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4 Common Alcoholism FAQs

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alcoholism, substance abuse

1. What is alcoholism? This is a type of substance abuse disorder that involves alcohol. It is a chronic condition that is progressive. Someone with this condition has a problem with controlling their intake, and they continue to drink even though it has devastating consequences on their life and loved ones.

2. How is there a problem when I can hold my liquor? This type of substance abuse does not mean that you drink and black out every day. Some individuals can consume a larger amount of alcohol without showing the effects because of a variety f factors including body weight and frequency of alcohol consumption.

3. Can I have alcoholism if I don’t change after drinking? The truth is that alcohol affects different people in different ways. Some people become angry drunks, others may get giggly and happy, while still others may just feel tired and want to take a nap. The frequency and amount of alcohol that is consumed is an indication of whether you need treatment for alcoholism or not.

4. Does heavy drinking or regular drinking mean I have this condition? Not necessarily. Alcohol abuse is a form of substance abuse but this alone does not define alcoholism. In order to be diagnosed as an alcoholic you must have an addiction to alcohol. Some problem drinkers or those that abuse alcohol are not addicted in spite of this.

Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse are treatable and it is possible to achieve a full recovery when the right treatment program and methods are chosen.

Common FAQs About A Substance Abuse Intervention

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substance abuse, intervention

What is an intervention? An intervention is a professional process used in order to make the individual with the problem face reality and admit that they need help. It is a meeting where friends and family address the ways that the alcohol or drug use by the individual affects everyone who cares about the person.

Why does substance abuse treatment need to be arranged ahead of time? The goal of this type of meeting is to get the individual to see that they have a problem and they need help. The chance of successful treatment and a full recovery are highest when the individual goes directly from the intervention into the treatment program. If there is any delay the individual could retreat back into denial and then refuse to go later on.

Why is a professional needed for an intervention? Professional assistance should always be used for an intervention. Friends and family members who have been negatively affected by the substance abuse may have some deep emotions that can include anger and resentment. Without a professional present the meeting can quickly turn ugly and escalate into something negative instead of having a positive influence that leads to change.

What role will friends and family members play in this process? Each person who will attend the intervention will usually be asked to draw up a letter to the target of the meeting. This letter should detail how substance abuse has caused harm to the family member or friend. During the meeting each individual will address the person at the center of the intervention in the hope that this individual will be willing to accept treatment.

5 Ways to Help A Family Member With an Addiction

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addiction, substance abuse

1. Discuss the problem with your family member. Any addiction is a cause for concern, and some may be deadly as well as devastating every aspect of daily life. If your loved one admits that there is a problem then professional treatment can be sought. If the individual is in denial then additional efforts may be necessary.

2. Arrange for substance abuse treatment and then present this as a fact to your loved one. It may be more difficult for them to refuse help when this is presented as a fact and the arrangements are already in place.

3. Do not enable your loved one with the addiction. We often want to take care of those that we love, and to make things easier for them. If you enable the substance abuse you are not helping your family member and you could make things worse instead of fixing it for them.

4. Arrange for an intervention. This step may help bring your loved one to their senses and make them realize what their addiction is doing to those close to them that they care about. Often the individual will not be honest about the complications that their drug or alcohol use has on others until an intervention is performed.

5. Seek professional assistance from your family physician. Discuss your substance abuse concerns and brainstorm with your physician about how to get your family member the help that they need and deserve. The physician may be able to come up with solutions that you have not considered up until this point.

Substance Abuse, Child Neglect, and Child Abuse

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substance abuse, child abuse

The rising rate of substance abuse across the USA and Canada is a troublesome trend, and far too often this also leads to an increase in child neglect and child abuse. A parent or caregiver who has an addiction does not always put the needs of the child first. When someone who has an addiction is withdrawing this can increase the risk of neglect or even abuse for children in the household. In the last decade there have been cases where children were seriously injured and died, sometimes after weeks or even longer of horrendous abuse that could be considered torture. Certain types of substance abuse increase the odds of physical violence, emotional abuse, and neglect more than other types. This has led many in the medical community to call for an increase in screening of adults in households where there are children.

Both child abuse and substance abuse are serious problems that need to be addressed, but in the USA many are hesitant to interfere with the parent child relationship and household dynamics. The agencies in charge of protecting children sometimes go too far, removing children from a home where substance abuse is suspected but no signs of child abuse exist, and at other times children who are clearly at a high risk for harm are left in the home with the goal of keeping a family together only to have the child end up seriously injured or even worse. If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem don’t wait until things escalate, there is help available that can help prevent child abuse and neglect while allowing you to get your life back on track.

Does Substance Abuse Excuse Criminal Behavior?

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substance abuse, criminal behavior

substance abuse, criminal behavior

 

Substance abuse and criminal behavior often go hand in hand, and not just because the drugs being used or the activities engaged in while drunk are illegal. Alcohol and drugs both impair good judgment and normal caution, causing people to lose their usual inhibitions and do things that they would never do sober. Does this mean that substance abuse excuses criminal behavior as long as the individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crime was committed though? For most people the answer is a big no, because the individual chose to drink or do drugs so they made a conscious choice, and the criminal acts resulted from that conscious choice. There are others who argue that addiction is a disease though, and that the criminal justice system should show some leniency towards these individuals by offering treatment instead of a criminal record and possibly incarceration.

Criminal courts have long held that substance abuse does not excuse criminal behavior, and individuals are held responsible for acts that they commit while under the influence if they knowingly took the drugs or alcohol. If someone has been secretly drugged then the situation is different because the individual did not knowingly and voluntarily get intoxicated. If you or someone you know has been in legal trouble because of alcohol or drug abuse, or you have a problem with substance abuse that has not reached this low yet, there is help available. There are programs with high success rates and effective programs that actually work as expected.