The only way to think about alcoholism accurately is as a medical emergency. You are dealing with a person who is dying. Evidence says that 68% of people who come to a…

The brain of someone addicted to alcohol is a changed brain. The chronic use of any mood-altering chemical first chemically changes the brain as the cells respond to the…

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease in which a person craves alcohol and drinks despite repeated alcohol related problems (like losing a job or a relationship). Alcoholism involves a physical…

Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects (see Appendix 15) are the leading causes of mental retardation in the country. At least 762,000 children are born each year exposed to alcohol…

About half of state prison inmates and 40% of federal prisoners incarcerated for committing violent crimes report they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of their offense.…

Alcohol is the primary drug of abuse by clients in most treatment settings, so you will see many alcoholics no matter what kind of work you do. About one in 10 Americans…

The production of wine probably originated around 4000 to 6000 B.C. in the mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.
Commercial wine production was well underway by 1500 B.C. (Courtwright,…

Another major problem among many people who are dependent on alcohol is that they are also dependent on another drug. The drug may be a stimulant,  such as cocaine,  or…

Binge drinking, which is generally defined as consuming five drinks on at least one occasion for men and four drinks on one occasion for women in the past 30 days, is primarily a problem among…

Heavy drinking and binge drinking are major problems on many college campuses in the 21st century,  and these problems continue unresolved despite efforts to stem the tide of alcohol abuse. (Note that…

Although the very hard-drinking days of some past centuries appear to be long gone,  there are still problems with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in the United States…

As views toward alcoholism have changed throughout history, so have the means attempted to treat alcohol dependence.  Today,  medications,  psychotherapy, and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are the primary means…

After the initial views of the colonial physician Benjamin Rush on alcoholism as a disease, little was done to advance this idea, and the average person viewed the alcohol-dependent person…

Prior to the United States entering World War II, those supporting Prohibition thought they had yet another chance to ban alcohol.  They actively sought to promote the idea that…

The first drunk-driving law was passed in New York in 1910,  followed by laws against drunk driving enacted in California in 1911 and many other states thereafter. Today all states have laws against driving while…

The issue of gender must also be considered in any historical overview of alcoholism.  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries,  alcoholic behavior,  or even drinking any alcohol,  was regarded as a…

Societal views toward the nonalcoholic spouse or partner of the alcoholdependent person have changed through time. In the early part of the 20th century, wives were often viewed…

Throughout history, some individuals have abused alcohol while others have become dependent on alcohol.  Similar to attitudes toward those with problems with drug abuse and drug addiction, attitudes toward those who abuse…

Whether alcohol is consumed as beer, brandy, hard cider,  wine,  distilled spirits,  or any other form,  it is an intoxicating substance that has been used and often abused by many…

Alcohol is the most popular psychoactive substance in the world, and this has been true for millennia. It is also one of the most damaging and dangerous substances known to humans,  second only…