Peter R. Martin, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and director of the Vanderbilt Addiction Center at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, was a corresponding author for a recent research report that found Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) participants are heavy users of coffee and cigarettes.

"Most individuals (88.5%) consumed coffee and approximately 33 percent drank more than four cups per day. The most common self-reported reasons were because of coffee's stimulatory effects: feeling better, better concentration, greater alertness.

More than half of the respondents (56.9%) smoked cigarettes; of those, 78.7 percent smoked at least half a pack per day, and more than 60 percent were considered highly or very highly dependent. The most common self-reported reasons were because of smoking's reduction of "negative affect," which refers to depression, anxiety and irritability. "Many of these negative affective states are described by patients as contributors or triggers to relapse after periods of sobriety," said Martin.

Even though it does not seem to appear in the report, I am sure that most of those coffee drinkers are dumping large amounts of sugar (or sugar substitutes which are just as bad) into their coffee.

Why?

Because most alcoholics are hypoglycemic and have a difficult time processing sugar - they can't get enough! They also may be addicted to caffeine.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally recognized physician, author, medical researcher and pioneer in orthomolecular medicine.

In 1960 he met Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and talked about using Niacin (Vitamin B-3) to help alcoholics. Bill W. was very interested in using it and he tested it with positive results.

Bill W. was a supporter of using Niacin but unbelievably his ideas were originally rejected by the AA International Headquarters because he was not a medical doctor!  View the video (9 1/2 minutes) to hear the story.

An interesting side note is that Vitamin B-3 is also good for balancing your cholesterol levels.

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Popularity: 29% [?]

Drug and alcohol abuse are very common among teenagers and adults with untreated ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). One study by psychiatrist Joseph Biederman and his colleagues at Harvard University indicated that 52 percent of untreated ADD adults abuse drugs or alcohol.

The drugs that they choose to abuse are alcohol and marijuana to settle the internal restlessness they feel, and cocaine and methaphetamines to feel more energetic and focused. Nicotine use (cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco) is much more common in people with ADD, as is the intake of large amounts of caffeine. Nicotine and caffeine are mild stimulants.

Peaple with ADD rarely abuse heroin, other opiates, painkillers, or tranquilizers, such as Valium. They are generally not stimulating enough to be of much benefit.

Many people with ADD (treat their underlying problems) with substances as a way to feel more focused, more together, less anxious, less depressed, less overwhelmed, and just generally better.

Despite the advantages, substance abuse is always bad medicine. Rather than helping, substance abuse makes the ADD symptoms much worse over time.

Brain-imaging work has taught us just how harmful drug abuse is to brain function. Cocaine, methamphetamines, alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, and caffeine decrease brain activity over time, sometimes significantly. When an ADD teen uses alcohol or drugs to settle the internal restlessness they feel, they are just applying a bandage to a wound that will only fester.

The above information was taken from the book by Dr. Daniel Amen, Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD.

If you have a child that is ADD, be especially alert to them using alcohol and street drugs such as marijuana to self medicate. Remember that about half of ADD adults abuse drugs and alcohol.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Keep in mind that the alcohol content of different types of beer, wine, and distilled spirits can vary quite substantially. Also, keep in mind that people react differently to alcohol depending on age, body weight and past use of alcohol.

Today is July 4th, Independence Day, a major holiday in the United States and a day of parties and celebration. Make sure you don't drive soon after drinking!

The blood alcohol considered by most states as "Driving While Intoxicated" or "Driving Under The Influence" (DUI), is usually between .08 and 1.0 (80 - 100 mg/100ml).

What is a drink?

A standard drink is:

- One 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler

- One 5-ounce glass of wine

- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits

Levels of Intoxication

1 - 3 drinks within 1 hour (blood alcohol content reaches up to 1.0)

Symptoms:

* decrease in anxiety and stress
* lowering of inhibitions
* pleasure/mild euphoria
* increased sociability

3 - 6 drinks within 1 hour (blood alcohol content reaches between 1.0 and 3.0)

Symptoms:

* dizziness
* loss of coordination
* poor memory
* difficulty standing or staying awake
* nausea and vomiting
* slurred speech

6- 12 drinks within 1 hour (blood alcohol content over 3.0)

Symptoms:

* hypothermia or hyperthermia (body temperature that is too low or too high)
* unresponsiveness with no movement
* shallow breathing
* can lead to death

Alcohol overdose is a serious matter. Make sure you do not get involved in binge drinking games. The risk is even greater when alcohol is combined with other drugs such as Valium.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Dr. Elson M. Haas, author of The New Detox Diet, lists some of his top steps for alcohol detox as follows:

• If you consume more than 6 to 8 drinks daily, seriously consider inpatient help or a residential detox program.

• A juice cleanse, often accompanied with light protein and amino acids, can be useful in the transition and detox process. Post-detox, whole foods with complex carbohydrates and adequate proteins can be nourishing.

• Follow basic hypoglycemic guidelines - avoid sugars and sweetened foods, have some nourishment regularly (every 2 to 3 hours), and maintain adequate protein intake.

• Drink 6 to 8 glasses or more of water daily to help clear the liver and cleanse the body of toxins.

• Include sufficient fiber to support proper bowel elimination.

• Use nutritional supplements to support your body during detoxification from alcohol. Medically supervised intravenous (IV) nutrition of vitamins B and C along with minerals may also be useful.

• Be sure to include antioxidant nutrients to help with detox - namely, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium.

• Use specific herbs to cleanse and heal the liver and facilitate detoxification - these include milk thistle (silymarin), dandelion root, and others.

• Consider acupuncture to treat physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to detox from Alcohol addiction, additional information is also available in his book about detoxing for sugar, nicotine, caffeine and drugs.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Dry-drunk is a term used, often disparagingly, by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and by substance abuse counselors to describe the recovering alcoholic who is no longer drinking but who still demonstrates the same alcoholic behaviors and attitudes.

Studies have shown that up to 90% of alcoholics are hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). According to Joan Mathews Larson, author of Seven Weeks To Sobriety, the symptoms are similar to people with hypoglycemia.  They include:

-irritability
-depression
-aggressiveness
-insomnia
-fatigue
-restlessness
-confusion
-desire to drink
-nervousness

Typically, these symptoms especially occur in newly abstinent alcoholics who try to overcome their emotional and physical discomfort by consuming large amounts of sugar in coffee and junk food. The relief provided by these quick fixes is short-lived and a surge of insulin quickly pushes glucose levels back below normal and the symptoms and the need for sugar fix begin all over again. They obviously have a Sugar addiction.

Maintaining constant and adequate glucose levels is one of the most important biochemical needs of the body.  Continued blood sugar fluctuations below the amounts needed by the brain for stable functioning are what causes the "dry drunk".

By following a healthy diet and taking important nutritional supplements these symptoms will disappear.

Further information on Joan Mathews Larson and her unique program can be found at www.HealthRecovery.com.  She was a pioneer in the biochemical repair and restoration of the brain and body.  The orthomolecular model for addiction treatment is based on pure science and claims over 70% success rate. 

 

Popularity: 56% [?]