Alcohol Help

As the question of how best to deal with privatization of alcohol sales and drinking and driving continue to be debated in Ontario, the Ontario Public Health Association and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are pleased to present the seventh annual forum, aptly entitled Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity.

The alcohol event will be held on Tuesday March 2, 2010 at the North York Memorial Community Hall, 5100 Yonge Street / 3 Park Home Ave, Toronto.

Public health professionals, alcohol addiction counselors and policy makers will gather from across the province to discuss Ontarios alcohol policy and the actions that need to be taken based on current research, policy, and practical applications that address alcohol-related harm.

This years forum focuses on strategies for adapting national and provincial alcohol strategies for local impact.

Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, this years alcohol forum is a collaboration of the OPHA and CAMH. Support also comes from the Pan American Health Association, York Region Public Health Services, Ottawa Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Toronto Public Health.

Established in 1949, OPHA is a voluntary, independent organization of public health professionals that provides leadership on issues affecting the publics health. The Alcohol Policy Network is a program of OPHA which provides analysis of healthy public policies that influence the consumption of alcohol.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canadas largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the worlds leading research centres in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

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“Alcohol and substance abuse – both categorized as addictions — has reached epic proportions in the 21st century” says John Giordano, Founder and President of G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center in North Miami Beach, Florida. As part of this year’s observance of National Alcohol Awareness Month (April), Mr. Giordano is asking the media and community leaders to partner with him in educating the public to addiction and the solutions.

The statics are staggering. Three in ten Americans say they are either binge or flat out heavy drinkers. That equates to seventy-million drunk and/or impaired Americans walking and driving down our neighborhood streets every month. The American Medical Association (AMA) research clearly shows that almost one-third of adults report having some form of alcohol use problem during their lifetime. People from every race, color and socio-economic background are at risk. Alcohol and substance abuse among America’s youth is also on the rise.

The consequences are equally numbing. Alcohol and drug-related driving accidents and deaths have consistently increased over the years. Drug and alcohol problems cost the United States an estimated $276 billion annually, while the human toll they take is virtually incalculable.

“The problem is not going to solve itself” says Giordano. He would know – John has been treating addicts and alcoholics for over twenty-years. “It’s time to take action – it’s time to join together and bring this issue out into the open so that we can begin the process of educating and eradicating this hideous disease.”

Mr. Giordano believes that by educating individuals and parents about alcoholism and its causes, not only will you help current alcoholics, but quite possibly prevent future generations of alcoholics. There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of alcoholic behaviors such as early childhood trauma, mental disorders, genetics, environment and bio-chemical deficiencies. Early childhood trauma includes — but is not limited to — sexual and/or physical abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Some of the mental illnesses that often accompany addiction are learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression and a multitude of others.

Although there is no cure for alcoholism at this time, there is hope. Mr. Giordano is a pioneer in holistic addiction treatment. He’s helped thousands survive and manage their disease. The program he personally advanced incorporates the combination of cutting-edge practices from both eastern and western medicine. His philosophy is simple yet effective: treat the body, mind and spirit. In doing so, Mr. Giordano developed exceptional protocols that are revered by his peers and are quickly becoming treatment standards at addiction facilities worldwide. Giordano openly shares his successful techniques in his highly regarded book: “Proven Holistic Treatment for Addiction & Chronic Relapse” It is being utilized by counselors and therapist at several state hospitals and a number of treatment centers across the country.

G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center

‘Side Stepping Alcohol Misuse’, an alcohol awareness project run by London Active Communities and Premier Rugby, is due to kick off across the country this month after receiving £100,000 funding from the charity, Drinkaware.

The ground-breaking new youth inclusion project will see specially trained community staff from Premiership Rugby Clubs and local youth workers deliver sports-based alcohol education to young people aged 13 to 19. The programme will target hard to reach and disadvantaged communities in 12 areas, including Newcastle, Leeds and London.

‘Side Stepping Alcohol Misuse’ is unique because it mixes traditional rugby training with alcohol education to encourage young people to think carefully about alcohol and its effects in a new and interesting way. Techniques employed by community staff and local youth workers will mix traditional rugby training with quiz-style questions on alcohol, warm-up relays and the use of specially designed beer goggles which, when worn, impair vision in a similar way to alcohol.

Designed to support larger scale projects with a national influence, the Big Impact Award of up to £100,000 is Drinkaware’s largest grant and ‘Side Stepping Alcohol Misuse’ is the only project to have received this level of funding to date. The charity’s grants programme supports a diverse range of pioneering and creative projects which aim to reduce alcohol misuse and make a tangible change in local communities across the country.

Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says:

“The earlier young people have alcohol, the more likely they are to binge drink in their teenage years and develop alcohol problems later in life – which is why it’s imperative young people put off drinking for as long as possible. Changing young people’s attitudes and behaviours towards drinking can be a difficult task but teaming sports with alcohol education is a great way to help get the message across.

“‘Side Stepping Alcohol Misuse’ is an innovative approach to educating disaffected areas of our society about alcohol and Drinkaware is extremely proud to be funding such a pioneering project. Like all of our grants programmes, we look forward to seeing the results and sharing good practice to help advance alcohol education.”

Premier Rugby’s club community staff and local youth providers underwent intense training to be able to deliver the programme this month. ‘Side Stepping Alcohol Misuse’ is underpinned by six core alcohol messages for young people: the effects of alcohol on physical and mental health; harm minimisation; anti-social behaviour; units and sensible drinking; alcohol and safety and the consequences of drinking to excess. Part of the training was also extended to under 20 and youth players at Premier Rugby’s clubs to educate them about the effects of drinking to excess – while also reminding them of their responsibilities as role models and ambassadors for their clubs.

Dan Ward-Smith of London Wasps said, “As athletes, we have had a good deal of education on what alcohol is and what it does to your body. It is important that we pass this knowledge on to young people and show how it could affect their health, their judgement and their relationships.”

Gary Stannett, Chief Executive of London Active Communities said "Addressing alcohol issues with young people can sometimes be difficult, particularly when working in hotspots noted for high levels of disengaged young people. However, we are confident that incorporating high profile sports brands and sport-based techniques into education plans will prove a successful way of engaging these young boys and girls".

Drinkaware

Eastern Missouri Alternative Sentencing Services (EMASS) has announced that Saint Louis County Justice Services awarded their alcohol monitoring contract for the county’s DUI offenders to EMASS and their transdermal alcohol sensors, known as SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitors).

SCRAM includes an ankle bracelet, worn around-the-clock, that samples an offender’s perspiration every 30 minutes in order to ensure compliance with court-ordered sobriety. Both the St. Louis County Circuit and Drug Courts have used the SCRAM System on 375 offenders to-date. Nearly 70 offenders, predominantly repeat drunk drivers, are monitored daily in St. Louis County. The St. Louis City Court has monitored an additional 85 offenders with SCRAM.

According to EMASS President Mike Smith, the contract is particularly important because the review process included testing of other alcohol monitoring systems by Saint Louis County Justice Services officials. "We’ve been providing SCRAM technology to courts in the eastern part of Missouri since 2003 because we believe this technology is the best and most reliable way for the criminal justice system to fight the epidemic of drunk driving," says Smith. "SCRAM has revolutionized the way we manage DUI offenders, allowing courts to focus on the root cause of the criminal behavior, which is the alcohol abuse and addiction." EMASS has monitored nearly 2,500 offenders with SCRAM in 28 eastern Missouri counties. Smith says that by testing other technologies and selecting SCRAM and EMASS, the award underscores the county’s belief in the system. "It tells us that we’re delivering the right technology and providing value to their program. We are honored to be a part of this contract," he says.

Denver-based Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS), which manufactures and markets the SCRAM System throughout the U.S., says the strongest testament to the reliability of the SCRAM System is when agencies test their product side-by-side with other testing protocols. "Seeing is believing," says Don White, AMS COO. "We’ve got a long, proven track record of successfully monitoring hundreds of thousands of offenders. But first-hand experience – putting SCRAM head to head with other testing protocols – is the best way to show officials the potential for managing their offenders and keeping communities safe," he says.

Statewide, SCRAM has been used to monitor nearly 4,000 Missouri offenders, including a highly publicized pilot program with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Nationally, SCRAM is used in 48 states and has monitored 125,000 offenders since 2003.

On February 1, AMS also began a controlled roll-out of the next generation of their system, which incorporates House Arrest monitoring into their transdermal monitoring bracelet. Known as SCRAMx, the system will begin limited use in eastern Missouri counties in March, allowing courts the option to increase or decrease supervision of repeat, high-risk offenders with a single monitoring bracelet.

Alcohol and Crime in Missouri

According to The Century Council, which compiles DUI/DWI data state by state, more than 35,000 offenders are arrested each year for DWI in the state of Missouri. Of those, more than 28 percent are repeat offenders. And according to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 36 percent of violent crimes and 75 percent of domestic violence cases include offenders who were drunk at the time of the offense. Drunk drivers represent 18 percent of all those on probation each year, more than any other single offense. "Recidivism rates for offenders struggling with alcohol are astounding. Programs that can manage the addiction and ensure sobriety through continuous testing are seeing significant impact," says White.

About Eastern Missouri Alternative Sentencing Services (EMASS), Inc.

Founded in 1991, EMASS is a company that provides a wide range of services to the courts and criminal justice system throughout Missouri, including private probation supervision, pre-sentence investigations, SATOP service for DWI offenders, domestic violence counseling and education seminars, driver improvement programs and alcohol/drug education programs, as well as traditional electronic (house arrest) monitoring. Headquartered in St. Louis, EMASS has field offices in St. Charles, the City of St. Louis, Florissant, Olivette, O’Fallon, Warrenton, Montgomery City, Jefferson City, Columbia, Springfield, Union and Troy, Missouri.

About Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc.

Established in 1997, Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. manufactures SCRAM®, the world’s only Continuous Alcohol Monitoring system, which uses non-invasive transdermal analysis to monitor alcohol consumption. SCRAM fully automates the alcohol testing and reporting process, providing courts and community corrections agencies with the ability to continuously monitor alcohol offenders, increase offender accountability and assess compliance with sentencing requirements and treatment guidelines. Alcohol Monitoring Systems employs 116 people across the U.S. and is a privately-held company headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc

If you or a loved one is in need of drug rehabilitation, Arizona offers a center that is top notch for all of their clients struggling with addiction for alcohol rehabilitation, Arizona is the home state to one of the best treatment centers available in North America.

Located in beautiful Scottsdale Arizona, the Sundance Center has become one of the foremost leaders in providing alcohol rehab. Arizona is beautifully landscaped with the desert and mountain views, that it has become a vital part of the therapy that The Center has to offer. The staff is professional and can offer the newest treatment when it comes to addiction recovery in Arizona.

The Center was recently featured in People magazine and also has been broadcast on MTV due to their outstanding treatment plan and drug rehabilitation. Arizona offers the peace and quiet that an addict needs to start the healing process and the professional staff and doctors at The Center are on their side.

The stay at the Center is between 28 and 90 days where each client receives a personalized treatment schedule and regimen. Not only at The Center do they offer individual therapy, they offer therapy for the entire family and when the client has graduated and is allowed to go home, they are offered free aftercare for the rest of their life. This is a center that has put a true focus on the client and the clients success is ultimately what has made this center what it is today.

The Sundance Center treats each client in a unique holistic manner which means not only treating the addiction, but treating the mind, the body and the soul. This is why they have become successful and have become a number one choice for those dealing with addiction not only here but internationally.

At Sundance not only do they offer the top notch recovery care from doctors and staff, the Center helps families perform interventions to get through to loved ones that they see are slipping into addiction. They are there not only for the clients nut their families as well and success is as important to them as it is to you.

If you are struggling with addiction or you have family member that needs a good holistic approach to combat alcohol addiction problem you could contact the professionals at The Center today.

The Sundance Center

Alcohol addiction continues to be a growing problem across the United States. If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction you are not alone. Nearly five percent of the American population struggles with some sort of alcohol or drug addiction. Alcohol abuse not only affects the individual who is suffering from the addiction but also their family and friends that surround them. If not treated in a timely fashion alcohol addiction can be extremely costly. It can lead to trouble with school, the law, relationships and health.

Alcohol addiction comes with endless problems. One major negative effect that it has is on the alcoholic’s health. Suffering from alcohol addiction makes an individual more suspect to HIV, liver and heart disease, cancer and strokes. If a woman is pregnant there are major and possible life threatening risks to the unborn child. The unborn child will likely by innately addicted to drugs and there is a strong possibility of being born with mental retardation.

In addition to health issues, alcohol addiction often results in violent crimes. Domestic abuse, murder and rape are commonly linked to alcohol and drug abuse. Other consequences that are a result of alcohol abuse are education, career and personal relationships.

Due to the nature of alcohol addiction an individual who struggles with the disease will not be able to stop regardless of whatever consequences they have suffered. It is very common for people to seek help through a drug rehab. Without the assistance and guidance of a reputable drug rehab it is nearly impossible to overcome addiction. Willpower and determination is not enough to stop the downward spiral that alcohol addiction causes.

The long-term goal of an addiction treatment center is to help a client become abstinent from alcohol. Some of the short–term goals are assisting the client to recover both mentally and physically. Clients who go to a quality drug rehab will benefit from individual and group therapy. These therapy sessions will allow individuals to discuss their cravings and withdrawal symptoms and learn how to deal with them appropriately without the use of alcohol.

Alcohol addiction is commonly the result of other issues that need to be dealt with in someone’s life. A alcohol rehab center will address these issues to help its clients achieve the ultimate goal of long-term sobriety. Gender, age, ethnicity, and culture are all taken into account so that an appropriate treatment plan can be put into place. Everyone’s addiction is unique and these are all things to consider when a treatment plan is being put together.

Lakeview Health Systems

Study found college students who drank both were more drunk, more likely to drive

Mixing caffeine-laden energy drinks and alcohol is popular among young Americans, but it can lead to higher rates of drunkenness and impaired driving, a new study suggests.

University of Florida researchers surveyed more than 800 college-age patrons leaving bars between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. The participants were asked about their energy drink and alcohol consumption and then had their breath-alcohol concentration levels measured.

The 6.5 percent of participants who said they’d been drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks were three times more likely to be drunk than those who consumed alcohol only. The average breath-alcohol reading for those who consumed alcohol and energy drinks was 0.109, well above the legal limit of 0.08, the study authors noted.

The researchers also found that bar patrons who mixed alcohol and energy drinks left the bar later, drank for longer periods of time, and were four times more likely to say they planned to drive within the hour, compared to those who drank alcohol only, according to the report in the April issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors.

"There’s a very common misconception that if you drink caffeine with an alcoholic beverage the stimulant effect of the caffeine counteracts the depressant effect of the alcohol, and that is not true," study co-author Bruce Goldberger, director of toxicology in the University of Florida College of Medicine, said in a news release from the school.

Caffeine simply reduces the sleepy feeling caused by alcohol. This condition, described as "wide awake and drunk," can lead to risky behaviors, Goldberger explained.

It’s believed that as many as 28 percent of college drinkers consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks in a typical month.

"This study demonstrates that there definitely is reason for concern and more research is needed," study author Dennis Thombs, an associate professor in the department of behavioral science and community health at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, said in the news release.

"We don’t know what self-administered caffeine levels bar patrons are reaching, what are safe and unsafe levels of caffeine, and what regulations or policies should be implemented to better protect bar patrons or consumers in general," Thombs added.

HealthDay News

According to the independent, UK-wide charity, Drinkaware: "as many as 33,000 people in the UK die from alcohol related causes each year- that’s ten times as many people as die on the roads every year." If you or a loved one are needing help with a drink problem and think private rehab is just for the Hollywood jetsetters, then read on.

Sue Allchurch, director of Linwood Group, explains further: "There is a wide range of help available to those struggling with a drink problem. The key to choosing the right type of recovery programme will be determined by the severity of a person’s addiction and the resources they have available to self-fund treatment. An initial visit to a GP, or a call to a confidential helpline such as our private alcohol treatment centre number, will give an idea of what type of help is suitable for an individual’s specific needs."

There are a wide range of specialist alcohol services available across both the public and private sector and a comprehensive list of these is available via Alcohol Concern ; these range from advice, information, self-help and counselling services, to rehabilitation schemes, home-based and in-patient detoxification programmes and residential rehabilitation services. The residential services are primarily suited to those with alcohol dependency problems and vary greatly in terms of cost and provision.

Private alcohol centres provide a medically supervised detoxification programme as the first stage in a person’s rehabilitation programme. The second stage in the programme focuses on exploring the emotional reasons behind drinking and helps the individual put in place strategies to cope with these stresses, ensuring support networks are in place for the person’s return to their normal lives.

The difference between private rehab and the other rehabilitation services available is explained further by Sue Allchurch. "People who seek help from a private alcohol treatment centre are embarking on one of the most challenging but potentially rewarding journeys of their lives. Entering private rehab enables a person to address in a holistic way their drinking problems and receive the tailored emotional and physical care that they desperately need to begin their road to recovery. The difference between this type of treatment and any other is that the recovery programme is tailored to specifically suit the individual’s needs and provide them with exactly the right support, medical intervention and encouragement they need for each step along their journey back to health and wellbeing".

Pick up the phone

The process of booking into a private alcohol treatment centre, such as one of Linwood Group’s, couldn’t be simpler. The first step is by far the hardest – picking up the phone. Most treatment centres will operate a confidential hotline which will enable a person to ask about the services on offer, describe the kinds of struggles they, or a loved one, are going through with alcohol and see whether the pricing structure for the treatment is viable for them. Although many people see private rehab as ‘for celebrities only’, there are a wide range of clinics available at a wide range of prices.

Make it a date

As with any resolution, you need to put it in the diary for it to actually happen. So, after discussing the treatment options available make a date to either visit the clinic to discuss possible next steps, or make the leap and book it. As with any new commitment, there are bound to be obstacles to overcome before you can begin your journey back to health. These can range from the practical, such as ‘what do I do with the pets while away?’ to the emotionally challenging ‘how do I tell my family, friends or work where I am going?’ Whatever the obstacle, remember to get support from trusted friends, or your GP, so that you are not stopped from getting help.

Research clearly shows that, for many people, every year, rehab works. It not only improves their mental and physical health, but helps them to address relationship problems and restores their commitment to living an active, fulfilling life. So, if you need help with an alcohol problem, why not pick up the phone and find out what is on offer?

Linwood Manor

Social drinking is a term used to describe drinking alcoholic beverages in a social setting; i.e., a restaurant or bar, a party or other gathering, or even just two friends having a couple of drinks. In other words, social drinking is considered as something that is done with others.

Social drinking is considered by many to be a pleasurable way of enjoying the company of other people. Alcoholic beverages served at a social drinking setting may be as simple as a few different wine and beer offerings, or as complex as full bar service, where liquor is also available and mixed drinks can be enjoyed. Sometimes the host or hostess provides the liquor, and sometimes others are encouraged to bring their favorite wine, beer, or spirits to share with everyone.

As with any situation involving alcohol, and this includes social drinking, those who are hosting the affair have some duty of responsibility to make sure that drinks are served judiciously, that food, whether snacks or a full meal, is provided so that some of the alcohol can be absorbed. Further, a cut-off time of approximately thirty minutes to one hour should be set, and alcoholic beverages replaced with non-alcoholic ones, so that there is a time period between one’s last drink and one’s departure.

Further, hosts or hostesses should not hesitate to prevent anyone who has had too much to drink and will be driving from doing so. Ways of doing this can range from offering one a place to sleep for the rest of the night, to taking the keys and arranging other means of transportation.

Hosts and hostesses should also be aware of anyone who may be attending to suffers or has suffered from drinking problems. A wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages should be available, and as much care as possible should be taken to make sure that that particular guest is not served alcohol, whether purposely or inadvertently.

Social drinking is readily accepted by many people, and those who participate in social drinking may not have a problem with knowing when to stop, or when they’ve had enough. When drinking increases to the point of intoxication, however, even when one is still in the social setting, or when someone begins to drink alone more and more often, this may be a sign of impending or existing alcohol abuse.

For those who feel they have passed the limits of what is considered social drinking, and believe they need social drinking help, the first hurdle has been passed. That’s because recognizing that a problem exists is the first step in seeking help.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

The Royal College of Nursing is calling for a mandatory code to enforce the tighter regulation of the advertising, labelling and sale of alcohol.

The comments come as a UK-wide consultation on the labelling of alcohol is launched. The consultation is being jointly run by the Department of Health, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. It will consider how best to improve unit and health information for consumers on alcohol labels.

Director of RCN England Tom Sandford says:

“Throughout the UK, nurses see the devastating consequences of alcohol misuse everyday. It is vital that tougher action is taken to turn the tide on the rising numbers of people who are suffering, or even dying, as a result of excessive drinking.

“Today’s report confirms what we already know – the drinks industry has failed to stick by its promise to take voluntary action on alcohol labelling. We can’t afford to keep giving the industry the option not to make changes which are essential to protecting the nation’s health. That is why the RCN is calling for a mandatory code which would introduce tighter regulation of the advertising, labelling and sale of alcohol.”

As the general election approaches, the RCN is urging all political parties to make a firm commitment to take action to stop the nation’s relationship with alcohol spiralling out of control.

Royal College of Nursing