Alcohol may be presumed a safe form of intoxication based on its legal status. However, alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. An estimated 88,000 men and women due from alcohol-related causes each year....
Alcoholism
Understanding Powerlessness Over Drugs and Alcohol
The disease of addiction is such that willpower is not enough for us to overcome our dependence on substances. Many of us had made countless promises and resolutions to stop drinking or using, and we truly intended to keep those promises, but we...
What Does Alcohol do to the Heart?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Heart disease causes one in every four deaths in the United States—about 610,000 people every year. Excessive...
What are the Consequences of Alcoholism on the Brain?
Alcoholism is a progressive and fatal disease. Without recovery, an individual’s alcoholism will inevitably worsen and they will face a slew of neurological consequences. The legal status of alcohol may influence some people to think of it as a...
What are the Symptoms of Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a progressive and fatal disease. Without help, we are unlikely to ever overcome drinking. We may be unsure if our drinking had progressed to the point of alcoholism, or we may deny there is a problem even if the consequences of our...
Leaving Behind Drinking and Using Buddies
Addiction leads to isolation and deep depression. We often leave behind our loving friends and family in exchange for friendships with others who are also using or drinking. These friendships are often superficial and quickly dissolve one we are no...
What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous was the first twelve step recovery program founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935. The basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous, known as the Big Book, was published in 1939 and laid out the original twelve step program of...
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
When we engage in our recovery program, we find it helpful to go through a process of cleaning up our past mistakes. We come to understand our fault in situations in which we were harmed or harmed others, and become willing to go to any lengths to...
Can I Learn to Control My Drinking?
When we first realized that our drinking has gotten out of control, many of us searched for excuses rather than admit that we were suffering from alcoholism. We felt as though our loss of control was theresult of a momentary lapse in judgement, or...
What Does Alcoholism Look Like?
Alcoholism is a complex disease that encompasses the mind, body, and spirit. It affects every aspect of our life and those around us, damaging our relationships and well-being at every level. Acceptance of the disease is difficult, and many people...