Alcohol Facts
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Definition of a “Standard Drink”
This is a descriptive term for alcoholic drinks that all contain roughly the same amount of alcohol. A standard drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol. Twelve ounces of beer, five ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits like whiskey (the usual size of a shot) are all standard drinks. This term was developed to allow a person to estimate their alcohol consumption.
The alcohol content of a mixed drink is much harder to calculate. The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse offers an online alcohol calculator that enables one to look up the typical alcohol content of common cocktails, and even to vary the recipe and come up with a fairly accurate number. For example, a traditional martini contains 2.25 ounces of fluid that is 32 percent alcohol, making a traditional martini equal to 1.2 standard drinks. A nine-ounce pina colada that is 13 percent alcohol equals two standard drinks.
Ref: Cocktail Alcohol Calculator
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DOWNLOAD NOWDefinition of an Alcoholic
Alcoholism is distinguished from problem drinking by four characteristics:
- The alcoholic has a strong craving for alcohol consumption.
- Once the alcoholic starts drinking, they are not able to stop.
- They develop withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking such as nausea, sweating, shakiness or insomnia.
- They also develop a tolerance for alcohol. In other words, it takes more alcohol to get them intoxicated than it did earlier.
When all these characteristics are present, the person is said to be an alcoholic. Because it can be dangerous for an alcoholic to stop drinking suddenly, they usually need a medical detox to go through withdrawal which can range from uncomfortable to fatal in its effects.
A person who is abusing alcohol but has not developed these characteristics can often go directly into a rehabilitation program without medical assistance. A medical evaluation would be needed to make a safe determination.
Is the Alcoholic the Only One Running a Risk by Drinking?
Alcoholism is a “problem with alcohol” to a severe degree. Others who may not be “alcoholics” per the definition but abuse alcohol can be creating serious problems for themselves and others.
Alcohol abuse is present when a person creates damaging effects on themselves and others but continue to drink. They may be having problems at school or at work, with relationships or other responsibilities. They may be in legal trouble due to drunk driving or accidents. But they are not, strictly speaking, an alcoholic. If they have difficulty correcting this situation on their own, they can benefit greatly from an alcohol recovery program before they become injured or killed, lose a job, lose a license, or lose their families.
Under some circumstances, even small amounts of drinking can create serious repercussions for a person. If someone has a compromised liver or they are pregnant or taking specific medications, they may suffer ill effects. It is not just an alcoholic who is at risk.
Ref: Alcoholism
Safe Limits for Drinking
While everyone is different, generally safe limits for alcohol consumption are:
For women: No more than three drinks in one day and no more than seven drinks total per week.
For men: No more than four drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week.
Still, this many drinks consumed quickly or without food to slow down alcohol absorption by the body can cause problems. Other health problems such as stomach problems or a compromised liver can change these limits.
Ref: Women and Alcoholism
What Is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol characterized by chronic alcohol use that results in physical, mental and emotional problems.
One of the most obvious characteristics of alcoholism is an inability to stop drinking once a person has started. The alcoholic has a constant strong craving for alcohol and will have developed a high tolerance. This means it will take more and more alcohol to get them intoxicated as time goes on.
According to national surveys, about 17 million people in the US abuse or are addicted to alcohol. In Europe, it’s estimated that 23 million people are dependent on alcohol. Internationally, it’s estimated that more than two million deaths a year result from alcohol consumption.
Sadly, every death caused by alcohol can be prevented simply by not overusing the drug. Getting someone who is abusing alcohol into a successful alcohol recovery program, such as the one at Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, can be the factor that saves someone from being one of these two million to lose their lives.
While some deaths occur after extensive drinking, such as colon cancer, heart disease or cirrhosis, some of them can happen at any point in the addiction, for example, auto accidents, drownings or assault deaths. It only takes one little mistake, in the midst of alcohol abuse, to bring about one of these tragedies. Narconon centers have been helping people for five decades put alcoholism behind them so they can live sober, productive lives.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Worldwide, there is a huge amount of alcohol being consumed. The World Health Organization found that the total annual consumption of alcohol equaled over six liters of pure alcohol per person over 15 years of age. To be sure, not all alcohol consumption is problematic. So how can one tell the difference?
There are distinct signs of alcohol abuse that can be looked for. If you have someone who seems like they might be having a problem with their drinking, here are signs you can look for to know whether or not you need to make a closer inspection. Remember that many of these signs can relate to some other problem or condition, so you still have to look at the overall scene.
Look for sweating, especially with a sour smell; weight loss; physical deterioration.
Take notice of emotional changes like: Increased aggression; higher levels of anxiety than usual; burnout on tasks that previously were not a problem; refusal to admit any problem; depression; paranoia. Or behavioral changes such as: Person is unusually talkative; coordination is impaired; irritability; lethargy, lack of energy; short attention span; lack of motivation.
Or work related changes: Repeated missed appointments; excessive absences, latenesses or days off; Often late for work, meetings, appointments; Repeated excuses for failures to meet deadlines or finish tasks.
And of course, be alert for the smell of alcohol on a person, empty alcohol bottles in the trash (though some alcoholic may go to pains to throw away bottles elsewhere to escape detection) or more frequent purchases of alcohol. When you have multiple signs, you have the grounds to sit down with the person and confront them on the subject.
Alcoholism Treatment
Alcoholism treatment is best undertaken in an environment where no alcohol of any kind is available. An alcoholic desperate for a drink may consume mouthwash, flavorings, or cough syrups. For most people, a completely controlled situation means an inpatient residential drug rehabilitation center. The Narconon program provides withdrawal and detoxification, followed by life skills training to develop skills that have often been lost to addiction, such as:
- How to comfortably face life and resolve problems through communication
- Learning who to trust and who to avoid and how to stay out of situations that could trigger old alcohol habits
- How restore one’s personal values, leaving the past behind and moving into a more positive future.
Getting Your Loved One Help to Get Sober
For many people, it takes more than willpower to get off the alcohol. It takes help in the form of an effective alcohol rehabilitation program. That is where Narconon has been able to enter the scene and help many people kick an alcohol habit.
Through the Narconon program, addicts can find the solution they need to drug or alcohol addiction. The recovery program takes those who are addicted through a thorough detoxification, following by life skills training that enables the alcoholic to leave the past behind and look forward to a bright new future. Graduates ordinarily restore family relationships, renew personal value systems and experience the relief of restored personal integrity. It all adds up to a new life without alcohol or drugs.
To those who wish to break the pattern of drug use or drinking that is destroying their lives, Narconon provides a unique drug recovery program.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
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