
Facts
Everyday, at least nine teenagers die due to alcohol-related causes. Of those nine, three teenagers who chose to drink and then drive are killed. In 2003, 6,002 individuals between the ages of 16 and 20 were killed in automobile accidents. Of those fatalities, 38% were alcohol-related. A survey of college students conducted in 2001 revealed that 26% of underage drinkers have driven while intoxicated. Of the surveyed students, 10% said they had driven even after consuming five alcoholic beverages. Almost a quarter of respondents said they had knowingly ridden with a driver who was drunk or high within 30 days of the survey. Alcohol is a drug that impairs judgment, reaction time, movement, coordination and vision. Though the blood alcohol content legal limit for someone driving a car used to be 0.10 in some states, it is now 0.08 in all states. In Michigan, it will change to 0.10 from 0.08 on October 1, 2013. Even though 0.08 is considered the “legal limit” in most states, courts can still find someone legally drunk with a BAC below 0.08 if the driver is under 21 or shows signs of impairment. BAC is a measurement of how much alcohol has been absorbed into someone’s bloodstream and is greatly affected by the rate of alcohol consumption. Generally, the faster someone drinks, the more inebriated (drunk) he or she becomes. The type and amount of alcohol does make a difference. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or a 1.5 ounce of 80-proof liquor. (Proof is a measurement of how much alcohol a liquor contains -- 80 proof means 40 percent alcohol, 70 proof equals 35 percent alcohol, etc.) All of these measurements contain 0.54 ounces of ethyl alcohol, the substance that makes you intoxicated. You may be telling yourself that you engage in drinking so that you can reduce your anxiety or get rid of the sorrow that you feel. In much the same way, you may be trying to stay away from an injurious situation or may be looking for something better, more helpful, or less sad. Definitions of drug abuse and addiction are subjective and infused with the political and moral values of the society or culture. For example, the stimulant caffeine in coffee and tea is a drug used by millions of people, but because of its relatively mild stimulatory effects and because caffeine does not generally trigger antisocial behavior in users, the drinking of coffee and tea, despite the fact that caffeine is physically addictive, is not generally considered drug abuse. Even narcotics addiction is seen only as drug abuse in certain social contexts. In India opium has been used for centuries without becoming unduly corrosive to the social fabric. The United States has the highest substance abuse rate of any industrialized nation. Government statistics (1997) show that 36% of the United States population has tried marijuana, cocaine, or other illicit drugs. By comparison, 71% of the population has smoked cigarettes and 82% has tried alcoholic beverages. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. |
Addict
An addict is an individual who has a compulsive urge to use drugs, to the point where they feel they have no effective choice but to continue use. An addict will continue their self destructive behaviors in order to feel good or to avoid
feeling bad. It can dominate their mind, and keep them coming back for more. The addiction can be
different for each addict, depending on their vice and the kind of person they
are.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
Detox
Detox is necessary when an individual through their chronic use of drugs or alcohol has developed an addiction. The objective of detox is to help the individual achieve a drug and alcohol free state. Detox is intended to relieve the physical symptoms of withdrawal and helps prepare the individual for entry into drug rehabilitation. Therefore, the ultimate goal of detox is preparation for long term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is what happens when a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol discontinues use. There are numerous symptoms that take place both physically and emotionally when an addicted individual stops using. Withdrawal can last a few days to a few weeks and may include nausea or vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. Keep in mind; this only occurs if a person has regular, heavy use of a drug or alcohol. Withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable without professional help. Treatment for withdrawal from alcohol or drugs may require a medical professional to be present. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is often the best way to overcome withdrawal and its symptoms as well as recovery from drug addiction.
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