Alcohol Abuse

Some questions to ask yourself when you, or someone you know, seems to be on the verge of alcoholism are: - Do you drink to build your confidence? - Do you miss school or work due to drinking? - Is alcohol making your home life unhappy? - Do you drink alone? - Does drinking make you feel guilty? - Has alcohol caused financial trouble? - Do you drink until you pass out? - Has drinking caused you to have am accident? - Do you crave a drink during the day? - Do you try to hide your drinking from friends and family? - Have friends or family expressed concerns about your drinking? Once, some people became addicted to alcohol, while others were able to enjoy a social drink. Research now shows that in some cases it is a genetic predisposition much the same as eye and hair color.

What Happens When You Drink Alcohol

As alcohol enters the blood stream, it slows down the central nervous system and acts as a depressant. A person who continues to drink may laugh loudly and act more boldly that they normally would. As alcohol levels continue to build, the central nervous system may become so slow that it allows the person to pass out. Enough alcohol can even cause death from alcohol poisoning. If a person drinks heavily for many years, kidney and liver problems may develop. The brain and nerves can also be damaged or destroyed. Persons who reach the lighter stages of degeneration generally have the disease of alcoholism. If this condition goes untreated, it can lead to an early alcohol related death.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

This message brings you some valuable information regarding the signs of alcohol abuse. In our society, alcohol use is common, and a social drink on occasion is little cause for concern. However, when alcohol use becomes excessive and interferes with family, job performance and health, professional treatment is usually needed to begin the recovery process. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step. Then, with professional treatment, and ongoing support from family and friends, the individual can enjoy a happy alcohol-free life. If someone you know appears to be suffering from alcohol abuse or other substance abuse, call for help.

Teen Drinking

Most teenagers will have some experience with alcohol. In fact, teenagers often begin with alcohol and cigarettes before experimenting with marijuana and other illegal drugs. Most will experiment and stop, or continue to drink casually without significant problems. Others will drink regularly with varying degrees of physical, emotional, and social problems. Still others will develop serious dependency problems that will be destructive to themselves and others. There is no way to predict who will have a drinking problem, however, teens who come from families having a history of alcohol abuse are at the greatest risk of developing problems of their own. An effective way for parents to show their concern is through an honest discussion on the use of alcohol. Teenagers must understand the dangers of drinking and driving, and should refuse to get into a car if the driver has been drinking. A good parental example and clear understanding of the consequences of being involved in an accident may help the teenager think twice before accepting a drink. If you suspect your teenager has a drinking problem, call for help.

Co-Dependency

Awareness of the problems associated with codependency grew out of the alcoholism and drug treatment fields. A person exhibiting codependent behavior may or may not be chemically dependent, but usually shares the experience of living in a high stress, dysfunctional system resulting from alcohol, drugs or other abusives in the home. Typically, codependent person have lost their identity in childhood, because living in a dysfunctional environment hampers ones freedom and ability to express oneself on an emotional level. They learn early on that feelings are not safe it they threaten to rock the boat. If expressed, they family runs the risk of the user acting on his or her addicted behavior. Out of fear, codependents usually feel confused, angry, inadequate or guilty. Codependents learn to repress and deny true feelings, wants and needs, thee by focusing the attention on the addicted or abusive person. This process causes long term difficulties in identity development, boundary setting and self-esteem. Typically, self-esteem is generally by feelings of being needed by others to the point of neglecting self needs and goals. Codependents usually attract lifetime mates who are addictive, abusive or otherwise dysfunctional, thereby continuing the patterns created in their families of origin.

Co-dependency is a term that describes the behavior of an individual living in an unhealthy environment, such as that associated with drug or alcohol abuse. The person exhibiting the co-dependent behavior may or may not have a problem, but usually shares many of the same characteristics as the person with the problem. They also share the experience of living in a high stress and unhealthy system caused by the substance abuse problem in the home. Co-dependents learn early on that if they express their feelings, thereby "rocking the boat," the family runs the risk of the user acting upon his or her addictive or abusive behavior. As a result, co-dependents repress or deny their true feelings, wants and needs, and focus their attention on the person with the abusive behavior. Doing so usually causes long-term difficulties in identity development, boundary setting and self-esteem. So much so, they neglect their own desires and goals.

Drugs

Marijuana

Marijuana is a hallucinogenic that produces a light-headed effect. When it is smoked, it produces more than 2000 chemicals, the effects of which are not all known. The smoke also contains more tar, carbon monoxide and known cancer causing agents than does tobacco. Marijuana is the most frequently used and most easily obtained substance. It's effect on the young who are in the early states of both physiological and psychological development are the most profound. Marijuana use is associated with the gateway effect -- the principle that the progression of drug use seems to graduate from mild experimentation to more serious forms of drug abuse and dependency.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines excites the central nervous system and produce europhoria, hypersensitivity, insomnia and appetite depression. They relieve fatigue and induce feelings of power. The aftermath of their use is the crash caused by the central nervous system's exhaustion. Panic, paranoia, nervousness and increased appetite are the after effects. The higher the high, the lower the low, and users must use more of the drugs each time to achieve the original high. Chronic users suffer from devastating side effects including increased aggression and fear, hallucinations, seizures, convulsions and cardiovascular collapse. Physical exercise is also dangerous if a person is abusing amphetamines because of the increased exertion on the heart.

Depressants

Depressants such as barbiturates slow down a person's reactions considerably and eventually induce sleep. They also slow the heart rate, depress breathing, and slow brain activity. Barbiturates may first cause over-activity and excitement, quickly changing to depression and possible collapse. If depressants are combined with alcohol, the situation could become lethal and medical attention should be sought immediately. Driving a car can cause accidents. For more information about depressants, please contact a physician in your area.

Cocaine

Derived from the coco plant found mostly in South America, cocaine stimulates the nervous system, produces heightened sensations and sometimes hallucinations. It causes dilated pupils, intoxication and agitation. Long term use can lead the nasal passages becoming ulcerated. Cocaine is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. It long term effects can be devastating to the user and their loved ones. The use of this drug has been known to cause heart failure.

Crack

Crack, or rock cocaine is a highly addictive form of cocaine currently popular among cocaine users. As cocaine powder is snorted or injected, and crack is usually smoked and produces a very intense though short-lived high. Crack's addictiveness is attributed in part to its short-lived high which causes the user to want another dose almost immediately. Crack's wide-spread availability has not only created a generation of addicts, but it affects our entire society. Because of the expense of crack and its highly addictive nature, crime almost always accompanies a crack habit. Much of the resurgence of criminal gang activity has been balanced on crack usage and trafficking. Though crack addiction is wide-spread and dangerous, help is available. Many hospitals have addiction programs and thousands of independent abuse programs are available. The quickest way off crack is to find help. Education, possibly the most important aspect of the drug prevention program for current or potential crack users is also available.

Ice

Ice is a synthetic derivative of crystal methamphetamine, very similar to the pep pill and speed that were popular in the 1970s and 80s. Ice is different from past forms of amphetamines because it is about 90% pure. Also, the crystals are smoked, not made into pills. This greatly increases the strength of the drug as well as its danger. The use of the drug has become an epidemic on the islands of Hawaii where supplies come in from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea. Almost every major U.S. city has seen some use of the drug. Users of ice experience a happy and wake feeling before the drugs toxic effects build and cause long term damage. The long term use of ice causes alterations in brain chemistry that can result in delusion and paranoid schizophrenia. Ice and amphetamines are stimulant drugs that act on the brain and nervous system to increase alertness and physical activity. The use of amphetamines can cause irregular heart beat, high blood pressure and strokes. The affects of amphetamines overdose are unpredictable as each user will react differently. Overdose results in paralysis of the respiratory muscles and convulsions.

What Parents Can Do

If you have found out for sure that your child is experimenting with drugs and alcohol, what you do next is extremely important. Some parents shrug drug experimentation off as a phase a child goes through as they grow up. Other parents just want to deny the problem, and hope it will go away on its own. But the truth is, you can't ignore your child's drug problem. It will not go away on its own. It will only get worse. Here are some things you can do if your child is using drugs or alcohol. You need to find out what kind of drug your child is experimenting with. Begin to scrutinize your child's choice of friends. If your son or daughter is experimenting with drugs, some of his or her friends are also involved. Get your kids involved in church activities. It's very important not only to get your children away from kids who are bad influences on them, but to get them around people who will have a positive influence on their life. Get involved with your child's life. Today's fast-paced world has taken its toll on parenting. Many parents idea of spending time with their children is sitting down and watching television for an hour or two. That is not quality time! You need to spend quality time. Instead, help them with their homework or just have a conversation with them every day on what they did that day in school or with friends. Show your children that you care. Set standards for your child. Let him or her know what you expect out of the at home and at school. Also set standards for their behavior, and make them stick. Lastly, seek help from others who understand what you are going through. It's very important to know you're not alone. You don't need to deal your child's drug or alcohol problems by yourself.

Substance Abuse Clues to Watch For

Substance abuse such as drugs or alcohol tears individuals and families apart. Life is confusing for the alcohol or drug dependent person. Must of that same hurt is felt by his or her family and friends. Drug dependency is a serious problem that cannot be cured by "willpower" or "help" from family and friends. However, you can get professional help from those trained to handle the job. Here are some substance abuse clues to watch for in your child. Lack of motivation in school. Your child should show a healthy interest in school If he or she doesn't, you need to be on the lookout for drugs. One of the first things that goes when your child is experimenting with drugs is an interest in school. Isolating themself from the family by acting distant, vague, eating alone and not with the family are indicators that your child is hiding something. Changes in attitude and personality is an obvious sign. Often, parents see this as normal teenage behavior and write it off. Don't make this mistake. Changes in sleep patterns occur with drug use. Does your child sleep way too much or too little? Check it out. Excessive use of foul or obscene language, eating way too much or too little, dilated, red or glazed eyes, sudden bursts of anger, lies, dramatic mood swings, excessive money spending, or money disappearing, talking too slow or too fast and paranoia are all indications of drug use.

Teen Drinking

An estimated one third of teenagers in the United States drink alcohol regularly even though they are too young to purchase liquor for themselves. Psychologists think that experimentation with alcohol is part of a period of rebellion in adolescent, however it should not be ignored. Alcohol is a drug and can quickly become an addition harming the overall health of the teen, or in worse cases, causing death. It is very important for teenagers to stay away from alcohol while driving and to refuse to get into a car if the driver has been drinking. A good parental example and clear understanding of the consequences of being involved in an accident may help discourage this activity in teens.

Most teenagers will have some experience with alcohol. In fact, teenagers often begin with alcohol and cigarettes before experimenting with marijuana and other illegal drugs. Most will experiment and stop, or continue to drink casually without significant problems. Others will drink regularly with varying degrees of physical, emotional and social problems. Still others will develop serious dependency problems that will be destructive to themselves and others. There is no way to predict who will develop a drinking problem. However, teens who come from families having a history of alcohol abuse are at the greatest risk for developing problems of their own. An effective way for parents to show concern is through an honest discussion on the use of alcohol. Teenagers must understand the dangers of drinking and driving, and should refuse to get into a car if the drive has been drinking. A good parental example and a clear understanding of the consequences of being involved in an accident may help the teenager think twice before accepting a drink. If you suspect your teenager has a drinking problem, you should call for help.

Talking about Drugs Does it seem like your child is suddenly a completely different person with a new personality which you don't like one bit? Has your child suddenly developed a tough guy or girl attitude? If your child is experimenting with drugs, he or she will be telling lots of lies to cover this up. Teens tend to be very good at covering things up. If you start wondering whether or not your child is telling the truth, there's a good chance that your instincts are right and they aren't. Be persistent and learn what it is they are trying to cover up. Drug are an all-too-real possibility. If your child is smoking marijuana, he or she will probably speak to you very slowly when they talk to you - when they are using, since pot tends to put a child in a stupor. If your child is using stimulants such as speed, they will speak very fast and act very hyper. Look for changes in his or her pattern of speech. If one day he or she speaks normal and the next afternoon he or she is running a million miles per hour, drugs are a real possibility.

Drugs and the Family

Drug dependency tears individuals and families apart. Life is confusing for the drug dependent person. Much of that same hurt is felt by his or her family and friends. Some parents shrug drug experimentation off as a phase a child goes through as they grow up. Other parents just want to deny the problem and hope it will go away on its own. But the truth is, you can't ignore your child's drug problem. It will not go away on it's own, it will only get worse. Your child may start isolating himself or herself from the rest of the family. They may start to act distant. When you ask your child what he or she has been up to, they will probably give some vague reply. Your child may want to eat in their room all the time instead of with the family. Children are smart, they know that the easiest lie to tell is the one they can avoid having to tell. If your child doesn't tell you what he or she has been up to, there's a good chance your child is hiding something.

Is Your Kid Using Drugs

When children start using drugs they usually exhibit many different signs which parents need to watch out for. Unfortunately, many parents often write-off these signs as normal adolescent behavior and as a result they don't realize that their child is into drugs until it is too late. So, how can you as a parent know whether or not your child is using drugs? Look for these signs that your child is experimenting with drugs. Dramatic changes in style of clothes, hair, music. Tardiness and/or truancy at school. Dilated eyes, red eyes, or glazed eyes. Sudden bursts of anger, dramatic mood swings. Excessive spending of money or money disappearing from the household or other family members' wallets or purses. Paranoia - belief that everyone is out to get them. Lack of motivation at school - does your child seem to be putting very little effort into homework or is he/she just hanging out somewhere.

Common Signs Your Child is Using Drugs When children start using drugs, they usually exhibit many different signs which parents need to watch out for. Unfortunately, many parents write-off these signs as normal adolescent behavior and as a result, they don't realize that their child is into drugs until it's too late. So how can you, as a parent, know for sure whether or not your child is in danger of falling into drug? Simple - by understanding that every child is in danger of this. The parent who says "not my kid" is the same parent who will miss all the signs that their child has started experimenting with drugs. Often they will stay in this state of denial till their son and daughter is arrested or overdoes. By then it's too late. So what should you as parents, be looking for as signs that your child is experimenting with drugs or alcohol.

* Dramatic changes in styles of clothes, hair and music.

* Hanging out with a bad crowd.

* Tardiness and/or truancies. 0005 Dramatic Changes in Styles of Clothes, Hair and Music.

These outward signs of rebellion should be obvious to a parent. Has your child started listening to radically different music such as heavy metal or punk rock? Is you kid coloring their hair some weird color just to fit in? Is your child dressing down to fit in with friends at school? All of these are outward signs that your child is succumbing to peer pressure and all these should serve as warning signs to you that your child is in danger of falling into the same kind of peer pressure when it comes to drugs.

Hanging Out With a Bad Crowd

You child might try and tell you that his or her friends are cool kids. Buty you need to take a close look at the kinds of kids your child is hanging out with. Chances are, the way these friends behave is the way your child behaves when you're not around. Do some of your child's friends smike cigarettes? If so, odds are your child is smoking too. Your child's friends are like a mirror for your son or daughter. They look at themselves in that mirro and try to conform to what they see there. One of the best ways to get a good idea of what your child is like, is to look at their closest friends.

Tardiness and/or Truancies

You need to stay in touch with your child's school. Never assume that his or her school will be in touch with you if there is a problem. If your child is getting into drugs, odds are he or she will start ditching class from time to time. Kids who do this tend to take off during the middle of school and get stoned somewhere near the campus. Don't assume that their school will let you know about this kind of behavior. And you need to realize, kids are great at covering this kind of behaviour up. Every kid know how to forge their parent's signature. Call your child's school from time to time and ask about your child's attendance record. You need to take the initiative.