Alcohol is a Drug
Alcohol to most isn't even considered a drug. It's legal and easy to obtain. Alcohol is very much part of traditional and modern culture. However, alcohol abuse carries with it some heavy penalties for the user and society.
Alcohol in the Body
There are no two ways around it, alcohol is a drug and as such responds like other drugs that enter the body. Like any other drug it acts as a poison to the body. When someone takes a drink, alcohol enters the blood via the stomach and small intestine. Within minutes of consuming the drink it travels from the stomach to the brain and begins to slow the actions of nerve cells.
Alcohol is carried through the bloodstream to the liver. The liver's job is to eliminate the alcohol from the blood. It does this through a process called "metabolizing". This is the process of converting the alcohol from a toxic substance to a non-toxic one.
When taken in large volume as in "binge drinking" it rapidly overwhelms the liver's ability to process or metabolize the alcohol. This leaves the excess circulating in the body. This can rapidly rise to dangerous levels, slowing down respiration (breathing) and can even result in a coma or death as oxygen is no longer able to reach the brain. One of the main effects alcohol has is on "burning up" or using vitamins in a person's body when taken. The result is a sick and tired feeling after drinking it, commonly referred to as a "hangover". This "hangover" is really just the burning up of all the useful nutrients stored in the body. This can lead to illness.
As a person continues to use alcohol the vitamin stores are further burned up. This results in the person feeling sicker and more tired than before. The solution to the user seems to be more alcohol. The real result is a vicious cycle of worsening health and addiction.
The Impact of Alcohol Abuse on Society
Alcohol is abused by almost every age and socio-economic group. It is no small problem. The 2008 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reports an estimated 129 million Americans used alcohol at least once a month.
According to the , National Institute of Drug Abuse, in 2009, an estimated 30.2 million people (12.0 percent) aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year.
In addition, the , Centers for Disease Control estimates between 2001 and 2005 there were approximately 79,000 deaths annually due to excessive alcohol use. This makes excessive alcohol use the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Economically, the cost of alcohol abuse to the society is translates to $683 for every man, woman and child living in the United States.
Effective Alcohol Addiction Rehabilitation
Narconon offers effective alcohol rehabilitation. A key difference between the , Narconon rehabilitation program and other drug rehab programs is Narconon does not view alcoholics as someone suffering from some incurable disease they will always have to live with. Instead, Narconon recognizes the alcoholic as any other drug addict and by doing the laid out steps of the Narconon program they can overcome their addiction and go on to live a happy, productive drug-free live.
The Narconon program gets to the root of alcohol addiction. Given that alcohol burns up the vitamins and nutritional reserves of a body, the first step of the Narconon program involves proper nutrition and specific vitamin and nutritional supplements that aid withdrawal. This is followed by a program designed to safely flush and eliminate from the alcoholic's body the toxic residue left behind from drinking. By doing this the person not only achieves clearer thinking but they eliminate their cravings for alcohol as well.
There is also the matter as to why one went to alcohol as a solution to begin with. There are usually several reasons. The Narconon program has steps to address these as well. Once the student of Narconon graduates they have all the life skills needed to be successful in life and with these in use can go on to live a happy, productive drug-free life.
Intervention
Alcohol abuse gets progressively worse and among young people binge drinking can often lead to other drugs being abused. It can be difficult for one to get someone abusing alcohol to admit there is a problem. One key reason for this is the fact that alcohol abuse gives one a false sense of reality. This same false sense of reality is why so many people feel they can operate a motor vehicle when under the influence of alcohol when they are clearly impaired. Although there is a problem it can be difficult for them to realize this.
Narconon can and does help with this. A caring and loving family with the guidance of a Narconon specialist can assist the alcoholic to get the help they need so they can go on to live a successful drug-free life.
It is advisable if you know of someone struggling with an alcohol problem to contact a Narconon staff member. The call is confidential and the information is free. Although overcoming addiction or getting help for someone who is addicted is never easy, making that first call to Narconon can make things easier. Narconon staff understand the cycle of drug abuse in all its aspects and many have themselves successfully overcome addiction and are examples of the success of the Narconon program. Many graduates do go on and train to become Narconon addiction specialists simply due to a strong desire for others to have the gains they themselves have had. The Narconon program works. There is a proven successful way to overcome alcohol abuse and the Narconon program has been doing so for over 40 years.
If you know of someone struggling with an alcohol problem or would like to find out more about the Narconon program contact Narconon East U.S. at 877-237-3307.