What is Alcoholism?

No one wants to believe that someone they care about is abusing alcohol or is an alcoholic. But it happens all time. Around the world, millions of people are addicted and abusing alcohol and millions are dying from this abuse.

According to national surveys, nearly 19 million people in the US abuse or are addicted to alcohol. In Europe, it’s estimated that 23 million people are dependent on alcohol. Internationally, it’s estimated that more than two million deaths a year result from alcohol consumption.

Sadly, every death caused by alcohol can be prevented simply by not overusing the drug. Getting someone who is abusing alcohol into a successful alcohol recovery program, such as the one at Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, can be the factor that saves someone from being one of these two million to lose their lives.

While some deaths occur after extensive drinking, such as colon cancer, heart disease or cirrhosis, some of them can happen at any point in the addiction, for example, auto accidents, drownings or assault deaths. It only takes one little mistake, in the midst of alcohol abuse, to bring about one of these tragedies. Narconon alcohol and drug recovery centers located on six continents have excellent track records of helping people put alcoholism behind them so they can live sober, productive lives.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Worldwide, there is a huge amount of alcohol being consumed. The World Health Organization found that the total annual consumption of alcohol equalled over six litres of pure alcohol per person over 15 years of age. To be sure, not all alcohol consumption is problematic. So how can one tell the difference?

Ref: World Health Organization - Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health

There are distinct signs of alcohol abuse that can be looked for. If you have someone who seems like they might be having a problem with their drinking, here are signs you can look for to know whether or not you need to make a closer inspection. Remember that many of these signs can relate to some other problem or condition, so you still have to look at the overall scene.

Look for sweating, especially with a sour smell; weight loss; physical deterioration.

Take notice of emotional changes like: Increased aggression; higher levels of anxiety than usual; burnout on tasks that previously were not a problem; refusal to admit any problem; depression; paranoia. Or behavioral changes such as: Person is unusually talkative; coordination is impaired; irritability; lethargy, lack of energy; short attention span; lack of motivation.

Or work related changes: Repeated missed appointments; excessive absences, latenesses or days off; Often late for work, meetings, appointments; Repeated excuses for failures to meet deadlines or finish tasks.

Ref: http://www.msha.gov/DrugFree/DrugFreeMines.asp – Alcohol and Drug-Free Mines - Mine Safety

And of course, be alert for the smell of alcohol on a person, empty alcohol bottles in the trash (though some alcoholic may go to pains to throw away bottles elsewhere to escape detection) or more frequent purchases of alcohol. When you have multiple signs, you have the grounds to sit down with the person and confront them on the subject.

Getting Your Loved One Help to Get Sober

For many people, it takes more than willpower to get off the alcohol. It takes help in the form of an effective alcohol rehabilitation program. That is where Narconon has been able to enter the scene and help many thousands of people kick an alcohol habit.

In Narconon, addicts can find the solution they need to drug or alcohol addiction. A holistic substance abuse treatment program takes those who are addicted through a thorough detoxification and reorientation exercises, and then into a life skills training regimen that enables people to leave the past behind and look forward to a bright new future. Graduates ordinarily restore family relationships, renew personal value systems and experience the relief of restored personal integrity. It all adds up to a new life without drugs.

To those who wish to break the pattern of drug use or drinking that is destroying their lives, Narconon provides a unique drug recovery program that works.

Contact Narconon for more information on the center nearest you.