Question: What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence? Answer: Alcohol abuse, in the simplest terms, is a pattern of excessive use of alcohol to the point of self-harm. You continue to drink even though adverse consequences–ranging from marital problems to DUIs–have occurred. An example would be frequent episodes of binge drinking, followed by … Read More
Two years ago, 15-year-old Sasha Rodriquez attended a rave party at the Coliseum in Los Angeles for people 16 or older.Later that night, though, Sasha arrived at the hospital in a coma after experiencing seizures and abnormal heart rhythms. And two days after she was admitted, hospital tests still showed no brain activity. The cause … Read More
I just read an inspiring testimony from Courtney Rundell, a freelance blogger, I want to share with you. Courtney is bipolar and in recovery herself from alcohol and drug addictions. Courtney begins her article, “My Happy Pill,” by describing the Zoloft commercial with the little bouncing ball and the blue bird and the raining clouds … Read More
I was browsing Twitter today when I stumbled across a tweet from @TwelveDrawings. Having always been intrigued with art and drawing, I was instantly drawn to the tweet and soon found my way to www.twelvedrawings.com. And I found a treasure trove of encouragement and inspiration. Illustrating the 12 Steps The artist wishes to remain anonymous in the … Read More
Question: Can you tell if somebody is going to be an alcoholic? Is alcoholism, like other diseases, predictable? Answer: James W. West, M.D. and author of The Betty Ford Center Book of Answers, says that while there may not be “absolute predictors,” there are “strong clues” as to whether or not a person will become an … Read More
Today in my morning news, I read of the death of a gunman after a 14-hour standoff with officials at a pharmacy in Alliance, Nebraska. Then I found out that in March of this year, there had been another police standoff at a pharmacy in Oakland, California. It might be slightly understandable that the city … Read More
Question: What is social drinking? Answer: Social drinking is very similar to moderate drinking. It could be defined as moderate drinking with friends or any other social setting such as parties, bars, or dates. Social drinking is not characterized by a loss of control. Generaly, social drinkers do not drink to chase after the “good feelings” that … Read More
This short, powerful essay explores our relationship with our addiction. I hate meetings. I hate your higher powers. I hate anyone who has a “program.” To all who come into contact with me, I wish you suffering and I wish you death. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the disease of addiction. I am cunning, … Read More
Think of the most recent movie you saw that did not have a happy ending. Could you think of one? I couldn’t. Some movies do leave you hanging, like Christopher Nolan’s film Inception. Other great movies may even end tragically. But overall, we tend to expect that happy ending. Imagine your life as a movie. Are … Read More
Answer: Yes. There is convincing evidence that alcoholism can be passed along through the generations by way of a biologic pathway called genetic predisposition. These “addiction genes” are biological differences that may make someone more or less vulnerable to addiction. These genes may also be the ones that make it harder for some to quit or easier to … Read More
