Alcohol, a Drug that Is Overlooked

It all happened to us. Quench a growing thirst by satisfying the prevailing need to refresh our bodies. A night out in a bar on a hot summer evening, who wouldn't give in to the little pleasures of quietly sipping a delightful Pina Colada, carefully prepared by a talented bartender? It's so delicious, why not have another one? The alcohol is barely noticeable, so what could be the harm? You give in to temptation one more time, and take a third one. The effects of alcohol rapidly begin to show themselves, but this doesn't stop you from taking one last Pina Colada, you know, just for the ride back home. That's all you remember of your night the next day. A throbbing headache awakes you in the morning, a horrid breath, all of this accompanied by the familiar sensation of queasiness.

It's no secret, alcohol is a common beverage served in social gatherings, parties, homes and even in religious celebrations. Therefore, it is anything but surprising that the general perception on the dangers of alcohol is underestimated and anything but worrisome for some. Alcohol is generally thought of as being a beverage that "relaxes the atmosphere." Furthermore, brand names and alcoholic percentage come into play as to the pricing of such beverages. Overall, finding alcohol to drink is easy, relatively inexpensive, but most importantly, it's legal.

Alcohol, a Real Drug

Categorically, we are quick to be judgemental about those who are addicted to drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, etc.). Nevertheless, we don't stop there. Many don't truly grasp and understand the reasons that may push someone towards substance abuse, and are unable to realize the difficulty the drug addict faces in quitting. However, when someone becomes an alcoholic, we tend to tolerate and accept this fact with much more ease. Yet, alcohol is a drug. Few actually believe it, but it is.

To fully grasp the hazards of alcohol, it will be compared to the widely known drug Marijuana. We already know that alcohol is legal. Everyone 18 years and older in Quebec may freely buy any desired quantity. The age limit in other provinces varies according to provincial legislature. In the United States of America, it takes 21 years of age to legally possess any alcoholic beverage. Marijuana is illegal nationwide to consume and cultivate, and perpetrators are severely punished for this offence by the police forces. As a drug, Marijuana does pose health risks to individuals, hence it is downright correct for it to be illegal. Many teenagers have already consumed Marijuana, since they particularly enjoy the "highs" it gives them. Predictably, they equally enjoy drinking alcohol and partying over weekends.

"It's liquid courage, I can pick up women, I can get in fights and feel no pain," reported a former alcoholic.

Below is a table demonstrating the known effects of alcohol and Marijuana on the human body:

Alcohol		Marijuana
Status: Legal - Slower reflexes - Fewer inhibitions - Increased confidence - Reduced coordination - Slurred speech - Intense moods - Confusion-Blurred vision - Poor muscle control - Nausea - Vomiting - Possibly coma or death *Side effects depend on volume of alcohol consumed.		Status: Illegal - Memory and learning problems - Distorted perception - Difficulty thinking and solving problems - Bloodshot eyes - Dry mouth and throat - Faster heartbeat

By looking at the side effects of both drugs, Marijuana appears to be a mild drug when compared to alcohol. Even though the side effects of alcohol vary according to the amount of alcohol ingested, we rarely limit ourselves to a single glass. Age, sex, body build and metabolism are also factors influencing the effects of alcohol on an individual.

Alcohol in our Society

Not only in Alberta, but in other Canadian provinces too, the popularity of crystal meth is increasing dramatically. Canada's crystal meth problem is the worst in British Columbia. The number of deaths there related to methamphetamine has risen from three in 2000 to thirty-three in 2004. Most of those deaths have been drug overdoses or car accidents in which the driver was high on meth. A rise in certain types of crime in B.C. in recent years is in part attributable to the increased use of methamphetamines. Car theft, fraud and sex assaults are all fuelled by the adrenaline rush from crystal meth. It gets worse. Families, including children, live in these home-based labs, eating and sleeping next to highly toxic chemicals. Health officials fear children exposed to these chemicals are at a significantly higher risk of long-term health problems, including Parkinson’s disease, and many are mentally delayed. Yet unless the lab is discovered, the children remain in a perilous situation.The environment is equally affected. The creation of crystal meth in those clandestine labs produces huge amounts of chemical waste. For every pound of crystal meth produced, 5 pounds of chemical waste has to be disposed of. Usually, it is either flushed down the bathtub, or simply thrown out into the environment.Crystal meth is an all-round poisonous drug. It is a growing crisis affecting families, friends and neighbourhoods, just like yours. No one is sheltered from its harmful effects, be it by the drug itself, the toxicity of producing it, or the dangers of being nearby a hidden clandestine lab. Additional drug prevention campaigns and resources need to be put forth to help eliminating this threat. Crystal meth is a killer that must be stopped.Certain Canadian provincial governments are beginning to take measures to counteract the increasing popularity of crystal meth. Drug prevention campaigns across the country are being set in place to inform the youth and teenagers of the grave dangers of this drug. For those who wish to get help with their drug addiction, there are several drug rehabilitation and treatment centers scattered throughout the country.One of them is Narconon^® (a unique biophysical 100% drug rehabilitation program). Its exceptional methods have proven countless times to be effective and have shown positive results. The qualified staff is present and attentive to the needs of each individual, and is determined to help the individual in overcoming his drug addiction. If you are affected by crystal meth, don’t let it dictate your life, get help now.Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Program

The Narconon program has worked for over thirty years to help patients end their addictions to drugs, alcohol, painkillers, and other controlled substances. The hallmark of Narconon is its ability to create a drug free rehab and drug-free recovery program that frees patients from the fears of substituting anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, and sedatives for the original drug.

Indeed, Narconon believes that a natural, holistic approach to withdrawal is the most beneficial program for a patient. Once a patient has rid himself of toxins in the body, the mind recovers from its need for addictions and the cycle of abuse ends gradually, permanently. Drug rehabilitation, alcohol rehab, and addiction-ending programs must begin with a withdrawal from the substance in question, often leaving the patient in the throes of anxiety, depression, fear, and substitute cravings.

At Narconon, we do not substitute addictions or leave patients to suffer through these withdrawals, but rather educate patients and help them to understand why the body created the addiction as a coping mechanism. Over time, as the body rids itself of biochemical toxins, we help them reclaim their life by taking control of their body. Through nutritional supplements, exercise, and simply sweating out toxins, they'll be able to speed withdrawal and imbue life with a new structure of purpose and relief.

The importance of California alcohol rehabs

Private alcohol rehab at Sunset Malibu will help you rediscover the world as you used to know it, and yourself as you used to be. If you’re here, reading this, you don’t need to be told about the importance of California alcohol rehabs. You already know that alcoholism is a devastating disease, and that alcoholics don’t get better without help from exclusive alcohol rehab programs. Now, all that’s left is for you to make the right choice. Alcohol rehab at Sunset Malibu can change your life. All you have to do is take the first step.

Whoever you are, wherever you’ve come from, Sunset Malibu is here for you. We can help. From alcohol detox through sober living programs, our luxury alcohol rehabilitation facilities can give you all the care you need to get better. Please, call us today at 1-800-332-9202. With so much to lose, and so much more to win, you can’t afford to settle for anything less than the best alcohol rehab you can get.

Alcohol treatment giving you all the security and comfort you will need

Private alcohol treatment is no walk in the park. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or ignorant. Some alcohol treatment centers in California make alcohol treatment sound easy, as if getting sober we’re simply a matter of showing up and waiting to get healed. Not quite. The fact of the matter is that your alcohol treatment program can only work if you make it work. Remember, alcoholism is a personal disease. Alcohol addiction recovery has to come from within, on your own terms, in a way that only you can make real. Even the most exclusive alcohol treatment center in Los Angeles can’t save you from the heavy lifting.

At Sunset Malibu, we aim first and foremost to empower our patients. Yes, our luxury alcohol treatment facilities can give you all the security and comfort you need to win the fight against alcohol, but the outcome of the battle is ultimately up to you. Alcohol treatment at Sunset Malibu is successful because we give our patients the skills and support they need to heal themselves. In the end, it’s the best any alcohol rehab center can do. Let today be the day you find out how it works.

In conducting an intervention, one goal should stand above all the others: to convince the addict you care about to get help

In conducting an intervention, one goal should stand above all the others: to convince the addict you care about to get help. There is no other point to the crisis intervention process, no other reason that any one should undertake an addiction intervention in the first place. If you’ve made it this far, you don’t need to be told that substance abuse is a devastating disease. You know that it wrecks lives, and ruins careers, and turns its victims into shells of their former selves. The good news is that a successful intervention can be a catalyst for meaningful and lasting addiction recovery. The only catch is that you have to take the first step.

The decision to conduct an intervention is never easy. It will, however, be the most important on you ever make. A drug and alcohol intervention conducted with the help of a professional intervention specialist may well save the life of the addict you care about. Given the stakes, it’s well past time you finally made the right decision.