows how consumers drive the market, “For consumers, it’s basically about having it your way — even if it’s having a beer with your burger.” (1) Senior Vice President of business analysis at Sonic, Drew Ritger, admits that the fast food chains are trying to drum up business during slow hours, as he told USA Today; “We look at this as an opportunity to drive evening business in this market.” (1)

Easy Access to Alcohol

Many others disagree with these practices. They argue that selling alcohol at fast food chains will only create easier access to a substance that causes enough problems already. “Fast food plus fast alcohol equals fast drunks,” said Michele Simon of the Marin Institute, an organization dedicated to monitoring the alcohol industry.  While the restaurants have made it clear that they will not sell alcohol through the drive through, the logistics of the practice still seem complicated. It will be more difficult to regulate the sale of alcohol, and people are worried that it will more easily get into the hands of minors and of drivers. Christopher Mullen, Dean at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration sums it up; ”You don’t want someone downing a quick beer, then getting into their cars and driving off. It’s a delicate balance of risk and reward.” (2)

Thinking It Through

The idea of alcohol at fast food restaurants is not a new one. It is a common practice among chains overseas, including McDonald’s. But in many of these countries, drinking alcohol during lunch or the middle of the day is acceptable, while in the United States, many of the people looking for alcohol in the middle of the day may already have a drinking problem.
Ultimately, people are responsible for their own actions. If someone is going to go to a fast food restaurant with their kids, load up on beer, and then drive home, they can only blame themselves. However, we don’t need to encourage anyone to drink, especially by making alcohol readily available at fast food restaurants.

Sources

(1) Mixed Reactions To Selling Alcohol in Fast Food Restaurants

(2) Burger King And Other Fast Food Giants Offer Beer Hoping To Attract Late-Night Customers

Alcohol at fast-food restaurants a bad idea

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Binge drinking is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams or above. About 75% of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks, and binge drinking can be responsible for accidents, injury, alcohol poisoning, and liver disease, among other things. (1)

The situations listed below are kinds of triggers that for some people, mean it’s time to start binge drinking. There are many other triggers that are specific to individual people, but these situations happen in most everyone’s life and cause many people to drink.

A night out with friends. Even though we claim peer pressure is a teenage thing, it really can still affect us our entire life. A fun night out with friends is often a time to drink. Even moderately responsible individuals can be tempted to binge drink when out enjoying time with good friends.

After a stressful day. We are really good at feeling entitled to do things to make us happy. If we suffer through something, we want to reward ourselves. If we feel hurt or wronged, we want to make ourselves feel better. We’re not always good at handling stress and problems in a healthy way. Many of us, instead of relaxing after a hard day in a healthy way, will have a drink or two. When done in moderation this may not be harmful, but for someone prone to alcohol abuse or who is an alcoholic, drinking away one’s stress can be dangerous.

Being alone. Being alone can have negative consequences on us. There are times when having some peace and quiet are welcome. However, if someone must spend time alone when they don’t want to, it can be a risky time, because loneliness can make us do things we wouldn’t normally do. We might self-medicate our cares away by drinking. The problem with this situation is that there is no one around to see what we are doing or to stop us, and the result is that lonely drinking can be more damaging.

Family gatherings. People may joke about how hard it is to spend time with family, but for many families this is very true. Even anticipating a family get together can drive some people to drink, because of the stress and dysfunction this time can bring. Other people wait until they are at a family gathering and then negative interactions with family members can cause them to drink.

Binge drinking can cause injury or death, and should be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol abuse, consider getting help.

Sources

(1) Binge Drinking

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations trigger binge drinking

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Alcoholics Anonymous

As the name intentionally states, AA organizers firmly believe that remaining anonymous is important to recovery. It allows people recovering from addiction to escape the stigma associated with their addiction. A new pamphlet distributed at AA’s annual conference in New York was designed to clarify the boundaries of anonymity, because of the trends that are moving addiction recovery out into the open.

Rehab in the Media

In recent years celebrities, authors, and politicians have declared their recovery to the world. Countless memoirs, articles, and movies have been dedicated to the sobriety of both famous and not so famous individuals. We are also so accustomed to hearing about the latest celebrity in rehab that we don’t even bat an eye at it anymore. We certainly don’t live in a time of anonymity anymore.

Proud to be Sober

Some people go so far as to argue that anonymity is not healthy either. “Anonymity protects, but it also hides.” (1) “Having to deny your own participation in a program that is helping your life doesn’t make sense to me. You could be focusing light on something that will make it better and more honest and more helpful.” (2) “It’s seems crazy that we can’t just be out with it, in this day and age. I don’t want to have to hide my sobriety; it’s the best thing about me.” (3)

Many people struggling with addiction do not really turn the corner to living a sober life until they have come clean with friends and family. Oftentimes, when a person is open and honest about their struggles, they are able to find people that will help and support them through the process. Some people who are straightforward about their recovery from addiction become a source of strength and encouragement to others struggling with the same thing. Being forthcoming with a life challenge is not always a bad thing.

Benefits to Anonymity

That is not to say that AA is out of date or that it has nothing to offer in today’s society. In a world where private pictures are posted on the Internet for all to see, a little anonymity can be a good thing. Even with the advances we’ve made in reducing the stigma associated with alcoholism, there are many people who would lose their jobs or suffer other consequences if word got out that they were a recovering alcoholic. The fact that AA requires all members to uphold not only their own but others’ anonymity helps ensure that privacy is maintained. 

Sources

(1) Can AA survive our tell-all era? 

(2) Some Recovering Addicts Finding They Don’t Want to Be Unknown

(3) Dropping the anonymity rule would be disastrous for Alcoholics Anonymous

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Gastric Bypass and Alcoholism

First of all, a study done at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm concludes that patients that have undergone gastric bypass surgery are more at risk for alcoholism. In fact, they found that after the surgery, these individuals are twice as likely to develop alcoholism than those who had lap band weight loss surgery. The reason given for the increased risk is that patients who have had their stomach’s size reduced are not able to process the alcohol in the stomach and it is passed, largely unchanged, to the intestines. The result is that these individuals reach a higher blood alcohol level much more quickly, which can lead to dependence. Based on this research, lead study author Dr. Ostlund states, “Patients undergoing gastric bypass should be carefully counseled on alcohol consumption. In addition, caregivers should be aware of the greater potential for alcohol abuse after surgery so treatment can be sought if problems arise.” (1)

Bariatric Surgery and Depression

Studies have also examined the incidence of depression on an obese person before surgery and after weight loss surgery. It is common for obese individuals to experience depression before surgery because they are not happy with their size or with other things in their life. But this Stockholm study also showed that after bariatric surgery, these individuals remained at risk for depression, suicide attempts, and substance abuse. Many people have speculated at this result, saying it is because these patients still struggle with food and their weight, or that they naturally suffer from psychiatric disorders, regardless of their weight.

Bariatric Surgery and Memory Function

Another study, however, gives a bit more hope to patients wanting to undergo bariatric surgery. This study, done by Kent State University in Ohio, concludes that patients that have undergone bariatric surgery actually experience increased memory function. Researchers of this second study hope that treating obesity can help treat things like underlying depression. Lead researcher John Gunstad states, “This very clearly demonstrates that obesity causes adverse changes to the brain but that some of these changes might be reversible through significant weight loss.” (2)

Both of these studies have been released recently, and require more studies to back them up. It may be that with more research, we will find more information about just how obesity and weight loss influence depression, and in turn, substance abuse.

Sources

(1) Gastric bypass weight-loss surgery increases risk of alcoholism, study says

(2) Lose Weight, Gain Memory Function?

Risk for Problem Drinking May Rise After Gastric Bypass

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