Alcohol Help

An assessment of the government’s progress in addressing the hazardous use of alcohol by young people in the UK is being published by The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

Pathways to Problems 2009 considers the implementation of recommendations made in the ACMD’s original Pathways to Problems report published in 2006. The ACMD finds that government departments have worked together to engage with the issue and has made significant progress against many key recommendations, such as the control of tobacco and recognition of the roles of parents and schools. There is, however, further work to be done, chiefly around young people’s exposure to alcohol.

Caroline Healy, Chair of the Pathways to Problems Working Group, said:

"The government has made encouraging progress on the hazardous use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by young people since Pathways to Problems 2006.

"We’re pleased with the way departments are working together to develop policies and initiatives focussing on the health and wellbeing of young people. The work being done to control tobacco and roll-out public information campaigns is particularly commendable, as is the recognition being given to the important role played by parents and educational institutions in tackling substance misuse by young people.

"Despite this progress, however, statistics show that many young people are still putting themselves at risk and there is room for improvement against many of the recommendations. The increase in the reporting of alcohol-related illness, injury and crime means our main concern remains young people’s interaction with alcohol, particularly around its promotion and availability."

The ACMD commends the advances made by government in:

* working in a more joined-up way to develop policies, with the formulation of cross-department, integrated strategies and the creation of the Department for Children Schools and Families to lead the way in tackling the hazardous use of substances by young people;
* tightening tobacco control through measures such as restricting the sale of products to those aged 18 years and over and strengthening the sanctions available against retailers who sell to those below this age;
* communicating the health risks of alcohol and other substances via information campaigns such as the Know Your Limits and FRANK campaigns; and
* acknowledging the important role played by parents and schools in young people’s misuse of substances through, for example, the Think Family approach developed by the Cabinet Office and the Healthy Targeted Mental Health in Schools programme.

The ACMD remains concerned, however, about the exposure to and use of alcohol by young people. Whilst some progress has been made – for example the commitments announced in the Budget to increase alcohol duty by two per cent above inflation and to increase cider duty rates 10 per cent above inflation – the report finds there is clearly still work to be done in this crucial area as the reporting of alcohol-related illness, injury and crime continues to increase.

In particular, the ACMD calls for further action on the following:

* minimum-price legislation to stop supermarkets selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices, as previously recommended by Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson;
* implementation of the Licensing Act Review to change the offence of persistently selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years from three to two ‘strikes’, as referenced in the government’s Youth Alcohol Action Plan;
* reduction of the blood alcohol concentration level for drivers under the age of 25 years to 50mg per 100ml or less, as supported by the Transport Select Committee and Sir Liam Donaldson;
* more proactive intervention by the government in limiting the promotion of excessive drinking at further education establishments, with consideration given to encouragement of universities to withdraw financial support from sports and other clubs that promote irresponsible drinking;
* the use of standard measures when alcohol is served and a tax on drinks according to alcoholic strength; and
* a stricter code for alcohol advertising and sponsorship as supported by Alcohol Concern and government research.

The ACMD also reiterates its call for an equivalent independent expert body to advise on the misuse of alcohol and tobacco and ensure that the government is receiving the best possible advice in this area. It has committed to meeting with relevant cross government policy heads to establish the nature of the advice available and drafting a paper outlining the possible options for such a body and will share this with government in due course.

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Is kicking off your alcohol addiction too difficult for you? Have you been in the process of getting the same treatment again and again without being satisfied with it and going back to the old ways? Providing the best solution to allow you to grow as a person and change your negative habits comes with the desire to change and the power of the treatment center that will support you on your word to recovery. It is also a good opportunity for you to allow a wide range of solutions that will impact and hopefully provide you with the answers that you are looking for. Engaging the services of an alcohol rehab center for that matter is a choice you need to think about if you want to change indeed.

There is a different kind of approach that will provide you with the answers to some situations like this and hopefully, an alcohol rehab center will provide you with the best possible treatment that you need until you recover. Furthermore, living a life clean and sober is something that is generally the aim once you enter an alcohol addiction center. In Journey Recovery Center, you are given all the support you can get in terms of curbing out this habit and allowing you to see the good benefits into feeling renewed, vibrant and cleansed from inside out. Alcohol addiction recovery is made then possible when you get yourself checked in.

In terms of drug addiction recovery, the Center makes it ideal for you to assess and check on the benefits that you can obtain by them giving out the best services possible that they can do to bring out the different resources that we need when we seek treatment. Tranquility and peacefulness of the place is like living in a subdued environment that will help you think well and fortunately give the best possible responses that we can take charge in terms of this center. Living in this center is like living in a life of luxury and comfort and the best way is, you have all the time to become relieved of your personal issues and focus on getting the right track and information necessary that will keep us all in track.

You are an important part of your recovery process and along the way; you also need the support of people around you as well as professional services that will make sure you get right back on track. Your sense of worth will surely be relived as you go through the recovery center and make this a truly amazing and learning experience that will leave a very good impact in your life.

Journey Recovery Center

On Friday April 30th, just in time for this Mother’s Day, the Orchid Recovery Center will be featured on ABC News 20/20 as part of a news story tackling women and alcoholism. It is a dark subject that has come to the attention of the public following the tragedy involving the Long Island mother who drove her minivan the wrong way down a suburban parkway before crashing in a wreck that killed eight people.

According to the prosecutor, the woman “was drunk and high on marijuana at the time of the accident.” Her 2-year-old daughter and three young nieces died and three others killing a total of 8, in the July 26 crash. Most puzzling was her husband’s reaction to news of the crash, claiming that he was “completely unaware of his wife’s drinking problem,’ and that “it couldn’t be,’ the public cried foul in disbelief. But research demonstrates, ‘he may have been telling the truth and really be unaware of her disease,’ says Julie Queler, CEO of The Orchid, adding, “Alcoholism is the hidden disease and women become quite skillful at hiding it from their closest partner.”

Looking for the Signs of Hidden Alcoholism

Because women who are suffering from hidden alcoholism are highly unlikely to admit that they have a problem (or seek professional help on their own accord) it is absolutely imperative that friends and family members become familiar with the signs and symptoms of this insidious disease.

The classic symptoms of alcoholism in women are:

* Suddenly poor performance at work or school
* Drinking at socially unacceptable times throughout the day
* Disappearing without warning for stretches of time
* Chronic illness (hangovers)
* Strong alcohol cravings
* Irritability and moodiness

Counseling and Hidden Alcoholism

Once a woman is lucky enough to enter into a professional alcohol rehabilitation program, she will need to take part in the various counseling programs offered at the facility. Hidden alcoholism counseling helps treat the condition at the core by addressing the “triggers” that have led to the unwanted behavior. Women are given more positive ways to respond to these stressors – and learn the decision-making skills required to achieve and maintain sobriety.

However, simply knowing that someone cares and understands their pain can lead to amazing breakthroughs.

Why Does The Orchid Offers Gender-Specific Alcohol Addiction Treatment

After years of neglect from the research community, a number of studies in recent years focused on finding the most effective way to treat women who drink compulsively. What these studies found is that women respond more positively to gender-specific alcohol addiction treatment – especially when it takes place exclusively in the presence of other women. Women in these gender specific programs, such as at The Orchid, felt safer, thereby making them more comfortable and open to treatment. They also formed support structures with other women in the treatment center – which in turn greatly enhanced the recovery process, which for many up to entering the program, has only been a dream.

As the Orchid’s Executive Director, Julie makes that dream a reality every day by utilizing the groundbreaking research of Dr. Karen Dodge as the bedrock of The Orchid’s treatment ideology. Dr. Dodge’s philosophy of "relational growth" enables personal growth in women through strong support groups and interdependence within those groups. Currently, there is no other treatment program that focuses exclusively on women and utilizes this amazing modality for overcoming addiction.

The Orchid is a drug and alcohol rehab facility located in South Florida that is specifically geared to the needs of women afflicted with addiction and unresolved trauma. The Orchid was founded to meet the needs of women that were not being addressed by the recovery community. The Orchid holds the belief that substance abuse in women has a cause, a progress and a societal perception different than that of men. Specifically women addicts are more likely to have poor self concepts of guilt and blame, and mental health problems than male addicts. Furthermore, they are more likely than men to let social stigma, labeling and guilt prevent them from seeking help.

The Orchid

In the Budget, the Chancellor announced a 10 percent above inflation rise in duty on ciders to bring them into line with other alcoholic drinks.

The announcement also outlined a rise of 2 percent above inflation on duty for other alcoholic drinks across the board.

In response to the Budget announcement, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive, Don Shenker said:

“Alcohol Concern welcomes the government’s decision to bring duty rates on cider more in line with other alcohol products. Action on the lower duty rates for cider in comparison to beer is long overdue.

“However, this move will have no impact on the ability of major supermarkets to absorb increased duty rates and to continue to use alcohol as a loss leader.
“Government needs to go much further to tackle loss leading by major retailers by introducing a minimum price for alcohol.

“Until the government addresses the ongoing affordability of alcohol in the round, excessive drinking costing thousands of lives will continue to be incentivised through irresponsible price promotions.”

Alcohol Concern

In the past, many in the medical profession have tended to view alcohol and depression as separate issues. However increasingly, research is showing that they are indeed strongly related to one another. In fact, after surveying over 14,000 people with early onset symptoms of both depression and alcohol dependence it was found that: "the relationship between depression and alcohol is quite strong, especially among women. When women experience symptoms of depression, they are at increased risk for alcohol dependence subsequently." This link is of increasing importance, given the fact that nearly twice as many women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) are affected by a depressive illness each year and that at some point during their lives, as many as 20 percent of women have at least one episode of depression that should be treated.

So is depression triggered by drinking alcohol, or do people turn to drinking once they begin to feel depressed? Sue Allchurch, director of Linwood Manor Group, explains further: "As is well documented, alcohol is a depressant and a person who chooses to drink to excess on a regular basis will be exposing themselves to the continued depressive effects of alcohol. However there are many factors that can trigger both alcohol dependence and depression, including how a person chooses to ‘self-medicate’ to cope with the stresses in their life, chemical imbalances in their body, the environment they live in and whether they have a family history of either alcoholism or depression.

"Whether the drinking began before the symptoms of depression, or a person began to drink to ‘get through the day’, the fact remains that people who regularly drink alcohol in order to cope with difficult situations or emotions find that this form of ‘self medication’ eventually leads to even more extreme situations and emotions. In fact, apart from affecting their mental health, consuming alcohol also affects a person’s memory and brain function and can be linked to increased anxiety levels and panic attacks and in severe cases with paranoia and mental confusion."

Whether it is drinking alcohol or depression, the two are so inter-twined that it has been shown that the earlier in a person’s life that either of these two disorders develops, the greater the chance that the other will also arise. So, what are some of the symptoms of both to look out for? The Linwood Group has developed its Traffic Light System to provide a simple way of showing the symptoms of alcohol dependence. For depression, the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends looking out for at least five or six of the following symptoms:

• feeling unhappy most of the time (but may feel a little better in the evenings)
• losing interest in life and can’t enjoy anything
• finding it harder to make decisions
• can’t cope with things that you used to
• feeling utterly tired
• feeling restless and agitated
• losing appetite and weight (some people find they do the reverse and put on weight)
• taking 1-2 hours to get off to sleep, and then wake up earlier than usual
• losing interest in sex
• losing self-confidence
• feeling useless, inadequate and hopeless
• avoiding other people
• feeling irritable
• feeling worse at a particular time each day, usually in the morning
• thinking of suicide.

Due to the close relationship between alcohol and depression, treatment centres such as Linwood are increasingly developing treatment programmes tailored to treating both depression and alcohol related abuses. Sue Allchurch continues: "We have found that typically, depression associated with alcohol problems resolves itself when the alcohol dependency ceases; giving those struggling with alcohol dependency even more reason to seek help and support."

Linwood Manor

Spring break season is here and many teenage girls may be tempted to take their first drink. The AAAS Science Inside Alcohol Project suggests that parents, teachers and caregivers help girls delay that drink by telling them of scientific research that shows they may be more vulnerable than boys to alcohol-related problems.

There’s reason to have the talk. The number of teens who use alcohol rose 11% from 2008 to 2009, according to a new report from the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Girls are drinking younger and more often. In the 1960s, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 7% of girls reported having their first drink between the ages of 10 and 14. Now, 31% try alcohol before high school.

Here’s some of the science to share with teen girls and boys from the AAAS project:

* Girls have less water in their bodies than boys. Girls have a slightly higher proportion of fat to lean muscle tissue, concentrating alcohol more easily in their lower percentage of body water. This means they become intoxicated faster after drinking less alcohol.

* Girls have fewer enzymes to break alcohol down. Alcohol dehydrogenases are a group of seven enzymes that help break down alcohol so the body processes it. Girls have fewer of them, so it is not as easy for their bodies to metabolize the alcohol they drink.

* Girls are smaller and often weigh less than boys. When drinking the same amount as a boy, a girl will experience a quicker rise in her blood-alcohol level, and she may stay intoxicated for a longer period of time. Girls who drink heavily can be at greater risk for alcohol poisoning because it takes less alcohol for them to get really sick.

* Girls often prefer sweeter, carbonated mixed drinks. Such drinks can speed up the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

If those points don’t sell girls on abstention or drinking less, here’s another reason: Boys don’t like it when girls drink heavily, according to David J. Hanson, professor emeritus of sociology at the State University of New York at Potsdam and a member of the Science Inside Alcohol Project’s advisory board.

On his “Alcohol Problems & Solutions” Web site, Hanson discussed a recent study in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors that found seven out of 10 of the college-age women surveyed thought their male peers wanted them to have five drinks during social occasions, while the men preferred they drink half that or less.

“Not only does alcohol affect girls’ bodies differently from boys, the result of heavy drinking can be a turn-off for boys,” says Hanson. “Boys don’t want to take care of a girl who is drunk.”

The AAAS Science Inside Alcohol Project will publish a book later this spring entitled “Delaying that First Drink: A Parents’ Guide.”

American Association for the Advancement of Science

The validity of breath and blood alcohol tests have come increasingly into question since a recent Colorado Springs Crime Lab audit revealed that many of the blood alcohol content (BAC) levels reported by the lab were inflated. As the BAC levels reported by the lab are often used to help convict or acquit people charged with driving under the influence (DUI) offenses, the possibility that reported inflated levels may have lead to unfounded convictions has alarmed many in the legal community. As a result of the audit, 167 DUI convictions have been called into question.

The suspected human errors that lead to reports of inflated BAC levels in the Colorado Springs Crime Lab are not the only kinds of errors that can occur in BAC testing. In fact, there are many reasons to legitimately challenge BAC testing when defending against a DUI charge. If BAC testing is successfully challenged in court, it becomes very difficult to convict a person charged with a DUI offense.

Preliminary Tests

When an officer pulls over a suspected drunk driver, she may offer the suspect a portable breath test. This test is not admissible in court. As such, a suspect has the right to refuse the portable breath test without facing any punishment. The portable test is only used to aid the officer in establishing the probable cause she must have before arresting a suspect. If you are pulled over and an officer requests that you submit to a portable breath test, you may refuse. However, you may not refuse a breath or blood test at the police station or hospital without punishment.

If the officer asks a suspect to submit to a breath or blood test at the hospital or police station, the suspect will incur harsh penalties for refusing to submit to the testing. In addition to facing penalties such as a suspended license and fines, the prosecutor will be able to tell the jury that the suspect refused to submit to BAC testing and imply the suspect’s guilt. If the suspect submits to breath or blood testing and the tests result in a report of an elevated BAC level, an attorney may challenge the tests themselves, which can result in acquittal of the suspect.

Breath Tests

Breath tests attempt to determine the BAC of a person by measuring a deep-lung sample of breath. Deep-lung exhalations are said to accurately reflect the concentration of alcohol in the blood. However, many factors can cause a BAC breath test to deliver inaccurate results. Some of these factors include:
-Variance in the volume or flow rate of exhaled breath which can cause an inaccurate result
-Variance in air temperature, such as extreme heat or extreme cold
-Improper calibration of the testing device or mechanical problems
-Problems with interfering substances such as asthma spray or cough medicine, which may produce inaccurate results

In addition, breath tests can be challenged due to problems with procedure. For example:
-Failure to observe the suspect for a certain period of time before the test is administered in order to ensure that the test is not tampered with
-Failure to test more than one breath sample
-Operator Error

Blood Tests

Blood tests of BAC are generally considered more accurate than breath tests and are thus harder to challenge on the basis of the BAC level itself. However, blood tests can be challenged on several other grounds:
-An unlicensed person administered the blood draw
-Calibration problems or other equipment issues
-The blood was not drawn in the time period required by law
-The blood was not properly preserved or stored
-The "chain of custody," which tracks who was in possession of the blood and responsible for making sure it wasn’t tampered with, is established and was unbroken
-The blood was fermented, causing an improper elevation of BAC

For Further Reference

Given the severity of punishments imposed upon those who are convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence, it is important to fully understand the defenses suspected offenders may be able to assert. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Fife, Mangnall & Mossinghoff PC

Sunset Malibu, an exclusive Malibu alcohol rehab center on the California coast, has long been a transformational force in the field of alcohol rehab and recovery. Now, it’s announcing its redoubled efforts in providing clients with cutting-edge care through every phase of the healing process.

The California alcohol rehab industry is constantly evolving. What is conventional wisdom today may well be obsolete information tomorrow, which makes it especially important that centers for alcohol rehab Los Angeles keep pace with the progress of modern clinical advancements. In the end, the most effective alcohol rehab Los Angeles programs are invariably the ones designed according to the most up-to-date standards and practices.

It’s those fundamental truths, in turn, from which the alcohol rehab center develops its treatment philosophy and methodology.

The alcohol rehab center is hailed both for the skills of its caregivers and the elegance of its accommodations. For years, Sunset has been the preferred destination of upscale patients seeking world-class treatment in a world-class environment. As Sunset enacts its new initiative, the center’s administrators hope to make the Sunset Malibu experience even more valuable for clients and their families.

"Our caregivers are among the best in the world at what they do," said the owner. "But that doesn’t mean we aren’t always trying to get better. In order to provide our clients with the service they deserve, it’s essential that we actively seek to refine our methodology over time."

The passion evinced in that statement suggests that Sunset will continue to stand head and shoulders above its competitors for the foreseeable future.

Complacency isn’t conducive to success in alcohol rehab or any other field. Unfortunately, many of the most well-known centers for alcohol rehab Los Angeles fail to actively evaluate and improve their methods from year to year. The result, of course, is that those facilities do not provide clients with an effective alcohol rehab Los Angeles program because they are based on obsolete treatment practices-which can spell disaster for those clients and the people who care about them.

Administrators, on the other hand, stand firm in their conviction that such failures are absolutely inexcusable.

"Our clients trust us to save their lives," said a representative from the clinical team. "We owe it to them and their loved ones to deliver the very best care we can possibly deliver. If weren’t committed to staying on top of the industry, we wouldn’t deserve to be in business at all."

Sunset Malibu’s commitment to clinical excellence is beyond question. All that remains now is for alcohol rehab Los Angeles patients and patients around the world to learn the truth on their own terms. The effective program for alcohol rehab Los Angeles will literally change the life of the individual who enrolls in it. Under the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine that any consideration could ever be more important than that one.

Sunset Malibu

As others celebrate this holiday with alcohol at parties and family gatherings how do you avoid drinking and keeping your sobriety?

Excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and research shows that on holidays like St. Patrick’s Day there is a 23 percent increased likelihood of being injured or killed by a driver who is driving under the influence; it is also prime time for alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related emergency room visits.

If you are in recovery for alcoholism there are steps that can be taken to maintain your sobriety, these can include participating in cultural activities that don’t include consumption of alcohol or celebrating an alcohol free holiday with your children to set an example. If your plans include an evening out, you can ask a “sober” buddy to hang out with you, and be prepared to contact someone for help if you feel a relapse is imminent.

Another way to help in this process is the use of hypnosis as part of the overall plan to overcome alcohol addiction and stay sober. It can be used as a compliment to support groups and other types of therapy. Hypnosis can help you address the issues that caused the addictive behavior in the first place, and to access different coping mechanisms in order to handle stress.

Marlene Pardo BS CMH, director of Miami Hypnotic Center commented, “Persons who are trying to combat alcohol addiction and alcohol relapse are especially vulnerable to going on binges or falling off the wagon during this holiday.”

According to literature addressing hypnosis and addiction recovery (Potter, G., Jul 2004, American Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy) there is a 77% success rate for at least one year afterwards.

Pardo added, “I understand how handling an addiction is a daily process, which is why I feel that hypnosis is a very viable solution in this process, especially when planning how to handle annual celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day, which has so much emphasis on consuming alcohol. All that is needed is a person’s true desire to stop drinking and willingness to take steps to remain sober.”

In an effort to help those combating alcohol addiction the Center is offering hypnosis sessions at a 40% discount during the month of March.

Miami Hypnotic Center

Reacting to the Government’s response to the Health Select Committee report on alcohol published today, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, says:

“Alcohol misuse is one of society’s biggest afflictions and it’s imperative that immediate action is taken to minimise the harm caused by binge drinking. Unless we act now, alcohol misuse will continue to have an increasingly damaging effect on us all – socially, financially, physically and emotionally.

“Drinkaware welcome the Government’s positive response to the Health Select Committee’s recommendations – and the emphasis on the value of public health campaigns in tackling binge drinking in particular. Not only does the Government’s position highlight their continued support for Drinkaware and the funding the charity receives, it also affirms the importance of Drinkaware’s consumer education campaigns in affecting change among alcohol consumers across the UK.

“No one solution on its own will tackle the British drinking culture and a range of measures are needed to combat the harm caused by alcohol misuse. Education does play a critical role and Drinkaware provide the support, information and advice to help people assess their relationship with alcohol and change their drinking habits for the better.”

Drinkaware