Information for your students about alcohol addiction and abuse

The vast majority of people who need treatment for alcohol abuse do not seek it. Part of the reason that many people choose not to get help may be the blurred lines between socially acceptable drinking and alcoholism. The seeds of future alcohol abuse are often planted in high school when students feel peer pressure to drink with their friends. Rehab.help.org  created a guide that provides comprehensive information on topics like, alcohol assessments, the rehab process, and the different types of treatments that are available.

The first part of the guide covers alcohol addiction:

Alcohol abuse is prevalent in the U.S. – one in four Americans had at least one binge drinking session in 2016 (four drinks for women, and five for men). According to the the most recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), at least 30,772 deaths (excluding accidents and homicides) in the U.S. were directly attributable to alcohol in the same year. The NCHS also counted nearly 20,000 alcohol-related liver disease deaths in 2014.

Those with an addiction to alcohol are clinically diagnosed with an “alcohol use disorder” (AUD). AUD is a chronic brain disease characterized by a lack of control over alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, and health consequences.

Some of the dangers of heavy drinking include: liver, heart, and brain damage, lifelong harm to an unborn child, and depression and violent behaviors. Reduced productivity, far-above-average health care expenses, and other economic costs result in hundreds of billions of dollars lost annually in the U.S. from alcohol abuse.

It covers what is alcohol abuse, statistics, effects, dangers and current research, and most importantly how and where to get help.

The second part of the guide covers rehab and recovery:

In 2016, one in four Americans drank heavily at least one time during the year (heavy drinking is defined as four drinks at a time for women, and five for men). Additionally, there were over 30,000 deaths in 2014 directly involving alcohol.

Unfortunately, only 20% of those who abuse alcohol will ever get help. Part of the reason that many people choose not to get help may be the blurred lines between socially acceptable drinking and alcoholism. While any usage of illegal drugs is considered a problem, a certain amount of alcohol usage is considered normal and acceptable. For more information about how much alcohol is safe to consume and how to tell if you or a loved one qualify as having an alcohol use disorder, read our guide to alcohol addiction.

While Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most-well known method of alcohol rehab, there are other options that are often more effective for those with a serious problem. For instance, many people are not aware that medications for alcohol addiction exist. Read on for a complete look at how to get help for an addiction to alcohol.

It covers the basics of rehab, assessments, detox, therapy, aftercare, finding rehab and taking action.

Please share this with your students as it can definitely educate them on this growing problem.