Alcohol Awareness

Drinking is a choice.  Some people choose not to drink for religious reasons, health reasons, or because they do not wish to risk being “out of control.”  Other people choose to drink in moderation during religious ceremonies or other social gatherings, at a meal, or when alcohol is prescribed for health benefits.  The reasons for drinking or not drinking vary.  Each person should make the right choice in a responsible manner.  In most circumstances, responsible drinking involves the following:

• Drinking with others--drinking alone can lead to increased problems
• Drinking with other activities.--drinking for the sake of drinking can be a sign of dependency
• Avoiding intoxication by drinking slowly, with food in one’s stomach
• Paying careful attention to the body’s reaction to the alcohol ingested
• Understanding safe limits and responsibly staying within those limits.

WHAT IS ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE?

It is suspected that some people have a natural chemical intolerance for alcohol, just as others have a chemical intolerance for caffeine, wheat, milk, or sugar.  Other contributing factors include peer pressure, cultural sanctions of alcohol use, and states such as depression or anxiety.  About 1 in 10 drinkers become dependent on alcohol.  Some drinkers are susceptible to alcohol dependence from the first drink.  Others go through stages of alcohol use, alcohol abuse, and finally alcohol dependence. 

The first stage, “alcohol use,” implies social drinking.  Social drinkers use alcohol without significant mood swings.  They also do not develop cravings for the drug.  This stage does not imply a drinking problem.

The second stage, “alcohol abuse,” involves drinking to gain an altered state...to relax, to get high, to get drunk, to forget about life, or to release one’s inhibitions.  It is accompanied by unwanted behavioral consequences such as missed classes, missed work, or destructive actions.  Symptoms of abuse to one’s body include double vision, slurred speech, loss of coordination, vomiting, black-outs, or hangovers. 

The third stage, “alcohol dependence,” involves both psychological and physical dependence.  Psychological dependence is a state in which one believes that alcohol is necessary to cope with everyday living.  There may be noticeable changes in one’s mood or behavior nearly every time one drinks.  Physical dependence is a state in which one’s body depends on alcohol to function normally.  In the process of dependence, long-term damage can occur to one’s central nervous system, liver, heart, and digestive system.
 

QUESTIONNAIRE OF DRINKING BEHAVIOR

• I find it difficult to relax without a drink
• I occasionally feel bad about my drinking
• My friends or family have told me they think I have a drinking problem
• I have lost track of time or events that occurred while I was drinking
• I have missed class, work, or other obligations because of my drinking
• While under the influence of alcohol, my thinking, reaction time, or judgment has been impaired to the point that I have been frightened or endangered
• I have become verbally or physically abusive toward people, animals, or objects while I was drinking
• I have had so much to drink, I have experienced one or more of the following symptoms:
  • unable to stand
    unable to walk straight
    double vision
    slurred speech
    vomiting
    hangover                      

SERVICES AVAILABLE

The following local agencies are available to provide services for individuals desiring more extensive information, assessment, counseling, or other forms of help:

Gainesville State College Counseling &
Career Services - Services offered:
     Information, assessment,
     counseling, and referrals to more
     comprehensive services.
     Fee: None
     Address: Student Center, GC
     Phone: 678/717-3660

Laurelwood Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services of Northeast Georgia Health Systems (non-profit agency) - Services offered:
     Telephone hotline, assessment,
     comprehensive out-patient and
     in-patient treatment.
     Fee: No fee for the phone hot-
             line and evaluation.
             Fees charged for in- and
             out-patient services.
     Address: 200 Wisteria Drive
                   Gainesville, GA 30501
     Phone: 770/531-3800

Charter Winds Hospital - Services
offered:
     For-profit agency offering 24-hr.
     assessment and referral, in-
     patient and out-patient sub-
     stance abuse treatment.
     Fee: No fee for assessment
             and referral; Fees charged
             for in- and out-patient
             services.
     Address: 240 Mitchell Bridge Rd.
                   Athens, GA
     Phone: 800/542-4464

Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Non - Services offered:
     Crisis line and free peer-led
     support groups every day and
     night - call for times and
     locations of meetings.
     Phone: 770/534-0617 or
                770/534-3777