Category Archives: Alcohol

Xanax and Alcohol: A Deadly Combination

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Xanax and Alcohol: A Deadly Combination


In recent years, as the use of prescription medication has proliferated in the United States, so too have the abuse of and overdose from many of these substances.

Prescription-drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the U.S., says a report issued last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The same report states that in 2007, there were roughly 27,000 unintentional deaths from drug overdoses—or one death every 19 minutes.

But of all the things that people ingest, there are few combinations more life-threatening than alcohol and Xanax, a benzodiazepine in the class of sedatives such as Valium and Klonopin.

What Makes Xanax and Alcohol a Deadly Combination?

When taken together, Xanax and alcohol have what’s known as an additive effect, which means that in the presence of Xanax, alcohol is made more potent than it would be alone.

Both Xanax and alcohol work by depressing the central nervous system of the body, reducing the activity of several mental functions, such as thought, memory, coordination, and respiration.

Alcohol alone doesn’t have that limit, because often times people will pass out before they drink enough alcohol for it to be lethal. When you take the two together and you have a totally different picture – Xanax and Alcohol: a deadly combination.

Prescription drugs and alcohol can be a dangerous combination. Alcohol interacts with anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax, intensifying the drugs’ sedative effects, causing drowsiness and dizziness, and making falls and accidents more likely. A 2010 study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health reported that automobile drivers were much more likely to weave and speed if they were under the influence of drugs like Xanax in addition to alcohol than if they had consumed alcohol alone.

How it Works

Your usual three drinks is actually like drinking six. And because of the additive effect of combining the two substances, it becomes impossible to know just how your body will absorb the alcohol you’ve ingested. Throw in other factors—sleep deprivation, an empty stomach, a cold—and the mixture is made all the more unpredictable and deadly.

Xanax and alcohol is the most deadly combination because it can cause amnesia. So not only is it does this combination affect respiratory function, the amnesic effect it causes is just as deadly. People die accidentally in the truest sense of the word: they don’t remember how many drinks they had, or how many pills they took.

 Why Xanax, in particular

In fact, it is this same rapid action that makes Xanax the most addictive of the benzodiazepines, many neuroscientists believe, providing the sensation of a high more so than other drugs of its class.

Other people start taking prescription drugs just to get high, perhaps in part because they have the false notion that prescription drugs are safer to experiment with than are illicit drugs.

Any benzodiazepine is highly dangerous in combination with alcohol, but Xanax is perhaps the most dangerous, because it is more fast-acting than the others. Because Xanax and alcohol both work on the brain at a rapid-fire pace, their mutually enhancing effect is bolstered compared to slower-acting benzodiazepines, which peaks in the brain more slowly, after the effect of the alcohol may have already begun to decline.

 

 

 

Sources:

http://www.thedailybeast.com

http://www.cdc.gov/

http://www.scientificamerican.com

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

How to Deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

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How to Deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription medication that contains both buprenorphine
 and naloxone. Both of these drugs are often given to addicts recovering from opiate addiction. Suboxone helps addicts overcome any drug cravings, thereby assisting them in the recovery process. Doctors should slowly taper the dosage of suboxone until you no longer need it to cope with the consequences of drug addiction.

The buprenorphine found in Suboxone is similar to what is found in other opiates, like morphine and heroin. As an opiate, buprenorphine can cause your body to become physically dependent on the drug, so when you suddenly discontinue suboxone, it will cause your body to undergo withdrawal. Withdrawal is your body’s way of attempting to recover from excessive drug use. Suboxone withdrawal can range from mild symptoms to serious, possible life-threatening effects.

Signs and symptoms of withdrawal:

  • Uncharacteristic irritability or agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Profuse sweating
  • Excessive tears
  • Runny nose
  • Frequent yawning

However, these symptoms are usually overlooked and may be passed off as symptoms of the flu or other mild diseases.

How to deal with Suboxone Withdrawal

I don’t know. Coffee, ibuprofen, lots of water, natural sleeps aids such as melatonin, hot baths, massage?

As a recovering opiate addict, I tried both a methadone maintenance and suboxone (at different times in my addiction). And quite honestly, the withdrawal sucks. That is totally an understatement.

Some years ago, I kicked methadone. Cold turkey. Not recommended. I stayed away from opiates for a little while but, soon enough, I was back at it. I thought the pain and discomfort of kicking for over a month would be enough to keep me from going down that road again. So, when things got bad again, I decided to get on suboxone. I don’t deny that this can be helpful when detoxing from other opiates (yes other because, after all, suboxone does contain an opiate called buprenorphine). But it is meant to be used short term, as in a week at the most, and with a rapid taper. There will be some discomfort at the end, but nowhere near what it’s like to go cold turkey.

While I was researching suboxone for the purpose of writing this blog and time and time again, I kept finding “information” which stated that, if tapered off of suboxone, you won’t experience any withdrawal symptoms and that if you do, you only think you do; it’s all mental. That’s plain old bullshit. I was on a very low dose of suboxone when I decided to go to treatment. I was taking maybe 4mg a day for the last several months of my active addiction. I tried to taper myself completely but the withdrawals came, and with a vengeance. I could not face suboxone withdrawal again. My solution was going into a medical detox and inpatient program.

If you are facing suboxone withdrawal, you may want to consider doing what I did. There are programs that specialize in suboxone detox that can assist you in the process with very little discomfort.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcohol Is Worse Than Illegal Drugs

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Alcohol worse than illegal drugs

Just because alcohol is a legal substance does not mean that it is a safe drug to consume. For socio-political reasons, alcohol remains to be legal to purchase and consume. However, whereas there are some medical implications and usages for what are known as illegal drugs, there is no therapeutic value to alcohol. Just like with illegal drugs, you can overdose on alcohol (alcohol poisoning) but alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because it is the only withdrawal, other than that from benzodiazepines, that is potentially fatal.

Alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because it is socially-acceptable to drink and therefore makes it a more insidious drug. The common perception of alcohol is that it is OK to overindulge for a “good time.”

Effects of alcohol on the brain

Looking at the effects on the brain from long-term drinking, it is clear that alcohol is worse than illegal drugs. Extended alcohol consumption can lead to something called Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, also known as “wet brain.” It is a chronic and debilitating syndrome characterized by persistent learning and memory problems. Patients are forgetful and easily frustrated. They experience difficulty with walking and coordination. Although these patients have problems recalling old information, it is their difficulty in forming new information that is the most striking. For example, a patient can discuss in detail an event but, an hour later might not remember ever having the conversation. People may not be aware that prolonged liver dysfunction can harm the brain, leading to a serious and potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy, which causes changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality; anxiety and depression; severe cognitive effects such as shortened attention span; and problems with coordination. Alcohol–damaged liver cells allow excess amounts of these harmful byproducts to enter the brain, thus harming brain cells.

Effects of alcohol on the body

Heart

Alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because it can have serious effects on physical health. And it is not just from drinking a lot over a long time; drinking too much on a single occasion can damage the heart and cause problems such as cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of heart muscle); arrhythmias – (irregular heart beat); stroke; high blood pressure.

Liver

Alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, which leads to a variety of problems such as Steatosis, or fatty liver; Alcoholic Hepatitis; Fibrosis; Cirrhosis.

Pancreas

Alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because it causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, dangerous inflammation and swelling that prevents proper digestion. This can lead to malnutrition and therefore affecting brain function.

Cancer

Drinking too much alcohol makes alcohol is worse than illegal drugs because it increases your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast.

Immune System

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body more susceptible to disease.  Chronic drinkers are more likely to contract diseases than people who do not drink too much.  Drinking a lot on a single occasion reduces the body’s ability to fight off infections, even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

It’s safe to say that alcohol is worse than illegal drugs.

The World Health Organization estimates that risks linked to alcohol cause 2.5 million deaths per year from heart and liver disease, car accidents, suicides and cancer, accounting for 3.8% of all deaths. Alcohol is the third leading risk factor for premature death and disabilities worldwide.

Scientists with the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) conducted research that took into account 7 different criteria and found that alcohol is most harmful. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being no harm and 100 being most harmful, they find alcohol is worse than illegal drugs, with a score of 72, followed by heroin with 55 and crack with 54.

Sources:

www.reuters.com

www.nih.gov

www.cbsnews.com

www.wikipedia.org

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

The Dangers of Designer Drugs

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The Dangers of Designer Drugs

Designer drugs are synthetic, illegal drugs produced in underground labs and sold on the street. Many of these drugs are used by teens or youth at dance parties and clubs and are also known as “club drugs”.

Many designer drug users think that the drugs are harmless but they can be extremely dangerous. It is nearly impossible to know the exact amount of what chemicals were used to produce them and they are often used in combination with other drugs or with alcohol which can easily lead to an overdose or in the worst case scenario, death.

The latest in the wave of designer drugs are substances known as bath salts, spice and mephedrone. All three of these are almost synthetic versions of other drugs such as meth, marijuana and mephedrone.

The most common designer drugs are:

  • Crystal Meth (crank, speed, Tina, meth, crystal, and jib): Crystal meth is probably one the most common drug in today’s club and rave scene due to the high energy rush it produces.
  • Ecstasy (X, E, XTC, Adam, MDMA, rolls): Ecstasy is a drug popular for producing feelings of well-being and emotional closeness as well as a very intense euphoria.
  • Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB, G, Gina): GHB is a drug that causes relaxation and sleep. GHB can make people feel like everything is okay with the world and is sometimes described as being a cross between alcohol and ecstasy.
  • Ketamine (K, ket, special k, vitamin k, cat valium, horse tranquilizer): Ketamine is a general anesthetic used mainly for veterinary medicine. It is a strong pain reliever that is known to produce out of body experiences.
  • Bath salts (Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Vanilla Sky, Bliss): Bath salts produce a similar effect to amphetamine and cocaine. They come in a white powder form and resemble legal bathing products like Epsom salts. Bath salts have a stimulant effect.
  • Mephedrone (drone, MCAT): Mephedrone is manufactured in China and is similar to MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. Mephedrone produces stimulant effects.
  • Spice (K2, fake weed, Skunk, Moon Rocks): Spice refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana and that are marketed as “safe”.

The dangers of designer drugs such as meth, ecstasy, GHB and ketamine are numerous. Some of the dangers of designer drug are:

  • Death
  • Addiction
  • criminal charges and prison terms
  • heart and breathing failure
  • blood vessel damage and stroke
  • raised or lowered pulse or blood pressure
  • aggressive or suicidal behavior
  • jaw clenching and teeth grinding
  • nausea and vomiting
  • muscle cramping or seizures
  • panic attacks or feeling paranoid
  • overheating and dehydration
  • blackouts or passing out
  • Anxiety or paranoia
  • Hallucinations

The only way to avoid all the dangers of designer drugs is to not use designer drugs.  The reason designer drugs are so dangerous are because:

  • It hard to know the strength of a designer drug or if it has been cut with other chemicals especially if the drugs have been bought from unfamiliar suppliers or places.
  • Mixing drugs, including alcohol, increases the risk of overdose or death. Boosting (taking more of the drug while already high) is even riskier.
  • Little is known about the long-term effects of regular designer drug use. Any designer drug can be addictive or have very negative effects in the long run.
  • Designer drugs can affect your ability to make smart decisions and avoid danger. A safe environment with trusted friends or someone who is sober being around can reduce the danger but still bad things can happen.
  • Driving a vehicle while on designer drugs is highly dangerous.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

How to stage an alcohol intervention

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How to stage an alcohol intervention

Staging an alcohol intervention is a life changing event for families and loved ones of addicts and for the addicts themselves. Alcohol interventions can be very emotionally charged and hard to deal with. Before anyone stages an alcohol intervention they should know what they are doing and what they are getting into. Anyone wanting to stage an alcohol intervention should know how to first.  Here is how to sage an alcohol intervention:

1.       For an alcohol intervention talk to an alcohol intervention counselor first

Alcohol counselors or alcohol interventionists are trained in successful alcohol interventions and know the various emotional pitfalls that are involved in an alcohol intervention. People can react in various amounts of ways when confronted with an alcohol intervention, for instance; denial, anger, evasion or even violence. For anyone wanting to stage an alcohol intervention they should contact an alcohol clinic in the area and speak with a counselor about alcohol intervention strategies. They should mention the history with the alcohol user and the facts about any past efforts to try and get through to them. Be honest when talking to an alcohol counselor so they can provide advice and will best able to be there to help you with the alcohol intervention when it happens.

2.       For an alcohol intervention involve friends, family and co-workers

The more people who are close to the alcoholic who are involved in the alcohol intervention, the stronger it will be. Making a list of important people who can participate in the alcohol intervention is a great way to begin to stage it. Let the people involved help plan the alcohol intervention and keep them aware of what the alcohol intervention will entail exactly. Each participant should practice what they will say to the drinker during the alcohol intervention. Practicing the alcohol intervention at least one with everyone is also a good idea.

3.       Find a time and place to stage the alcohol intervention

Finding a good time and place to stage the alcohol intervention is key. An alcohol intervention should be somewhere safe and secure, such as a friend’s house, a parent’s house or a hotel room. An alcohol intervention place should have enough space to hold every participant and no small children should be around. Pick a time also when the alcoholic is sober and reasonably calm. In addition, it is important to have a treatment center set up for the drinker to go once the alcohol intervention is over to. If the alcohol intervention is successful then the alcoholic can simply pack a bag and go there immediately.

4.       During the alcohol intervention be firm but loving

When it comes time for the alcohol intervention it is important that all members of the alcohol intervention stay firm but loving. Being and honest and supportive is key to an alcohol intervention. During the alcohol intervention the alcohol counselor will greet the drinker and explain the purpose of the alcohol intervention. Each person will have their chance to stand up and speak to the alcoholic either reading from their prepared speeches or talking directly to them. In each case during the alcohol intervention it is important that the alcoholic realizes the impact they are having on those around them. AT the end of this ask the alcoholic if they will go to an alcohol rehab.

5.       Adhere to disciplinary measures set out during the alcohol intervention

Being prepared for the possibility that the alcoholic will not confront their problem is paramount for an alcohol intervention. No matter how overwhelming the evidence the drinker has to decide for themselves that they want to get help. Making clear consequences during the alcohol intervention may persuade the drinker to get help. Sticking to these consequences made during the alcohol intervention is very important. Being prepared to severe contact with the drinker is part of the alcohol intervention. It sounds harsh but that is what may make or break the success of an alcohol intervention.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

What is alcohol detox?

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Alcohol detox for those who have found themselves physically dependent on it is an absolutely integral and lifesaving part of the recovery process. The literal definition of alcohol is; treatment to rid the body of poisonous substances, specifically in this instance alcohol. Alcohol detox is where the initial physical cleansing of the body happens, so alcoholics can continue on alcohol free. Most alcohol detox facilities make it their mission to give the people there the most comfortable alcohol detox possible because it can be severely uncomfortable. At an alcohol detox it is almost guaranteed that each individual will be in a safe, comfortable and medically supervised program. Alcohol detox gives alcoholics who have been surrounded by chaos a peaceful and relaxing environment. The setting during alcohol detoxification is imperative so most alcohol detox facilities try to give a tranquil and serene experience with special accommodations, food, comfortable beds etc. Not only that but alcohol detox has a knowledgeable and caring staff that treats each alcoholic who comes in with respect so they can get the most out of their stay and be comfortable.

Entering alcohol detox

When an individual first enters into alcohol detox they are assessed in order for the facility to meet their detoxification needs. The average length of stay in alcohol detox is 4-10 days. During this time in alcohol detox everyone is bound to have alcohol withdrawal symptoms due to the alcohol leaving their body and this can be very uncomfortable and scary. This is why alcohol detox makes sure that during those 4-10 days that they are physically cleansing that everything is personalized to their needs so they can be medically assisted in the best ways for them. Doctors begin overseeing treatment in alcohol detox from the moment the individual arrives.

What to expect from alcohol detox

What each individual can expect from alcohol detox is the highest level of care. The reason alcohol detox focuses so much on the quality of their care is because this is the beginning for each individual on their way to achieving their goal of long term sobriety. An inpatient alcohol detox guarantees an effective medical detox experience where the recovery process can start.

Alcohol detox is just the beginning

Alcohol detox is just the beginning of the journey into sobriety but it is one of the most imperative parts of it. This is where alcoholics go to get a clean body, mind and soul in order to begin taking those steps to true healing. Alcohol detox also gives each individual multiple outlets and tools that they will be able to use as they go forward and their alcohol detox ends. Some of the things that many alcohol detox facilities recommend after the detox process is complete are inpatient residential alcohol treatment, or outpatient alcohol treatment. The chances of an alcoholic finding success in sobriety go up significantly if they attend some kind of alcohol treatment after their time in alcohol detox is complete.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Is alcohol ruining your relationship?

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Is Alcohol Ruining Your Relationship?

Alcohol is portrayed by the media and other outlets as being part of a fun filled time either in the VIP section of a club or maybe even at an outdoor beach party with the hottest bikini clad women of all time. The truth is while alcohol may make some events a bit more, “boisterous” if you will; it can actually end up ruining a lot of things that would have been way better off without its intoxicating effects.

One of the biggest things alcohol is great at ruining is relationships. Many people find that when one or both partners are drinking things that they never expected or have experienced in their relationship begin to happen. Many times alcohol is the only thing standing in the way of a healthy relationship; its alcohol causing relationship problems.

So is alcohol ruining your relationship?

If you think there is chance its alcohol causing relationship problems for you then first off, let us say, stop drinking. You encounter conflict in your relationship without alcohol’s bitter haze. If you are in a good relationship you are able to work things out with your partner with open communication and open minded conversation no matter how big and serious the conflict is. However, conflict caused by alcohol has some serious negative outcomes. When alcohol is flowing freely, it begins causing relationship problems by doing a few things. Alcohol causes relationship problems by:

  • Changing our perception
  • Turning a meaningless look or statement into a catastrophic event
  • Causes jealousy and paranoia
  • Arguing when drunk
  • Breaking up several time when under the influence of alcohol
  • Physical or emotional abuse toward or from your partner
  • Infidelity

Alcohol causing relationship problems and just making things worse

Alcohol causing relationship problems is not a new thing. And most of the time people in relationships know the alcohol is causing the relationship problems by covering up many underlying issues either personal or having to do with the relationship. Both people may use the excuse of being drunk to act out or to open up about relationship problems. And quite obviously this is not the best way to approach these issues because alcohol impairs your judgment. Not being able to see the situation clearly will make any relationship problems impossible to solve and may in fact just make them much worse than they were to begin with.

Alcohol causing relationship problems: A solution

If you find alcohol causing relationship problems in your life then you should find a way to approach the problem; a solution. Here are some suggestions if you have realized alcohol causing relationship problems in your life.

•Eliminate alcohol, especially when there is tension between you and your significant other. Adding alcohol will just be adding fuel to the fire.

•If you have had unresolved issues recently, try to work them out sober. You may want to take some time away from the subject before revisiting it.

•If your partner has been drinking and is trying to get a rise out of you or start an argument, don’t fall for the trap. Let them talk all the nonsense out. In the end you can’t reason with an intoxicated person.

Is alcohol causing relationship problems? It may be time to get help.

If you notice alcohol causing relationship problems and try out those suggestions and things aren’t getting better it may be time to get out of the relationship. Also ask yourself if you can spend time with your partner without alcohol. If you can’t imagine what that is like that alcohol may not be causing relationship problems but is the problem which you need to get help for.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

What’s the difference between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal?

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What's the Difference Between a Hangover and Alcohol Withdrawal

Nearly everyone who has tried alcohol has experienced headache, nausea, anxiety, fatigue, and dehydration after a long night of drinking; you know it better as a hangover. Not everyone has experienced alcohol withdrawal, even though they may have tried alcohol. And while some of the characteristics of the two are similar; there is a huge different between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal.

So what is the difference between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal? Well, in order to answer that question it is good to look at what both of them are.

What is a hangover?

A hangover is a collection of signs and symptoms linked to a recent bout of heavy drinking. The sufferer typically has a headache, feels sick, dizzy, sleepy, confused and thirsty. Hangovers can occur at any time of day, but are usually more common the morning after a night of heavy drinking. As well as physical symptoms, the person may also experience elevated levels of anxiety, regret, shame, embarrassment, as well as depression. The severity of a hangover is closely linked to how much alcohol was consumed, and whether the sufferer had enough sleep. A hangover is the consequence of consuming too much alcohol which causes urination and the chances of dehydration; an immune system response which can affect appetite, concentration and memory; stomach irritation which can cause nausea and stomach ache; a drop in blood sugar which can result in shakiness, moodiness, tiredness, weakness; dilation of blood vessels which can cause headaches; sleep quality which causes tiredness and fatigue.

What is alcohol withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal refers to a group of symptoms that may occur from suddenly stopping the use of alcohol after chronic or prolonged ingestion. Not everyone who stops drinking experiences withdrawal symptoms, but most people who have been drinking for a long period of time, or drinking frequently, or drink heavily when they do drink, will experience some form of alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Rapid emotional changes
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Bad dreams
  • Headache – general, pulsating
  • Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Insomnia, sleeping difficulty Paleness
  • Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
  • Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
  • Skin, clammy
  • Abnormal movements
  • Tremor of the hands
  • Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Alcohol withdrawal can also result in hallucinations, agitation, fever, convulsions, seizures, black outs, DTs, and in the worst case scenario death.

So what is the difference between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal?

The answer should be quite obvious now. The difference between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal is: A hangover is the result of consuming too much alcohol and alcohol withdrawal is the result of cutting back on alcohol or stopping all together. The two are totally different from one another. Alcohol withdrawal is the result of a physical dependence on the substance and then depriving the body of it and a hangover is merely the body’s reaction to taking in too much alcohol one night. Alcohol withdrawal can result in death. A hangover may make you feel like death, but you won’t die. Many people get hangovers because it is so easy to accidentally take in too much alcohol but many people do not suffer alcohol withdrawal because they have had to build a physical addiction to it and then try to stop drinking first in order to experience it.

 

Source:

http://www.addictscience.com/hangover-withdrawal/

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Drunkorexia

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Drunkorexia

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, those aged 18-24 with eating disorders have the highest rate of death—12 times higher than the average.

The statistics on drunkorexia are staggering. Drunkorexia is the slang word used mainly by college students to describe someone who restricts food calories to make room for all those alcoholic drink calories they will be taking in at the campus party later that night. Drunkorexia may also include purging food and alcoholic drink to avoid the calories. Despite the known risks of these behaviors, the statistics still show that 30% of women between 18 and 23 diets so they can drink and not just drink but drink more.

A recent Southeastern University study of first-year college students found that 14 per cent restricted calories before drinking, six per cent of that number doing so in order not to gain weight. A startling 70 per cent were female. According to the CBC, 35 per cent of people with substance abuse issues also have eating disorders. The statistics pare down drunkorexic to one out of five college students.

Drunkorexia most of often begins with a fear of gaining weight from alcohol and is very prevalent among college-aged women; not to mention more dangerous too. This doesn’t mean that men don’t engage in drunkorexic behaviors at all, because some of them do. In extreme cases, the behaviors associated with drunkorexia are related to bulimia and/or anorexia, in which the alcohol is a catalyst making it easier to vomit or it helps to manage eating anxieties. Individuals don’t have to have eating disorders to be considered drunkorexic though; individuals without eating disorders that restrict their intake of food before going out can still struggle with drunkorexia.

Unfortunately for the sex that drunkorexia most commonly affects, females, it is also significantly more dangerous. Because women weigh less they have fewer metabolizing enzymes and less body water to dilute the alcohol with. A martini on an empty stomach immediately sends alcohol shooting into the system making the blood sugar levels shoot up. The result of this is an entire upheaval of the body’s metabolism which can cause serious instability. Those with eating disorders or with disordered eating patterns essentially disintegrate from the inside out. Alcohol consumes their vitamins and nutrients need to survive and this can lead to serious health problems such as fainting, cognitive impairment, and hypoglycemia.

The dangers of being drunkorexic don’t stop there though. Cutting food calories to take in more drink calories is very risk. Not only can drunkorexia make an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia worse it can also severely affect the individual’s emotional, mental, and physical health.

•             Drinking on an empty stomach gets you drunk faster, which in turn reduces your self-control and predisposes you to make bad decisions

•             Binge eating may also be experienced because the person is extremely hungry and may be unable to control their urges

•             Purging often follows after these spurts of binging on food

•             Reducing food caloric intake puts a person at risk of not getting the nutrients needed to function properly

•             Self-starvation and alcohol abuse can also lead to blackouts, alcohol poisoning, alcohol-related injury, violence or illness.

•             Drinking on an empty stomach can make the drinker more vulnerable to alcohol-related brain damage.

•             Drinking on an empty stomach can also have a detrimental impact on hydration of the body being able to hang onto minerals and nutrients which can exacerbate symptoms of malnutrition and cognitive problems.

The long term effects are even more severe and the worst case scenario results in an early death. Long term effects of drunkorexia are: osteoporosis, brain damage, cirrhosis of the liver, cardiac problems and death. But this isn’t stopping the drunkorexics. In fact there is a new trend to hit the drunkorexic scene that involves smoking alcohol to get drunk without even needing to consume the actual liquid.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Is Alcoholism Really A Brain Disease?

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Is alcoholism a brain disease

Many people don’t know alcoholism is a brain disease because they only see the outward manifestations of the disease. But the truth is addiction is a chronic brain disease that goes far beyond behavioral problems and poor choices.

In August 2011, the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) released its new text “The Definition of Addiction (Long Version),” which for one of the first times ever, extended addiction to include behaviors rather than just drug and alcohol abuse. A group of almost 100 addiction experts worked long and hard to arrive at the new definition of addiction and concluded that addiction is more about the brain; not about the alcohol, drugs, sex, or gambling. It is about the neurology of the brain not the outward behavior that we so often associate with alcoholism.

So why is alcoholism a brain disease?

Alcoholism affects the brain’s reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry to the extent that the alcoholic person’s motivations are altered so that their alcoholic behavior has no replaced healthy, self-caring behaviors. This is what may make some alcoholics seem insane and willing to give up so much for booze.

The brain’s reward system is also altered so that the memory of other rewards such as food, sex, and drugs or alcohol, now trigger a biological as well as a behavioral response, to engage in the alcoholic behavior again despite the negative consequences, and in some instances, even though the alcoholic doesn’t even find pleasure in drinking.

Alcoholism also affects the front cortex of the brain. When alcoholism affects the front cortex of the brain it also alters impulse control and judgment. This results in what many alcoholics describe as needing to drink to feel normal. The ASAM calls it the pathological pursuit rewards, when addicts return to their addictive behavior to feel as good as you would on a daily basis.

The front cortex of the brain is responsible for inhibiting impulsivity and delaying gratification also. Because this area of the brain continues developing into young adulthood the ASAM say this could be why early onset exposure to alcohol and drugs leads to the development in alcoholism in many people. Think about it. When you are younger you are learning how to control impulses and delaying gratification. For instance, waiting to go hang out with friends until after you finished homework. If drugs or alcohol are involved in this development process of course it is going to alter the brain’s ability to control impulse and want for instant gratification.

So how is alcoholism as a brain disease treated?

A comprehensive alcohol treatment program should focus on all active and potential substances and behaviors that could be addictive. A alcohol treatment program must also give tools to not only deal with the health issues in the body but also the mental issues in the brain. Because alcoholism is a brain disease doesn’t mean alcoholics are off the hook either; they must take responsibility for their behaviors and begin doing something to change them. Usually these changes happen in alcohol rehabilitation center.

 

Source: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-2/toc27-2.htm

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