Posts tagged with ‘Family’
Family is very important in relation to addiction treatment, as family members must be educated on their loved one’s addiction and dedicated to supporting him or her. Family therapy is an integral part of addiction treatment.
Announcement: The Evolution of Addiction Intervention
An Interview with Board Certified Interventionist Roger Canevari
Helping Family and Friends Understand Addiction and Recovery
Most people, unless they are addicts in recovery, have no real framework for understanding addiction and recovery. To them, eating and drinking are simply normal parts of life. There is no obsession or compulsion related to them. Thus it is often difficult for the family of an addict to understand what the addict is going through. The family may be well intentioned and may desire to be helpful, but their lack of experience with addiction means their attempts may not only be unhelpful, but even harmful. Full Story
Escaping a Family History of Addiction
When you are surrounded by addiction in your immediate family, it is easy to feel like your own downfall will occur in just a matter of time. The genetic, inheritable nature of disease has become well known, and it can be disconcerting to know that one or more of your parents, and perhaps your siblings as well, are all suffering from addictions. Quite apart from the pain and frustration of being in such close proximity to addiction, it is hard not to wonder and to fear what that significant family history means for your own health and future. Full Story
Reduction in Drinking Acceptance Among UK Children
Peer pressure has long been considered a major component of alcohol use among underage drinkers. The need to be accepted by friends often encourages early initiation, even among kids who may not otherwise be interested in using alcohol. Early initiation is a serious problem, given that individuals who begin using alcohol at a young age are exposed longer to the risks that come with alcohol use, such as certain cancers and liver disease.
Positive Peer Pressure
A new study suggests attitudes among students in England may be pushing peer pressure in another direction. In a survey conducted by the NHS and published in late July, there is evidence that students are not impressed when their peers use alcohol, and in fact, may look down upon the behavior.
The survey’s results also indicate that fewer school-aged kids are using alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
The NHS Information Centre report details information from a 2010 survey conducted among young people in England, asking them to answer questions about smoking, drinking and drug use. The results showed a decline in three major areas.
Among 11- to 15-year-olds, there was a decline from 46 percent to 32 percent of students who believed it was okay for a peer to drink alcohol once per week between 2003 and 2010. In addition, 11 percent of students surveyed in 2010 believed it was okay to get drunk once per week, compared with 20 percent in 2003.
Why Do Teens Drink?
In the 2010 survey, there were 7,300 participants who were surveyed between September and December of 2010. In the most recent survey, a new set of questions was introduced that assessed attitudes about the drinking behaviors of peers. Students were given multiple choice questions.
The most popular reasons provided for why peers drank were "to look cool in front of friends" (76 percent); "to be more sociable with friends" (65 percent); "peer pressure from friends" (62 percent); and "for the buzz" (60 percent).
The researchers noted a significant difference in responses between students who drank and those who did not. For those who drank alcohol within a week before the survey, their most popular reasons offered for why peers drank were "for the rush or buzz" and "to be more sociable." Those who did not drink were more likely to choose "to look cool in front of friends" or "pressure from their friends."
The number of students who had tried alcohol had declined significantly, from 51 percent in 2009 to 45 percent in 2010. This reflects a continuation of a steady decrease. In 2003, 61 percent of school-aged kids had tried alcohol.
Genetic Characteristics May Increase Risk for Alcohol Problems
A recent study has only confirmed the effects of a low level of response, or LR, to increase the risk for alcohol abuse and heavy drinking among those with a genetic history of alcoholism. Professor of Psychiatry at the University in San Diego, CA, Marc A. Schuckit, says the effects of low LR factors of heavy drinking occurring later in life take place through a sequence of steps, according to Medical News Today.
The study examined boys and girls in the U.K. and smaller samples in the United States and on subjects that were younger as well. Studies showed a variety of results from the amount the person was likely to consume to achieve their desired result to peer influences. For some, the LR factor encourages coping with life’s problems. The entire procedure uncovered evidence regarding an individuals’ propensity for heavy drinking, thus increasing their risk for problems with alcohol.
Schuckit says the question remains as to why some adolescents drink more than others and that the low level of response is almost 60 percent genetic makeup. When you compare other countries and the way their drinking habits and differences in culture impact the use of alcohol, results can be of less importance in their culture or environment but the biological factors, such as metabolic factors and absorption of alcohol, should have consistent results across all cultures. There may be factors that are especially important such as religious or political viewpoints that affect your likelihood for alcoholism or that cause you to become more susceptible to drinking heavily.
Doctors continue to investigate these cross-cultural studies and that will help them solve the mystery of genetic influences among heavy drinkers.
Binge Drinking and Domestic Violence Linked
Binge drinking has been defined as consuming five or more drinks in succession. Binging can be a one-time occurrence or could be a pattern in which a person over-indulges once a month or more. A recent study examined the effects of binge drinking on families and domestic partners. Full Story
How Parental Alcoholism Affects Children in their Adult Lives
It is clear that children are affected by their parents’ choices when it comes to alcohol abuse problems. Neglect, abuse and fetal alcohol syndrome are all effects immediately felt by the children of alcoholic parents.
Childhood Stress—Including Parents Who Abuse Substances—Can Shorten Life
A new study found that stressful childhood experiences, such as verbal and physical abuse, can take years off an individual’s life.
Forced into an Intervention – What Are Your Choices Now?
It all begins as a day just like any other. You get up, still a little hung over from the night before, but haven’t yet opened a beer, smoked a joint, popped a pill or shot up. Or, you come home from work all ready to get high in the quiet of your own place. Next thing you know, your family, a few friends, maybe even your boss are sitting in your living room along with some guy or gal you’ve never seen before. What the heck is everybody doing here, you wonder aloud? Somebody die? Full Story
Family Treatment for Substance Abuse
When your loved one enters treatment for substance abuse, the entire family should be a part of the treatment facility’s process for getting your family member drug-free and able to remain abstinent. Substance abuse affects the whole family, not just the individual who is addicted. An essential part of family treatment involves providing information and support. While each substance abuse treatment facility has different programs and protocols, here are some general components of family treatment. Full Story
Need Help Finding an Intervention Specialist?
We can refer you to an experienced interventionist who can help you help your loved one.
The Addiction Primer: Everything You Need to Know to Get Help for a Loved One
A very inexpensive yet indispensable guide for anyone struggling with a loved one's addiction. Chapters on intervention, what to expect from rehab, and information on how addiction impacts the family.
