AHS Views

Today, I came across a news release about a Nebraska man who was drunk at his drunk driving sentencing hearing. I have to admit that I chuckled a bit after reading the headline, and thought of the movie Arthur, before reading the entire article and the events that took place at his hearing.

It started out with the young man, Jason Botos, driving his car, and then all of a sudden, jumping the curb and hitting five other vehicles and critically injuring three people. He was scheduled to attend his sentencing hearing for his offenses this week, and he attempted to go to that hearing, but he was drunk. Not just a little drunk, he was inebriated and unable to stand up on his own.

His father drove him to the hearing and couldn’t even get Jason to the courtroom. And, the punishment for Jason not showing up? An arrest warrant was issued. He was arrested, taken to jail, and now will have an even heftier sentence than he would for the drunk driving alone.

While I believe that Jason should be in some sort of trouble for his actions, I also think that there is a very big underlying problem here, which is alcohol addiction. This man is getting absolutely smashed drunk to the point where he can’t stand up. This signals a major problem.

I think it’s crucial that he get into a good alcohol rehab program to actually handle the problem that got him into the mess that he’s in. If it’s not addressed, who knows what he’ll do when he’s done with his jail time? The consequences will most likely be quite tragic!

Difficult – is the only word I can think of to describe what it takes to get someone help to overcome a drug and/or alcohol addiction. About 95% of the time, addicts don’t think they even have a problem. However, they most certainly do, and it’s not just the problem of the addiction, but also whatever the problems are that made them get into the addiction mess in the first place. There’s only one way to handle addiction, and that’s by getting the addict through a successful drug or alcohol rehab program.

With that said, the next issue to overcome is convincing an addict, who most likely doesn’t think they have a problem, to go. But how do you do that? There are a number of reasons that could hinder your ability to be able to do the convincing… Perhaps the addict is scared about people finding out about their problem and what they will think of them. Or, it could be that they think that no one could possibly understand what they’re going through. There could also be strains on relationships that can play a factor as well.

So, the question remains – how do you get them to go? The best solution is to get outside help. And, there are people out there who specialize in getting addicts to go to rehab. They are called Interventionists. These are highly trained individuals who most likely have their own first-hand experience with addiction and recovery from their past. They understand what the addict is going through and have the ability to convince them to go to alcohol or drug rehab.

Do you have a loved one or a close friend who needs to get into rehab? Call a drug rehab program counselor. They can help you determine if an interventionist is needed, and will also help you find the right treatment program. It could save their life!

There are lots of things you can do to help you quit drinking - or, at least, cut down. Some experts suggest that you change your habits. For example, if you hang out with people who drink whenever you see them, spend less time with them. Get to know people who don’t drink. Or, if you habitually stop into the pub on the way home from work, try taking a different route. Or you can decide to only drink on weekends. For other suggestions, check out Do I Drink Too Much Alcohol?

But if these things aren’t working, chances are you’re past the point of being able to handle the problem by yourself and could use some addiction help. And chances are you’d be best off in a residential treatment facility where they can get down to the bottom of why you can’t stop drinking.

New Year’s is coming. Time for resolutions. Quitting or cutting down on drinking is probably close to the top of the list for many people. But just like people who resolve to stop eating sugar or junk, get to the gym everyday, lose weight, etc., the vast majority of those resolutions will be in the toilet within a week or two of the new year.

But the consequences of drinking are usually far worse than being a little overweight, so you have to take it seriously. With addiction help services, you’ll get the help you need to do that. 

A new study shows that alcohol shrinks the brain. Millions of people need drug and alcohol addiction help, and we’re spending millions finding out this useless information.

Why do we need it? We already know that just one drink can impair abstract thinking for a month, we already know it causes a gradual deterioration of the body and people die before their time, we already know it’s involved in most domestic violence incidents, we already know it’s ruins families, lives, careers. Shouldn’t we be spending our money making sure people get the addiction help services they need?

“The definition of alcohol abuse is when the use of alcohol is interfering in a persons life, the definition of alcohol dependency is a more severe form of the problem, with the consumption of alcohol a central preoccupation in the afflicted person’s life’, says Dr. Michael Levy, a columnist in The Eagle-Tribune. There are 24 million people in the U.S. who may fall in one of these two categories and who will need some form of addiction help.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has had a conditional license for the past several years due to substance abuse problems. On Friday he had his conditional license revoked by the California Horse Racing Board after being stopped and arrested for a DUI in Upland, California. It’s time for him to get the addiction help he needs.

During his stellar career - 3968 wins, including the 1989 Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence - Mr. Valenzuela has had 10 interruptions due to drug or alcohol problems. He’s only 45 years old, and he has not been able to get his drug or alcohol abuse under control. He does need to finally make a change and get himself into a successful drug rehab program.
 
Mr. Valenzuela is not alone when it comes to substance abuse problems - nearly 20% of Americans over the age of 26 binge drink at least monthly, and millions of Americans use prescription drugs for reasons other than a medical condition.

It is also not a surprise that Mr. Valenzuela has not received the addiction help he needs to over come his dependence on drugs or alcohol. The same can be said of the majority of those who need treatment.

Tom Knust, Mr. Valenzuela’s agent said he was shocked by the news. He also said he wouldn’t represent him any longer.

The help Mr. Valenzuela  needs is available to him. I hope he gets it so he can end his drug and alcohol addiction issues.

Addiction Help Services can find you, a family member or a friend the treatment that you need.

Prescription drug abuse and addiction can be caused by many things, but how about your credit card company. Picture getting home opening your mail and someone or a computer has decided you are a bad risk. Your monthly payment has gone through the roof and your interest payment is now more then your whole payment used to be. In fact based on the new interest payment you will be paying MasterCard, Visa or Amex for the rest of your life.

You know what is wrong but the anxiety won’t go away so you ask a friend for some Xanax or Valium. 60% of prescription drugs taken non medically are received from a family member or friend. It might be that you don’t consider this a non medical reason as you are stressed out.

The next day you get some more and within a few days or weeks  you are addicted to a benzodiazepines or you go to your Doctor; he spends 7 minutes with you and he gives you a prescription , you haven’t stopped worrying exactly but you are  stoned so what the heck. You take your medication, the credit card company won’t quit calling so you up the dose without calling your physician.

Some how you realize that the problem is with your credit scores and the Xanax isn’t working so you try and stop and feel so bad you can’t. You still have a prescription and everything is legal so you don’t worry too much. You may be embarrassed but rather then go through withdrawal you just keep taking them. You can’t stop because the drug is addictive you have become dependent on the drug and no you aren’t a drug addict you just physically need it.

The social impact of this type of prescription drug abuse is increasing every day.  Prescription drug abuse can get started in many ways and you don’t have to feel embarrassed by it. If something like this has happened to you or someone you love, don’t wait any longer call and get information on successful drug rehab and detox programs available to help you.

Drinking alcohol early in life can lead a lot of alcohol-related problems, and set your kids up for future alcohol abuse and need for alcohol rehab.

It’s not unusual for the kids of parents who drink to ask for a sip, and giving it to them may seem harmless. But researchers from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health studied about 4,000 sixth to eight graders in the Chicago area and found that among the 12-year-olds who had tried alcohol, a few said they stole it from the family liquor cabinet, 2.4 percent said they got it in a store, and one third said their parents had given them their first drink. Those parents are setting their kids up for alcohol abuse or addiction and the need for alcohol rehab.

As children get older, their alcohol intake increases: 17 percent of sixth graders have tried it, but by eighth grade the percentage nearly triples. This is exactly what most parents hope to prevent – when their kids are offered alcohol, parents hope they’ll just say no.

If your children want to try alcohol at an early age, it’s time to start educating them on the dangers of alcohol. Parents who are drinkers themselves may have a little trouble with this – kids are notorious for doing as you do, not as you say. Educate them early, and you could prevent the need for an alcohol rehab program in the future.

David Hasselhoff went on another binge and spent two days in the hospital. It’s amazing that he’s still in a custody battle. The kids were taken from him temporarily after the video appeared online, taken by his daughter, of him lying on a floor, drunk, trying to eat a hamburger, but he got them back. I don’t know anything about his wife, but she’s got to be a real monster if a judge thinks Hasselhoff is the better parent. Fortunately, his girls are 15 and 17 years old, and can more or less take care of themselves. But Hasselhoff really needs a good alcohol rehab program.

He obviously cares about his kids, but even the possibility of losing them to his ex isn’t enough motivation for him to stay away from the booze. I’d say that only a long-term residential alcohol rehab program is going to straighten him out – short stints here and there are obviously not working.

When you think about it, the hold drugs and alcohol can have on you it is really nothing short of evil. Hasselhoff’s problems may be in the news, but there are 15 million people out there, in America alone, who abuse alcohol enough to need treatment.

Drug education programs should add the Hasselhoff video to their arsenal. Would you want your kids to take a video of you in that condition? An alcohol rehab program is a much better choice.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control, 20% of all alcohol consumption in the U.S. is done by kids 12 to 20 years of age. Statistics have shown that the younger you start, the higher the chances of getting hooked and needing alcohol rehab.

Regardless of the statistics, some people think it’s ok to give alcohol to underage kids. In fact, I saw it suggested in a book. The author said that parents who give their kids alcohol in moderation won’t get addicted later in life.

My experience as a drug counselor has shown this to be mistake. One family I was in touch with even hosted after-prom parties, with alcohol. Today, both their kids abuse alcohol regularly, and they’re taking drugs. The parents are now looking for a drug rehab program.

Studies on parental influence on kids’ drinking and taking drugs has proven that kids whose parents talk to them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol are far less likely to drink and take drugs as they get older. So, if you’re going to give your kids alcohol, be prepared to find an alcohol rehab program.