College Alcoholism and Binge Drinking
Drinking at college is not only glorified and encouraged, but it can also be extremely dangerous for many reasons. It’s no secret that college students are extremely likely to engage in unhealthy drinking habits when they’re in college. Unrestricted time, minimal supervision and an abundance of alcohol can create the perfect recipe for college alcohol […]
Alcohol Related Death vs Opioid Related Deaths
By now, you have heard about the opioid epidemic happening in this country. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. Increased prescription […]
Hereditary Alcoholism
What is Hereditary Alcoholism? The genetics that are given to us by our family are what help to determine what our traits, behaviors and personality characteristics are. This can include anything from the color of our eyes, how tall we will be, whether we will have any mental health issues or whether we are more […]
How to Minimize Risk of Being an Alcoholic in College
How to Avoid Being an Alcoholic in College Four out of five college students consume alcohol during their time at school, making it over 80 percent of students, and 50 percent engaging in regular binge drinking. This isn’t surprising, given the drinking culture that college provides. Newfound freedom away from home and parents, minimal supervision […]
How Much is One Drink, Medically?
How Much Is One Drink? Determining how much one drink is can seem to vary from person to person. What one person may find is large enough for a drink, may not be enough for another. Restaurants offer 9oz or 6oz options for glasses – which one is standard? The surprising truth is there is […]
Alcohol: Is It The Gateway Drug?
The Gateway Drug Theory According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, The Gateway Drug Theory suggests that licit drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol, serve as a “gateway” toward the use of other, illicit drugs. Many people usually correlate this theory with prescription medication becoming a gateway to other dangerous […]
The Second-Hand Harms of Drinking
What Are Second-Hand Harms of Drinking? An addiction to alcohol doesn’t just affect the person with the addiction. In fact, about one-fifth of adults in the United States have experienced some form of harm due to someone else’s behavior while drinking. These behaviors are ripple effects from the addiction and are known as second-hand harms […]
What is the Definition of Alcoholism?
Did you know alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States? According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 28.9 million people ages 12+ had an alcohol use disorder that year. Millions more currently engage in risky behaviors such as binge drinking that can potentially lead to […]
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol: Not Just for “Addicts”
Many assume that driving under the influence (DUI) means drunk driving and although the majority of DUI tickets and accidents are alcohol-related, substances such as prescription pills, marijuana, and street drugs can also inhibit your driving and result in a DUI offense or even worse, an accident. Although marijuana is legal in certain states, it […]
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol use disorder affects around 16 million people in the US. Alcohol withdrawal is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening consequence. Withdrawal symptoms can be mild, including depression, anxiety and headache, to more severe, such as hallucinations, seizures and confusion. Delirium tremens is the most severe form, characterized by altered mental state and autonomic hyperactivity. Medical […]