alcohol abuse treatment

Misconceptions About Alcohol Use

April 22, 2018 // by Aton Center

Sometimes life can feel a bit lonely as a non-drinker, especially when it’s a new identity. It can feel like EVERYONE drinks, and you’re the only one on the planet who chooses not to. In some circles, this perception is not totally inaccurate. Since we tend to hang with people who have similar rates of use as we do, we may be surrounding ourselves with people who do drink a lot.

This confirms our belief that we’re normal, and everyone is drinking, so it is a reinforcing cycle. However, the idea that most people consume “a lot” of alcohol is false. The research consistently highlights that many people choose to drink a minimal amount or abstain from alcohol altogether. Here are some statistics that stay fairly constant over time about the drinking habits of Americans:

30% of American adults don’t drink at all.
An additional 30% consume less than 1 drink per week.
The top 10% of drinkers consume over 74 drinks a week.
Drinking 2 glasses of wine each night puts you in the top 20% of American adults.
The top 10 percent of drinkers account for well over half of the alcohol consumed in any given year.

So next time you’re feeling alone, remember that almost two thirds of Americans have one drink ore less in a typical week. Check out the article below to learn more about drinking norms. If you’re drinking more than you’d like to be, feel free to call and chat with one of our intake coordinators. They can provide you with resources and options. Data from The Washington post.

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Dangers of Alcohol Withdrawal

July 12, 2017 // by Aton Center

Nelsan Ellis, acclaimed actor on the HBO series “True Blood”, died of heart failure stemming from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal is a dangerous condition that can occur in chronic drinkers who abruptly stop or even significantly reduce their alcohol consumption. In general, how severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms become depends on how much and for how long a person has been drinking.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can begin as early as two hours after the last drink, persist for weeks, and may include mild anxiety, shakiness, nausea, vomiting, and headache. More severe complications include fever, irregular heartbeat, seizures which usually occur in the first 48 hours, and delirium tremens (also called DTs). DTs are characterized by disorientation, confusion, severe anxiety, sweating, high blood pressure, severe tremors, racing and irregular heartbeat.

Due to the fact that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can rapidly and suddenly worsen, it’s important to seek medical attention even if symptoms are seemingly mild. Appropriate alcohol withdrawal treatments can reduce the risk of developing heart failure, withdrawal seizures or DTs.

It can be very dangerous to attempt an ‘at home’ detox. Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a medical emergency. Tragically, Nelsan Ellis, acclaimed actor on the HBO series “True Blood”, died of heart failure stemming from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. The actor’s family stated “Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life. His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others.” (Page Six)

In accordance with DHCS’s new supplementary Incidental Medical Services, AToN Center is at the forefront offering these life-saving medical services to the resident’s we care for. At AToN Center, the detoxification process is a multidimensional process requiring interdisciplinary coordination. We have vital signs monitored by staff every 30 minutes for first 36 hours, then 3 times daily or as needed. Residents have daily assessments for withdrawal symptoms while taking detox medications using the COWS and CIWA.

We also provide assessments by a medical practitioner for withdrawal symptoms and possible detox medications such as Valium, Librium and Suboxone. Residents can also expect to receive education about detox medications and expectations. AToN Center aids our residents in detoxing from drugs and alcohol in a safe, medically assisted environment which promotes relaxation and rehabilitation.

Kate Judd MS, CADC II
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Alcohol and Depression

June 6, 2017 // by Aton Center

Alcohol is a depressant, it slows down the function of the Central Nervous System (CNS). When abused, alcohol can:

Cause short-term memory loss
Cause confusion
Effect coordination
Effect vision
Cause slurred speech
Cause a lack of sleep
Slow or stop the heart
Slow or stop breathing
Cause unconsciousness
Cause seizures
Result in coma or death

To function normally the brain must maintain a careful balance of chemicals call neurotransmitters. After crossing the blood-brain barrier, alcohol affects several neurotransmitters including: dopamine, endorphins, GABA, glutamate and serotonin.

Dopamine plays a role in brain regulation and movement, cognition and emotion. Alcohol increases dopamine levels by binding to the D₄ receptor in the nucleus accumbens in the brain.

Endorphins produce a state of euphoria and reduce feelings of pain. Alcohol magnifies these effects. As the brain grows used to alcohol it increases the activity of the excitatory neurotransmitters and the brain attempts to find a new normal. However, if the influence of alcohol is suddenly removed (from a long-term heavy user) their brain needs to readjust once again and this can lead to withdrawal, shakes, anxiety and depression.

GABA depresses CNS activity. By magnifying the effect of GABA, alcohol slows reaction time and may initially create a feeling of being more relaxed and less inhibited. Alcohol’s combined effect on glutamate and GABA makes it doubly effective as a depressant.

Glutamate increases nervous system activity. Canceling out some of this activity is one way alcohol is a depressant.

Serotonin enhances mood, as alcohol increase the level of serotonin, it may put the drinker in a happier mood.

Alcohol abuse is common among people battling depression. Many depressed individuals reach for alcohol as a way to lift their spirits or numb their feelings. As a result, depression and alcoholism go hand-in-hand. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reports that 1 in 3 adults struggling with alcohol or drug abuse also suffer from depression.

Whether depression triggers alcoholism or alcoholism triggers depression is an interesting question. However, when we are presented with this co-occurring disorder we need to treat each issue as the cause, and treat addiction, psychological and psychiatric disorders alongside each other to get the best possible results.

Johnina Noar, CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Cooking and Enjoying Food without Alcohol

May 17, 2017 // by Aton Center

A common concern I hear as an addiction counselor for people in early recovery pertains to the use of alcohol in cooking and food. There are many schools of thought and arguments made for the continued use of alcohol in food items as it “burns off” and “I can’t get drunk off the alcohol in food.” However, there is an inherent danger in consuming anything containing alcohol as it could spark a craving or an obsession for more from the taste alone. The choice of whether or not to cook using alcohol has been a hotly debated topic in groups at AToN Center.

The whole idea in recovery is to reconsider your relationship with alcohol and other drugs. This includes not only cooking with alcohol but giving it as a gift, having it in your house for family members, even having wine glasses in the house, etc. The concern is that tasting alcohol in a food item may give false confidence in a person’s ability to then moderate the actual drinking of alcohol. Keeping alcohol in the house to use for cooking could be more trouble than it’s worth. This may not be a concern for everyone but why take the chance?

The other consideration is the association of alcohol paired with a specific type of food. At AToN we provide weekly dinner exposure sessions to provide an opportunity to correct old pairings such as red wine with a steak or margaritas with Mexican food. We want people to learn to enjoy delicious food without it sparking a craving for the associated alcoholic beverage!

There is no “one size fits all” approach to the issue of consuming food cooked in alcohol for a newly sober person. Our goal is to encourage our resident’s to see the issue from a number of different perspectives.

Kate Judd MS, CADC II
AToN Center Tour 888-535-1516

April Is Alcohol Awareness Month

April 12, 2017 // by Aton Center

Learn some facts here about alcohol abuse disorder and the facts about the age groups that are affected by alcohol use disorder.

Click here to see the beautiful Facilities at AToN Center and call for more information about the Inpatient treatment center and the professional 24 hour staff. 888-535-1516.

Executive Burnout & Addiction Recovery

June 23, 2015 // by Aton Center

Executive burnout, also known as “job fatigue,” is the term used when busy executives become overwhelmed to the point where performance and focus begins to suffer. Unfortunately, these feelings of strain and exhaustion can lead down the dangerous path to substance addiction.

Senior managers and successful executives possess the required qualities to keep companies running smoothly and profitably. Intelligence, motivation, problem-solving skills, and persuasion…the list goes on and on. The best of the best seem to have it made, but CEOs and thought leaders aren’t immune to the stress that comes with their high-pressure jobs. Long hours, tension-filled negotiations, or a less-than-stellar quarterly financial report can begin to unravel an executive from the inside out. Setting their personal lives aside for the “good of the company,” these high-ranking business people develop a tenuous relationship with work-life balance.

Common signs of executive burnout include:

· A tendency to micromanage the minute details rather than seeing the big picture

· Lack of of mental clarity (“fuzziness”)

· Irritability

· Severe depression

· Extreme fatigue

In some cases, the company’s performance falters due to inconsistent leadership and an overwhelmed leader.

Substance Abuse and Executive Burnout

Turning to alcohol or drugs during bouts of depression or stressful times is not unusual among professional men and women. Self-medicating when anxiety and tensions mount has become a common thread for all walks of society.

Substance addiction occurs in all socio-economic classes, but according to studies, is most prevalent among the wealthy. This statistic is not surprising; in short, the richest classes of society can afford to use. Fortunately, white-collar professionals also have the resources to treat their addiction when they’ve made the decision to seek help.

Treatment Options

AToN Center’s solution to an increasingly common problem is a unique executive rehab program. Our certified counselors take a holistic approach to treating the mind and body, while offering luxurious amenities in our San Diego rehab facilities: luxuries our professional clients have come to expect. The executive rehab program establishes a work-treatment balance to enable clients to run their businesses as they heal in privacy.

AToN Center Luxury Addiction Treatment

The philosophy at our California addiction treatment center is to create individualized plans designed to help clients sustain recovery. Twelve-step programs work for some people; for others, a non-12-step approach is more effective. Regardless of the program used, AToN’s treatment outcome scores are outstanding. Our highly qualified staff works with each client to determine the best treatment approach.

If you’re suffering from substance addiction, call AToN at (888) 535-1516 today to learn more about our range of executive burnout treatment options or to speak with an intake specialist about getting help for alcohol and drug dependency.

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