Most Who Drink Excessively Are Not Alcoholics
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, working alongside The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 9 of 10 people who are considered excessive drinkers do not suffer from alcohol dependence. For the purposes of defining excessive drinking, this includes binge drinking, consuming 8 or more weekly drinks for women or 15 or more weekly drinks for men and any pregnant women or underage Individuals consuming alcohol.
According to the study, which Sampled Over 130,000 adults in the United States over the age of 18, approximately 1 in 3 adults drinks excessively, while 1 in 30 adults is alcohol dependent. The study also showed the frequency of binge drinking and amount of alcohol consumed directly affects the number of adults with alcohol dependence.
Making the Most of Your 2015 Resolutions
One of the most valuable concepts that we learn during the course of addiction treatment is how to set goals. And while we set goals throughout the year, there is no time like the New Year to set new and often lofty resolutions. And while grand goals for New Year are admirable they sometimes exceed the scope of our reality, especially if the expectations for reaching those goals are too high. The result is the loss of motivation and desire, which over the course of time can lead to frustration, anxiety, depression and more.
Setting goals the right way – using some of the tips below – can increase the likelihood of following through and meeting or even exceeding your expectations.
How To Manage The Holidays
The ideal holiday is a time for celebration and being together. For many of us, especially those suffering from substance abuse and/or mental illness, most commonly depression, it can be a stressful time. After all, very few families are the image of perfection that we yearn for. If this time of year elicits bad memories, or if holidays are a clear reminder of dysfunction in the family, substance abuse and or relapse can often occur.
Individuals in recovery and their families can work together to create an environment conducive to sobriety and enjoyment during the holidays. While it’s not easy to break any pattern, this is particularly true of an emotionally charged situation.
The State of Substance Abuse in The US
To coincide with national recovery month the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA released a report on the breadth of substance abuse and mental illness in United States. The report shows both some alarming statistics as well as some encouraging ones, Including:
- 6 million Americans 12 and older are current drug users (9.4% of the population in this age group)
- 5 million Americans 12 and older currently abuse prescription drugs, 1.5 million cocaine, 595,000 methamphetamine and 289,000 heroin
The War Room
This month, let’s talk about charity. I was recently filmed (watch it here) taking the ALS ice bucket challenge. As the freezing cold water was poured over me – slowly I’ll have you know – and I froze my rear end off, it became clear how little it takes to make a big impact. A simple bucket of ice and a dare has turned into tens of millions for ALS research.
Shira Ackerman Joins The FCB Advisory Council
We are very proud of our very own Shira Ackerman, Program Director of The Academy for Addiction Professionals, who was recently appointed to the Behavioral Health Advisory Council at the Florida Certification Board. Since becoming program director, Shira has taken an active interest in FCB policies and with this appointment, she will be able to represent the needs, wants and best interests of students both in our program and throughout the state. We look forward to supporting Shira as she helps shape the future of addiction certification in Florida!
New Florida Certification Board Educational Requirements
The Florida Certification Board (FCB) has made plenty of changes to their certifications and educational requirements in 2014. We’ll keep you notified of these and future changes to ensure that you stay current with your educational requirements. The most important of these changes include:
Make Every Month National Recovery Month
Celebrating its 25th year, SAMHSA’s National Recovery Month has become an invaluable tool to spread the word on recovery from alcohol and drugs. The Academy for Addiction Professionals was proud to be a National Recovery Month Planning Partner last month. We hope that you were able to attend one or more Recovery Month events and spread a message of hope to individuals and families that are reeling from the effects of addiction.
Learn more about Recovery Month here: https://www.recoverymonth.gov/
Just Talking About Alcohol May Increase Aggressiveness
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This age-old truism may not be applicable to alcohol. A team of clinicians from the UK and the US sought to understand the relationship between simply talking about alcohol (using alcohol related terms such as “whiskey,” “wine,” “beer,” etc.) and aggression in individuals.* The authors looked to prove that simply using alcohol related terms would produce similar extreme social behavior that actual alcohol consumption does. Participants were divided into those who were “primed” with alcohol related terms and those who were not (using terms such as “milk,” “juice,” etc.)
Concerns Regarding The E-Cigarette Trend
Even though they have been marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes also known as e-cigs, vape pens or dabbers poses significant health challenge to our population. Since e-cigarettes contain nicotine, many users may become addicted much like they would if they smoked regular cigarettes. Further, from a drug abuse standpoint, other compounds, such as hash oil, can be vaporized in these devices, effectively allowing people to smoke marijuana virtually undetected.