When a loved one suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction, many believe that it is because the individual lacks willpower.  But the truth is that willpower is more of a problem than the lack thereof.  Alcoholics and drug addicts need strong willpower to feed their obsessions.

The process can be compared to the drive for success in achieving goals.  The stronger the desire to attain a goal, the more an individual will prioritize for it.  People will sacrifice and take risks to reach goals they believe will improve their lives.  Where alcoholism and drug addiction are concerned, there is no higher goal than to get the next drink, hit, or fix of their drug of choice.

For those who are unaware, most alcoholics and drug addicts enter treatment only after they “hit bottom”.  They have been willing to harm relationships, deplete bank accounts, and suffer legal consequences for alcohol or drugs.  The mounting problems did not meet the level of urgency they felt for more of the substance.

The strong willpower, coupled with the physical need to continue using alcohol or drugs, places a brick wall in the way of suggestions to enter treatment.  Family and friends are seen as a threat to the relationship they have with a substance because they want to take it away.  So the will to protect the relationship grows.  

This does not mean it is a hopeless endeavor to suggest treatment before problems pile up.  Indeed, it is not likely that demands will work.  The approach must be made in a loving manner when the individual is momentarily sober.  The best way to break the willpower of an alcoholic or drug addict is to organize an intervention.  

So the next time someone says to you that alcoholics and drug addicts lack willpower, show them this article.  Remember that alcoholics will crawl in the rain at 1:00am, and drug addicts will brave dangerous encounters in dark corners of a park, just to get what they need.  That is sheer willpower.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles can help with interventions, and provides drug and alcohol detox as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with drug addiction or alcohol dependence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Alcoholics and drug addicts take action when faced with trouble.  The only problem is in the solution they choose.  They choose to escape from trouble by drinking alcohol or using drugs.  The reason is that the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction is marked by the lack of a defense mechanism in the brain.

A basic example would be if you are walking down a hall at work, and a co-worker accidentally bumps into you.  In most cases a simple “excuse me” and “no problem” would end the innocent occurrence.  But alcoholics and addicts can only rarely just let it go without some time to dwell on why it happened.  They believe that something must have caused it.

That innocent bump in the hall can become an obsession in the mind of an alcoholic or drug addict, and turn into a belief that he is going to be fired.  This process of turning a mountain into a mole hill plagues them every day, and they believe it is normal.  This makes life appear to be an uphill battle, with everyone against them.

Alcohol and drugs temporarily ease the tension and bury the feelings of frustration.  But it all comes back as the effects wear off, and the need to defend against the mounting pain grows.  Drinking alcohol and using drugs as a defense becomes a habit through learned behavior, and is cherished as the only answer.

It is an important aspect of the disease to understand, while it may seem silly to some that believe alcoholics and drug addicts are weak.  And from a certain perspective it is a weakness.  The point is not to excuse the behavior of individuals with the disease.  It is simply to help those suffering from the disease to understand, and bring awareness to their loved ones.

The lack of a defense mechanism is one of many disease components.  Pace University has posted an article that includes it as part of a detailed look at alcoholism and drug addiction.  A portion of the article that relates to adolescent alcohol and drug abuse is below, followed by the link to the full version.

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Students give many different reasons why they may drink. Some students say they drink because of peer pressure and to be part of a crowd. Some use alcohol to avoid difficult situations that may arise at school and work and with family and friends. Others use alcohol to avoid uncomfortable feelings, like anxiety or sadness. Anyone who drinks runs the risk of developing an alcohol problem. A serious problem can develop quickly, especially among college students.

-- Source: http://www.pace.edu/page.cfm?doc_id=5117 –

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides addiction counseling during medical detoxification as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  We also provide teen alcohol and drug treatment services.  If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

People have a hard time understanding why loved ones suffering from alcohol dependence or drug addiction wait so long to enter alcohol and drug treatment.  A major reason for this is denial of reality.  As bad as things look to the outsider, alcoholics and drug addicts just don’t see it.

Denial should not be compared to a blindfold.  It’s more like blinders on a racehorse.  Alcoholics and drug addicts are well aware of the problems they face in life.  But they are incapable of accepting the consequences they suffer because alcohol and drugs are an important part of their lives.  As far as they are concerned, alcohol or drugs are a solution and far from a problem.

It comes from a belief that absent their calming substance things would be much worse, not better.  When a thought that problems stem from alcohol or drugs begin to enter their minds, it is quickly dismissed as preposterous.  There is a tunnel vision that temporarily pushes these thoughts out of sight along with all of the problems that need to be solved.

Even deeper in their psyche is an incapability to deal with emotions.  Denial protects alcoholics and addicts from feelings.  When they are confronted by a loved one, they will run to the comfort of alcohol or drugs to “clear their heads”.  The escape from emotions is a comfort.  In fact, it is usually the only comfort they have.  

This cycle is never-ending because alcohol and drugs are both the solution and problem for the alcoholic and addict.  But the solution illusion always wins in their minds.  Thus, they will not seek alcohol and drug treatment until problems are insurmountable or the family calls for an intervention.

Sadly, it takes a shock to the system to drag the alcoholic and drug addict into reality.  Once denial is shattered they may feel lost, so care must be taken to avoid provoking them back to denial.  The best bet is to be firm with the shock, but have loving arms to catch them when they fall.  Then immediately contact an alcohol and drug treatment center.

Drug-addiction.com, an informative website, posted an article a few years back that offers a glimpse at the problem of denial with the disease.  The portion excerpted below shows pertinent statistics, and the full article offers some additional insight.

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According to the results of the survey, of the 5.0 million people who needed but did not receive treatment in 2001, an estimated 377,000 reported that they felt they needed treatment for their drug problem. This includes an estimated 101,000 who reported that they made an effort but were unable to get treatment and 276,000 who reported making no effort to get treatment.

"We have a large and growing denial gap when it comes to drug abuse and dependency in this country," said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "We have a responsibility--as family members, employers, physicians, educators, religious leaders, neighbors, colleagues, and friends--to reach out to help these people. We must find ways to lead them back to drug free lives. And the earlier we reach them, the greater will be our likelihood of success."

-- Source: http://www.drug-addiction.com/drugs_and_denial.htm --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles can help with intervention as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Alcohol is created by fermenting grains, fruits, or vegetables. Fermentation is a chemical process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Alcohol has various different forms and can be used for many different reasons.

The type of alcohol that people consume is ethanol alcohol. Ethanol alcohol is a psychoactive drug and psychotropic substance which primarily affects the central nervous system. Alcohol acts upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function thus resulting in temporary changes in behavior, mood, consciousness and perception. Aside from being a psychoactive drug, alcohol is also a sedative.

Alcohol is absorbed through a person’s stomach. After the alcohol enters the bloodstream it is distributed to all of the body’s tissues and goes directly to the spinal cord and brain. According to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America website, the effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a person’s size, weight, age, sex, and the amount of food and alcohol consumed.

            Short term effects of alcohol include the following:

• Impairs a person’s judgment and coordination required to drive a car or operate machinery
• Dizziness
• Talkativeness
• Slurred speech
• Problems sleeping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hangovers (symptoms include: headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue)

The Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse states that the long-term effects of consuming large quantities of alcohol can lead to:

• Permanent damage to vital organs
• Several different types of cancer
• Gastrointestinal irritations, such as diarrhea and ulcers
• Malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies
• Sexual dysfunctions
• High blood pressure
• Lowered resistance to disease

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides alcohol detox as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Alcohol dependence can be progressive and deadly.  Alcohol’s effects on the body can be harmful if there is a repeated compulsive use.  A person may be dependent on alcohol because the person: craves alcohol, is unable to reduce or stop alcohol consumption, and has increased tolerance and experiences withdrawal symptoms when stopping alcohol consumption.

Alcohol dependence can have harmful consequences because of patterns it may create.  For example school and job related tasks may not get done due to a hangover or still being inebriated.  Legal issues can arise due to alcohol, like getting arrested because of drunk driving, and may also cause social and family problems. 

Although I don’t have this problem, I did see alcohol dependence taking over my father.  The alcohol dependency took over his life.  He was a functional alcoholic who went to work and took care of his family, income wise.  But, he was not there in his full senses to enjoy his five children being raised by our mother.  He passed away due to an enlarged heart, caused by his ongoing alcohol dependence.  The personal experience within my family and a good education gave me the knowledge I need to help others. 

The National Institute of Health mentions that thirty years ago not much was known about alcohol dependence.  Today the National Institute of Health informs that “The neural basis of alcohol dependence was clarified. Research showing that drinking is influenced by multiple neurotransmitter systems, neuromodulators, hormones, and intracellular networks provides evidence of a number of potential target sites for which new medications may be developed.”

-- Source: http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/AlcoholDependenceAlcoholism.pdf --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides alcohol detox as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.


References

www.healthauthority.com/AlcoholDependence.htm

www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-sb01.html

Alcohol’s effects on the body are compounded as use increases.  Social drinking is not at issue here.  Once that line is crossed into binge drinking and hangovers, the damage has begun.  Most people realize that a simple hangover is a sign of alcohol withdrawal.  But some accept it as a side effect, and continue to harm themselves.

What deserves publicity, though, is the profound effect alcohol dependence has on the human body.  In most cases medical detoxification can reverse the physical symptoms of withdrawal, opening the door to outpatient rehab or residential alcohol and drug treatment.  This article is a public service to those who are currently in need of alcohol detox, or find themselves on the road to alcohol dependence.

The following is from the Daily Strength website, and offers some good information about alcohol withdrawal.  The full article is linked below and provides details on the stages of alcohol dependence.

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Alcohol detox or withdrawal symptoms that are experienced by people who have stopped drinking alcohol abruptly (cold turkey) can range from mild to life-threatening if not properly treated.  The severity of these alcohol withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how “alcohol dependent” the chronic drinker has become.  

Those who drink heavily of a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency on alcohol and will almost certainly experience at least some sever withdrawal symptoms, but even those who drink alcohol daily, but not heavily and those who drink alcohol heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.

When someone who has become “alcohol dependent” stops drinking abruptly, they will experience some level of physical discomfort.  This is why it is extremely difficult for alcoholics to stop drinking “on their own” without the assistance and support of an alcohol rehab center of support group.

For some who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms might be as mild as merely getting the shakes, the sweats or night sweats – maybe nausea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure.

Although these alcohol withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating they are not necessarily dangerous.  But they are often accompanied by the craving for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make without counseling or support.

…

Within six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations may develop for the more seriously alcohol dependent.  These are usually visual hallucinations but they can also involve sounds and smells.  They can last for a few hours or up to weeks at a time. Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, which is the point at which alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal becomes dangerous if not medically treated.

…

Chronic alcoholism and it`s severe withdrawal symptoms may progress to delirium tremens (DT`s) after three to five days without alcohol.  The symptoms of DT`s include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity and extreme cardiovascular disturbances.  This condition causes shifts in your breathing, your circulation and your temperature control.  It can cause your heart to race or can cause your blood pressure to increase dramatically and it can cause serious dehydration.
Once DT`s begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them.  Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and strokes can occur during the DT`s all of these serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be fatal to an alcoholic if not properly treated.

-- Source: http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Alcoholism/forum/6363758-stages-alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides alcohol detox in alcohol treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community.  The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles is participating in Recovery Month 2009, in part, with articles about recovery during the month of September.  Most individuals suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction begin their recovery with alcohol and drug treatment.  So it is our pleasure to help bring awareness to the general public about the benefits of recovery to individuals, their families, and everyone with whom they interact.

Though they may have recovered, a new study confirms that alcoholics may still face social difficulties recognizing emotions. A Boston-based study, funded in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has found that after recovery, the brains of people suffering from alcoholism still process things differently, which may lead to difficulties recognizing emotions in others.

Alcoholics in recovery did not register strong responses when shown images of people displaying positive or negative emotions the way the others did. Researchers performed a number of cognitive tests on the patients, including showing them pictures of faces with different expressions. Patients without a history of alcoholism had different responses based on whether the picture showed a positive, negative or neutral expression. In those with a history of alcoholism, however, researchers saw no such differences.

The next step in this research is to look at differences in how men and women who have suffered from alcoholism respond to emotions. While the data has not yet been fully analyzed, it appeared that female alcoholics who had recovered showed a stronger response to emotions than their male counterparts. Gender is a very important factor that interacts with personal history of alcoholism.

While the problems presented here do not appear reversible, they could likely help people involved with the treatment of alcoholics.  It’s important to understand where someone's coming from and what type of challenges they're having, in order to teach them how to cope.

For more info:
Recovered Alcoholics Still Face Difficulties Recognizing Emotions
Study: Recovered Alcoholics Still Face Difficulties Recognizing Emotions - ABC News

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles begins emotional recovery efforts with addiction counseling in alcohol and drug detox.  If you or a loved one is seeking alcohol and drug treatment, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Alcoholism is a disease — a chronic, progressive, fatal disease if not treated. That is putting it bluntly, yet in this country every year; more money is spent promoting the use of alcohol than any other product. It sounds insane, but as we often say, “it is what it is” till we do something about it.

Here are some facts that validate the insanity of alcohol abuse and addiction:
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• More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke.
• At least once a year, the guidelines for low risk drinking are exceeded by an estimated 74% of male drinkers and 72% of female drinkers aged 21 and older.
• 65% of youth surveyed said that they got the alcohol they drink from family and friends.
• Nearly 14 million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders.
• Youth who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink alcohol.
• Among current adult drinkers, more than half say they have a blood relative who is or was an alcoholic or problem drinker.
• Across people of all ages, males are four times as likely as females to be heavy drinkers.
• More than 18% of Americans experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.
• Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for persons aged 6–33. About 45% of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes.
• Underage drinking costs the United States more than $58 billion every year — enough to buy every public school student a state-of-the-art computer.
• Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people.
• Problem drinkers average four times as many days in the hospital as nondrinkers — mostly because of drinking-related injuries.
• Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined.
• Concerning the past 30 days, 50% of high school seniors report drinking, with 32% report being drunk at least once.

Sources
     1  Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, Feb. 2001
     2  Mothers Against Drunk Driving
     3  National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
     4  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
     5  Alcohol Health & Research World
     6  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Analysis
     7  The Century Council

-- Source: http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm --

Here are some more facts that may surprise you:
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• Alcohol is the number one drug problem in America.
• There are more than 12 million alcoholics in the U.S.
• Three-fourths of all adults drink alcohol, and 6% of them are alcoholics.
• Americans spend $197 million each day on alcohol.
• In the United States, a person is killed in an alcohol-related car accident every 30 minutes.
• A 2000 study found nearly 7 million persons age 12 to 20 were binge drinkers.
• Three-fourths of all high school seniors report being drunk at least once.
• Adolescents who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than their counterparts who do not begin drinking until the age of 21.
• People with a higher education are more likely to drink.
• Higher income people are more likely to drink.

We hope some of these statistics surprised you. You may have found yourself in them or you may have seen a friend or loved one listed above.  But even if not, we cannot ignore the fact that whether or not we use alcohol ourselves, many others are affected by those who do use.

Consider that alcohol is a factor in the following:

• 73% of all felonies
• 73% of child beating cases
• 41% of rape cases
• 81% of wife battering cases
• 72% of stabbings
• 83% of homicides

-- Source: http://www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/statistics-on-alcoholics.html--


So, adding it all up, 12-14 million alcoholics affect an estimated 40-50 million people.  Statistics on alcoholics tell us that alcoholism costs the people in the US about $60 billion each year, paying for things like traffic accidents, health care costs, and social programs that respond to alcohol problems. Needless to say, the dollar amount is nothing compared to the amount of grief and human suffering caused by alcohol abuse.

What do these statistics on alcohol abuse mean and what can you do about it? Quite simply, alcohol abuse is a serious national problem but the work begins at home.  Alcohol treatment must be sought by alcoholics, or loved ones must urge them to get help for alcohol dependence before problems develop.  If you or a loved one is having problems with alcohol, get help.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides alcohol treatment including medical detoxification as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.  If you or a loved one needs alcohol detox with residential or outpatient treatment, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Many people with chronic alcohol dependence or other drug addictions experience liver disease. This is no accident. The liver is used to digest food, absorb nutrients, and get toxic substances (like alcohol and drugs) out of your body. The liver is an important organ in the body; you only have one and cannot survive without it.  And with alcohol’s effects on the body, liver problems could just be the beginning.

Alcohol abuse is not the only way to damage your liver. Unprotected sex, sharing needles, prescription drug abuse and addiction, and getting tattoos or piercings from places that do not properly sterilize the needles also can put you at risk of liver disease and damage.

There are many forms of liver disease; the conditions listed below are most common among alcohol and other drug abusers.

Cirrhosis – scarring of the liver that is caused by having another liver disease (like Hepatitis), or by many years of heavy alcohol drinking. Cirrhosis is not curable, but there are treatments that can help slow the scarring.

Hepatitis C – a disease that is passed through blood-to-blood contact. It is caused by a virus that attacks the liver, causing the liver to become inflamed. There is a cure, but it takes months to complete treatment, has severe side effects, and does not work for everyone.

Hepatitis A – a disease that is similar to the flu.  You get Hepatitis A by eating food containing human waste. People rarely die from it, and there is a vaccine to prevent you from getting it.

Hepatitis B – a disease that is passed through body fluids during sex, through the breast milk of infected mothers, and through contact with contaminated blood. People can die from it, but there is a vaccine to prevent it.

The best way to prevent liver disease is to not abuse alcohol or use illegal drugs.  Only use drugs as prescribed by your doctor, or as indicated on over-the-counter packaging.  Never engage in unprotected sex (unless you and your partner are completely monogamous and have tested negative for all STI’s recently).

If you have not been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, talk with your doctor to see if it is right for you. There are treatments and some liver disease is reversible, so talk to your doctor about the choices that are out there.

For most information, check out the American Liver Foundation website: http://www.yourliver.org/learn.html.

If you or a loved one need help for alcoholism or drug addiction, and also suffer from liver disease, Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles can help.  As part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare, our alcohol and drug treatment program includes primary medical care.  Please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Much has been done to improve alcohol treatment methodologies over the past three decades.  With more effective detox through medical detoxification, mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders, and culture specific tracks like Native American alcohol treatment, more people that enter treatment find recovery.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a range of services for veterans, HIV/AIDS, women, and youth, so anyone can get help with alcoholism.  Since there is no cure for the disease at this time, we make an effort to provide help for alcohol dependence and decrease the risk of alcohol’s effects on the body.  So what about preventing the disease?

Another important research area seeks to discover who is at risk for alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.  In an effort to find the higher risk segments of the population, researchers have become inventive in the survey methods they use.  A recent study used Audience Segmentation, which is typically used by marketing researchers and advertisers.

The following excerpts are from an article posted on the Addiction Technology Transfer Network website.  It provides interesting new data that may help some individuals to avoid problems due to high risk drinking.

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“We identified the top 10 audience segments in the U.S. that engaged in twice-a-month, high-risk drinking,” said Moss. “Five of these audience segments were made up of young adults, and five were middle-aged individuals. The young adult segment we called the ‘Cyber Millenials,’ with the highest rate of risky levels of alcohol drinking, represented well-educated, ethnically mixed, technologically sophisticated individuals who live in urban fringe areas on the West Coast and Middle Atlantic regions.”

One of the surprising things about this group, added Moss, was that it is one of the most health-conscious segments of American society. “They have a lower-than-average smoking rate, they go to the gym, they consume organic produce, yet they binge drink at a level that is clearly detrimental to their well-being.”

-- Source: http://www.attcnetwork.org/explore/priorityareas/science/tools/asmeDetails.asp?ID=614

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community.  The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.