Important to Have Alcohol Awareness Classes

A friend of mine was a heavy drinker after the death of his sister and quickly became an alcoholic that needed help for his drinking and unresolved grief. Hi life spiraled out of control rapidly and he became more and more self destructive.

One night, when I thought he was ready to get help I suggested he take an alcohol awareness class and try support group meetings.

He was upset by my suggestions but the following day, he called to say he'd enrolled in an online alcohol class. I thought this was good because he took some initiative and could do the class in his own time. During the next week, we sat together and discussed the class. He seemed to get a lot out of it. He admitted that he needed help and, "couldn't continue going down the road he was on". He liked the online class because it addressed many issues and didn't, "make him feel guilty".

I admit that it took some time and hard work on his part, but he got better and has given up drinking completely. He seems to have turned his life around and reports feeling healthier and happier than before. The only problem now is that he seems to have a milk addiction haha. I guess some people will never truly change.

These Alcohol Awareness Classes Are Teaching Me a Lot

I have been sober for six months since my angry outburst. I was charged with simple assault against people who love me and were trying to intervene in my alcoholism. Now I have to finish alcohol awareness classes as ordered by the sentencing judge to complete this program. If I manage to stay out of trouble for another 18 months after the classes, I will have completed the two years of probation and my record will be expunged.

I made the mistake of falling into the alcohol trap that so many of my relatives before me have fallen into. It is in our genes to be drawn to alcoholism. Every male and many female members in my family tell me that they have to actively choose every day not to drink. The temptation is powerful. It is not an easy road but I do not want to die like my father, uncles, two aunts and grandfather did. All of them died as a result of alcohol induced diseases or accidents.

To my surprise, the alcohol awareness classes are teaching me much more than I expected. I am taking a class online which allows me to go at my own pace. Because it is online, no one is judging me and I don't feel ashamed. It feels good to learn about alcoholism and what I can do to change my life. I especially like the mindfulness work because it has helped me face myself without criticism but greater awareness. Now I am more conscious of my decisions and my behavior.

Classes to Help with Families with Alcohol Addiction

In addition to alcohol support groups for those suffering from alcohol addiction, there are now also alcohol awareness classes that are designed for spouses and family members too.

For many years, alcohol awareness classes were designed for the person dealing with the addiction. However, the alcoholic often lives with  family members who are deeply affected by their use and can be integral to their recovery. Therefore, it is critical to educate these sufferers by proxy, so they better understand what they can and cannot do for the alcoholic.

A very helpful component of these classes is to educate people on how to recognize the signs of alcoholism early. Family members often feel frustrated and helpless with a loved one who is abusing alcohol. In many cases, if a parent, spouse, or friend can identify early warning signs, they can get the person and themselves support and help early. Once the addiction is identified, a spouse or family member can attend their own therapy, support groups (such as Al Anon) or take an alcohol class online. This helps them remove the anger so they can provide the necessary boundaries, love and support.

Going to an Alcohol Awareness Class

If you are taking an alcohol awareness class then you have the unique opportunity to ask yourself some valuable questions. Namely, how much does alcohol really affect your life?

It seems that when you are in the midst of your life it is difficult to step back and evaluate it. This is more true when the questions revolve around your drinking because many set up a lifestyle where drinking  is common and normalized. For example, wine enthusiasts drink to be more educated on special grapes and sports fans like to believe drinking is a part of the game's milieu. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics who create a drinking lifestyle, often go unnoticed.  

Take some time out and take an online alcohol class. With some dedicated class time to this specific issue  you can be more objective and better determine how much your drinking is messing with your life. Maybe it's not that big of a deal. Then again, it would be best if you were honest about your habits.

Watch Your Kids Closely when They Are out to Party

My son just returned from his first minor in possession or MIP class. Three weeks ago he was caught at a party with an open alcohol container. He was charged with minor in possession of alcohol. As a result there were fines that I have to pay and my son had to agree to take an online alcohol class.

The point of the class is to inform and educate minors about the risks of using alcohol at a young age, and it also speaks to the legality of drinking alcohol under the age of 21. I do not condone my son drinking so I will have to keep a close eye on him from now on. It is the least of my responsibilities as a parent to know what he is up to. He now knows that I can "spot check" on him at anytime - this means that I will randomly show up to where he says he is going to be and see what he is doing. We both agreed that this annoying intrusion of his privacy is a result of him not making wiser and more responsible decisions.

He Has Decided to Change by Taking an Alcohol Class

My husband has decided to change the way that he has been living. He is finally recognizing that he has a drinking problem. I am relieved, I was almost ready to leave him because I could not take it anymore. It took his arrest for driving while drunk (DUI) to make him see that he was drinking too much.

He barely stayed out of jail. He lost his license for a year and has to do community service. He is also required to take alcohol classes. I think that those have made a bigger difference than anything. The classes he is taking are available online and he will go into the room and close the door. When he comes out, I can tell that the class are making an impact. He is apologizing to me regularly and beginning to admit that his drinking was out of control.

Taking My Alcohol Classes Online

Everyone has their moments of weakness and shame. One of mine in the last few years was that I got in trouble for alcohol possession. I was a minor at the time, so to get busted by the cops really complicated my life. It did make me think about things in the long run which is good. Drinking isn't a joke. You could end up behind the wheel of a car and seriously hurting someone or yourself.

I'm glad they allowed me to take my alcohol classes online. It satisfied the court requirements, which was a big help. Taking a class in person would have caused me interfered with my job and college courses.  It's great that out of all this at least they didn't want to ruin my life. They just wanted to help me by teaching me about my behavior and decisions. It's strange but now I can see more clearly how much I was drinking and how much denial I was in.

I don't know if this was one of those those times when you feel grateful for a terrible situation, but being caught, despite how humiliating it was, feels like it has seriously changed my path and I am a better person as a result.

An Alcohol Class is a Great Way to Kick off the New Year

An alcohol class may be right for you at this time of your life. Have you resolved to cut down on your drinking? Maybe you find yourself drinking more than you would like. Is alcohol causing problems for you with your health, at home, or work? Or are you just feeling the need to cut back and "detox" yourself from over indulgence.

An alcohol problem can become an addiction. Both can negatively impact your health, relationships, and goals. Be pro-active and fearless by seeking out help for yourself (even if you don't think you need it). Get educated and armed with information.

If attending an in-person alcohol class is not right for you, then you can consider taking an online alcohol class. With an online class, you may be able to get the assistance you need to fit your own unique personal situation. Why not get the support you need to keep your resolutions strong!

Helping the Alcoholic by Not Helping

If you think one of your friends or family members needs an alcohol awareness class, you need to understand that no one gets help until they are ready. As a drug and alcohol counselor for ten years I saw time and time again, addicts and alcoholics ordered by the judge to attend rehab or counseling. The individual showed up and went through the motions, but never really engaged and got anything out of the treatments.

Addicts typically don't get better unless they truly want to get better. So if you are frustrated that you can't help your friend or family member, remember that it's not up to you to save them. Your power is limited and you can only help yourself. This may mean attending Al-anon meetings or setting boundaries with that person.

The paradox is that you may help these people best by not trying to help them at all. It is possible that when you step out of the "parent role" they may come to the realization that they are being self-destructive and want to stop.

Being Aware That You Have a Problem with Alcohol

How do you know if you have a problem with alcohol? Alcohol is a prevalent part of our culture and many people drink daily. How would you know if you have a problem or potential problem with alcohol?

If you've ever pondered this question, an 8 hour alcohol awareness class could be exactly what you need.

The rub is, you have to be open to it and self aware but you may also need more information. It isn't easy realizing that you may have an alcohol problem. Too often there are mitigating factors people use to brush away the truth and keep them in denial.

Denial is strong and may prevent you from realizing you are giving yourself the brush off. Instead of seeing yourself clearly, you might look at circumstances and make more excuses. Excuses that sound legitimate and real to you. An online alcohol awareness class can help you break this self destructive habit.

I know because I did it for years. So if you are thinking that you might need some help, but don't think you really need that much, maybe you should try the class. Why not? That way, you'll at least have more  information to assess yourself more honestly.

Stay Sober this Holiday Season and Still Enjoy Beverages

My entire life I have enjoyed drinking during the holiday season. As a kid, it was the one time of year I got to drink eggnog. Man, I still love a good nog!

From eggnog I graduated to sips of champagne to drinking beer, wine and champagne, to getting drunk at every gathering I went to drinking whatever was available!

Now, as a recovering alcoholic, I choose to stay sober during the holiday season. Yet I can still enjoy my beverages. Following are a few of my holiday favorites.

Eggnog – I like it plain like a milkshake.

Daiquiris – the virgin kind – eggnog daiquiris are delicious so are fresh strawberry, peach and banana.

So relax, enjoy the company of those you love and care about in complete sobriety. Appreciate them for who they are and the fact that they are sharing their time and life with you. Serve fun non-alcoholic beverages for the whole party to enjoy. Starbucks does!

Maybe an Alcohol Class is All You Need to Stop Drinking

Have you ever been concerned or told that you are drinking too much? If so, more than likely you have a drinking problem. Of course it does not feel like a "problem" because you enjoy it and the rituals surrounding it.

As a recovering alcoholic and a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes, I see first-hand the problems that seep into the lives of those who abuse alcohol. I also see the denial that keeps the problems growing and spiraling out of control. Addiction happens over time, it's progressive. Therefore, I always discuss the self-awareness of addictive behavior.

Virtually, all of my students should have some inkling there is a problem when they've been involved in an alcohol-related incident. However, remarkably so, some continue to remain in denial. Many are not ready to look at the power alcohol has over them and their rationalizations to continue drinking. Students blame the problems on their boss, spouse, stress, government, etc. anything to keep them from taking personal responsibility.

However, alcohol classes (either in class or online) help them address their denial. Mostly, since other students who are in the same shoes, confront them. I see people go from serious denial to anger to acceptance in less than 24 hours of alcohol awareness treatment.

If you think you might have a drinking problem, I urge you to take an alcohol awareness class. If you prefer to maintain total anonymity there are online alcohol classes too.

Why Don't More Celebrities Take Alcohol Awareness Classes?

It's a well known fact that many celebrities have drug or drinking problems. You can't pick up a tabloid magazine or go to a celebrity gossip website without reading about some actor who was arrested for a DUI. Or you might watch an online video of a famous actress stumbling into the gutter in front of a Hollywood nightclub.

Wouldn't it be better if these talented people, who make their living by entertaining, learn something about their addiction problems? Wouldn't it be great if there was a reality TV show where they talked about their experience taking alcohol awareness classes? Wouldn't it be inspiring to read about actors and actresses who were learning something about themselves and at the same time inspiring their fans?

Sure that's far fetched. Some people will never change and continue acting foolish for years. That is until they realize that their acting career is also going down the tubes.

An Alcohol Class is Good Start if You Worry About Drinking Patterns

Are you an alcoholic? This is not such a simple question. Seemingly the answer should be yes, no or maybe. As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes I firmly believe that people who have drinking problems are aware of them. Of course denial is the first stage of alcoholism – but that does not necessarily mean you are an alcoholic.

Every Day Drinkers

Is everyone who consumes alcohol every day an alcoholic? Is everyone who has a drinking problem an alcoholic? The answers to both of these questions are no.

If you have one beer or glass of wine every day you neither have a drinking problem nor are you an alcoholic. However, if you drink to the point of intoxication every day you most definitely have a drinking problem and should stop drinking and seek help immediately. The line is drawn when someone is unable to alter their drinking habits despite evidence of it's problems.

Drinking to the point of intoxication is a good sign you have a problem and could be an alcoholic. Other signs include: how much time you spend on alcohol - either thinking about it, purchasing it, or consuming it. In other words do your urges to drink increasingly consume your time and interfere with work, relationships, and other activities? Have people made comments to you about your drinking? Have they asked you to cut down or stop? Have you tried to stop and failed? Does your personality change when you drink? Do you become more moody or boisterous after a few drinks? Are you able to consume more alcohol than many of your friends? Does alcoholism run in your family?

If you or someone you care about might have a problem with alcohol,  I urge you to seek help as quickly as possible. If you prefer to maintain your anonymity or want to be on a flexible schedule, sign up for an online alcohol class. While change might feel scary, take small steps. Big changes come from changing one small thing. Start with an online alcohol class.

Why Athletes Could Benefit from Drug Class

Professional athletes usually have very short careers. Even if one manages to sustain a long career they always end before the age of 50, usually before the age of 40, and many before the age of 30.

To stay on top for the few short years they have, athletes do whatever it takes to “stay in the game,” including taking performance enhancing drugs, anti-inflammatories  (like cortisone) as well as prescription medications to ease pain.

Athletes are drawn to prescription stimulants because these drugs give them a boost of focus and energy. Seeking a competitive edge, some players feign symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to get “legal” amphetamines.

Does Major League Baseball have a problem with stimulants? You bet it does!

The number of players getting “therapeutic use exemptions” from baseball’s amphetamines ban, quadrupled in recent years. While some players undoubtedly have a legitimate medical need for ADHD medications, it appears that others are merely looking for ways to evade the amphetamine ban.

I would like to see MLB and other organizations work harder toward keeping athletes from using prescription drugs. Just because it is available, and teams have on-staff physicians, does not mean that these should be doled out like Halloween candy. Therefore, I believe it would be very beneficial if MLB mandated drug classes for all players. They are our heroes after all.

College Binge Drinkers Should Take an Alcohol Class

Do you think binge drinking is a problem on American campuses? If not, start lining up your evidence because the majority of evidence points to a major problem with binge drinking among college students.

Is this a new problem? Certainly not. Is it worse now than ever before? Who knows. But the fact remains that it is a big problem that affects many college students.

Are you ready to take a look at this from a very deep perspective? If not, quit reading now. If you are ready begin by asking yourself if alcohol should be banned from college campuses. I know how radical a thought this is, but just think about any possible reasons why this might be a good idea.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of students on college campuses are under 21, the legal age to consume beverages in the United States. This simple fact, legality, is often overlooked, yet still a good reason why, perhaps alcohol should be banned on campus.

This is the third in a series of blogs looking at the nature of binge drinking on college campuses. In our next one we will take a deeper look into how harmful alcohol is for college students.

Hsu told CBS Atlanta in an email that researchers involved wanted to specifically focus on the motivation for a student to drink unsafe amounts of alcohol despite knowledge of its harmful effects.

“There are a lot of alcohol education programs in the U.S., and students are aware that [there are] negative consequences to binge drinking … like being at higher risk for sexual assault, violence, drunk driving, future alcohol dependency,” she said. “They know that they can get in trouble with school authorities and with the law. If they persist in binge drinking despite this, there must be some kind of other positive motivation for doing so.”

Monica Swahn, a professor at the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University, was alarmed by the findings and their allusion to a dichotomy between student knowledge of the negative effects of drinking and the desire to enrich their social lives.

“These findings make me distressed as a public health professional, especially knowing that binge drinking is associated with so many adverse consequences,” she said to CBS Atlanta. “Addiction, poor academic performance, violence, drunk driving, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases – the list is so long of what’s linked to alcohol abuse, especially in the late teens and early 20s.”

Steven Liga, director of the Middlesex County, N.J. chapter of the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, noted to CBS Atlanta that expectations of a college experience centered around alcohol have made class after incoming class of college freshmen see drinking as an unavoidable part of higher education.

“They think drinking is part of the culture – what they’re supposed to do. They start out doing that because everybody else started to do that at the same time,” he said, noting that the shared experience creates a feeling of community. “They feel a part of something, especially coming in as a freshman in a new place. It’s easy not to feel a part of something, so they gravitate to it. Freshman [gravitate] toward a drinking party. It’s an equalizer. Everyone is new, and social inhibitions – that feeling that you don’t belong – disappear.”

These expectations also lead to feelings of pressure regarding binge drinking.

“At the end of the survey, students were given an open comment box and could whatever they wanted. … [Q]uite a number wrote that they did not want to binge drink,” Hsu recalled. “But they felt pressured to do so because ‘everyone’ … does on campus. At the same time, they would associate binge drinking with high status, saying that rich, white kids in fraternities were the ones to drink.”

Liga noted that, while the frequency of such binge drinking incidents may not necessarily be increasing, the level of consumption is all the same in danger of rising.

“What people are hearing about are more and more cases of extreme drinking,” he said. “It’s not just four or five drinks several times a month – it’s, ‘Let’s see how many [drinks] I can do in a short amount of time.’ That’s where the funnels come in, and beer pong.”

That mentality, combined with a lack of student knowledge regarding what they are drinking – and how much of it – could lead to serious problems with binge drinking.

“Most kids don’t realize they’re drinking as many drinks as they are,” he said, adding that red Solo cups, a college party staple, have enough room for the equivalent of multiple drinks. “It’s very easy to binge drink, particularly going into social situations where someone is trying to fit in.”

Hsu mentioned that the objective of the study was to delve into why students engage in behavior they know to be risky, and found that the main differences were between what she called “subjective” or temporary happiness and “objective well-being.”

“Binge drinking is objectively bad, a dangerous and self-destructive behavior. In our study, students who binge drank often missed class because they were hung over, or felt hung over in class. They put themselves at risk for sexual assault and harassment,” she said. “On the campus where the study was conducted, students have been suspended, expelled, arrested, physically harmed, and even killed as a result of intoxication. Studies show that students who binge drink are at risk of becoming alcoholics for the rest of their lives.”

Swahn asserted that these studies highlight the importance of discouraging drinking activity in minors for as long as possible.

“Addiction, poor academic performance, violence, drunk driving, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases – the list is so long of what’s linked to alcohol abuse, especially in the late teens and early 20′s,” she said. “It’s about trying to figure out how to delay the age at which they drink … to delay alcohol use as long as possible.”

And for Liga, who works in an organization geared toward addiction prevention, the emphasis falls on how to break the stigma of drinking as an integral part of the college experience.

Consistently scheduled activities that offer legitimately fun opportunities for students interested in sobriety are one part of the potential solution.

“It’s important for people not to just give up on colleges – to not simply say, ‘There’s going to be tons of dangers drinking and there’s nothing we can do about it.’ We know that’s not true,” Liga observed. “Part of that [solution] is going to be the way the school handles drinking infractions, whether they are being proactive or not regarding interventions with students when they see problems developing and doing something about it early.”

Swahn agreed, while additionally pointing out the influence of one crucial unit – family.

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/08/28/study-college-binge-drinkers-happier-than-sober-students/

Opioids Go Mainstream!

Whether you are rich or poor, black or white, tall or short, skinny or chubby, there is no way to guaranty you will not become addicted to something in your lifetime. No one is immune from addiction.

I will not be the first to say that a major factor in the drug problem in America today stems from the fact that opioids are not readily available. Until very recently these powerful narcotics were only available to cancer patients and patients who were terminal. If you were looking for pain relief it was aspirin acetaminophen, or maybe a codeine-based medication if you went to a physician.

Today doctors prescribe opioids as if they were aspirin. That wouldn’t be so bad except that while they are very good at getting patients on these drugs, they can’t help them get off. I know doctors take the “necessary” precaution of warning their patients as to the dangers and addictive nature of the medicines, but they know that many of their patients will, and are becoming addicted to these powerful painkillers.

Most People Benefit from Drug Awareness Classes

If you or someone you care about is addicted to prescription medication, please seek help immediately. The first decision should be to quit using drugs. The second should be to take a drug class. If you prefer to maintain anonymity, there are online drug classes too.

Are You Ashamed to Take a Drug Class?

One of the hardest steps toward becoming sober is fear. There are many kinds of fear and every person is different. One of the most common fears is that you have to come clean about your addiction. Your friends, family and coworkers who drank alcohol or used drugs with you in the past will need to know why you have stopped.

Many people choose to try lying when they first become sober. They will tell their cronies they are quitting to lose weight or because they want to be able to pass a drug test.

It is easy to “save face” if you decide to start drinking again because you gave up on your diet or didn’t get the job you hoped for. You can “hide” the true reason - because you are so addicted to the drug of choice that you cannot quit.

Just Quit

If you successfully quit using weight loss or employment the logical argument becomes now that I have not drank or used in six months or a year, I feel great. I don’t want to go back to that lifestyle.