alcohol abuse

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

Alcohol and the Elderly

February 7, 2018 // by Aton Center

As a person ages, they are faced with many major life changing events and some of these may lead to excessive drinking and include:

Empty nest syndrome
Financial difficulties
Deteriorating health
Loss of friendships due to moves
Health complications or death
Deteriorating health conditions (cardiovascular disease, vision/hearing loss and diabetes)
Traumatic events, death of a spouse
Downsizing to a smaller home
Lack of socialization
Loneliness
Isolation
Boredom

A dependency on alcohol can lead to an array of problems down the road that impact not only the elderly, but other people around them.

Risk Factors for Alcoholism in the Elderly

Alcoholism can affect a person of any age. However, certain factors like chronic drinking, gender and medical history can increase that risk. Chronic drinking can sometimes start in early adulthood and persist throughout an individual’s golden years. Other times, a person may achieve sobriety, but relapse down the road.

Frequent drinking greatly increases a senior’s risk of developing health complications such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and liver disease. Recent studies suggest that seniors suffering from multiple chronic conditions are roughly five times more likely to have a drinking problem. The most common chronic conditions among seniors include type II diabetes, heart disease, obesity and cancer.

The body’s ability to process alcohol declines with age. As body water retention declines it reduces the amount of blood in the body, and therefore only a small amount of alcohol can have a big effect. Some research has shown that as people age they become more sensitive to alcohol’s effects. Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and diabetes, can worsen with alcohol use.

Many medicines, such as prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal remedies—can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol. This is especially worrisome for elderly people, because the average person over age 65 takes at least two medicines a day. Therefore, it is essential that a senior is honest with their doctor when asked how much they drink.

Some medications should never be taken with alcohol so check with your pharmacist. Here are some examples:

Aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines; the risk of bleeding is higher if you take aspirin while drinking alcohol.
Cold and allergy medicines (antihistamines) often make people sleepy; when combined with alcohol.
Alcohol used with large doses of the pain killer acetaminophen can raise the risk of liver damage.
Some medicines, such as cough syrups and laxatives have high alcohol content.

Even small amount of alcohol can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time. It can increase the risk of work and household accidents, including falls and hip fractures. It also adds to the risk of car crashes.

Heavy drinking over time also can cause certain cancers, liver cirrhosis, immune system disorders, and brain damage. Alcohol can make some medical concerns hard for doctors to find and treat. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack. Drinking also can make older people forgetful and confused, and they may end up taking more or less of their prescribed medications without even knowing. For people with diabetes, drinking affects blood sugar levels.

People who abuse alcohol may be putting themselves at risk for serious conflicts with family, friends, and coworkers. The more they drink, the greater the chance of arguments arising with family, friends, and even with strangers. Some seniors don’t socialize as much as they used to, and days may come and go without them seeing or talking with anyone. This can be serious especially if they have fallen or can’t get to a phone.

Some warning sign that a senior person in your life is drinking too much might be:

Decreased reliability
• Neglect of important tasks
• Difficulty making decisions
• Forgetfulness
Increasingly moody
• Slurred speech
• Slowed and impaired thinking
• Increased isolation
• Loss of interest in activities
• Driving while intoxicated
• Unsteadiness walking
• Falls and accidents
• Unexplained injuries
• Declining health
• Declining personal hygiene
Lack of attention to nutrition

Watch out for these as they may save someone’s life.

Johnina Noar – CADC-II
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Sometimes It’s The Small Things

November 25, 2017 // by Aton Center

Often times, treatment for substance and alcohol abuse can focus on big picture issues. This can include working on a marriage strained under the pressures of addiction, the need to change an unsustainable work environment, deciding that one can no longer stay sober and live in their home, and many others. These issues are very important and need their due attention, but at times, one may take comfort in focusing on the small things:

This can mean stopping everything for a cup of tea.

This can mean calling an old friend and making them laugh.

This can mean listening to your favorite song or album, laying on the carpet and breathing deeply, or doing a few minutes of yoga.

Though they may seem small, these brief moments of respite can offer you just enough grace to make it through the challenges that are presented and have one more sober day.

Chad K. Cox PsyD

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Alcohol is a Depressant

September 29, 2017 // by Aton Center

Alcohol depresses the function of the Central Nervous System (CNS) when alcohol it is abused. The CNS is the main control center of the body and is made up of the brain and spinal cord—it takes in information, organizes it, and then provides instructions for the rest of the body. When the CNS is depressed so are the other organs and systems of the body.

When alcohol is abused it can cause:

Confusion
Coordination
Slowed heart rate
Slowed breathing
Unconsciousness
Seizures
Coma
Death

To function normally the brain must maintain a careful balance of chemicals call neurotransmitters. After alcohol has crossed the blood-brain barrier, several neurotransmitters are affected and these include: Dopamine, glutamate, GABA and serotonin. Alcohol affects both “excitatory” and “inhibitory” neurotransmitters.

An example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate, which would normally increase brain activity and energy levels, but alcohol suppresses the release of glutamate, resulting in a slowing down in the brain.

An example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter is GABA, which reduces energy levels and calms everything down. Alcohol effects GABA by slowing down reaction time, thought patterns, speech and movement.

Alcohol also increase the release of dopamine, which tricks you brain into thinking that you feel great, so we keep drinking to get more of that euphoric feeling. Over time, with continuous drinking, the dopamine effects on our bodies diminish until it’s almost nonexistent, but our bodies continue to chase those feelings of dopamine and the cycle of addiction takes hold.

Alcohol also causes a burst in the release of serotonin, resulting in an initially elevated euphoric mood. However, once the initial feelings of euphoria fades, serotonin levels drop lower than they were originally, which causes a serotonin depletion and enhanced depression.

In summary, alcohol is classified as a depressant, but taken in small amounts it does have some stimulating effects. However, if a person consumes more than they can handle, they will then experience alcohol’s depressant effect.

Johnina Noar – CADC-II
Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Tough Love and Your Family

September 7, 2017 // by Aton Center

Considering getting help for a family member with an addiction can be a difficult and painful experience. Sometimes it calls for “Tough Love” which means setting boundaries requiring or promoting the individual to take responsibility for their actions. Often loved ones have trouble with where to begin and have many questions regarding how to help, what is helpful vs enabling, and when to seek professional help.

This is a process that begins with acceptance of the journey ahead and that the more help and collaboration the better. At AToN Center we have an intake department that can help navigate this challenging path as well as trained and skilled clinicians to work closely with your loved one while they are learning a new way of life.

The family can learn to be supportive in many ways as we offer family support sessions to get the process started and recommend continued care to nurture relationships, build trust and begin to reintegrate your loved ones back into life in a safe supported way. Some helpful programs to utilize for family support along with family therapy are Al-Anon, SMART Recovery Family and Friends, and Bily (Because I Love You).

Kristin Colton, CATC II
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Alcohol and How it Effects Quality Sleep

September 6, 2017 // by Aton Center

According to the National Sleep Foundation, as many as 20% of adults use alcohol to go to sleep. Especially when suffering from insomnia, alcohol can seem to offer some very quick relief. But research shows that alcohol can actually wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, and in turn it can really impact how you feel during the day.

Alcohol is a depressant, and so it tends to have a sedating effect. This means that it can help people to fall asleep more quickly and to get into deeper sleep in the beginning of the night. The problem is, though, that at some point that alcohol starts to wear off and the body begins to have a “rebound effect” – in other words, instead of feeling sedated you are woken up at 3 or 4a.m. And, because alcohol is a diuretic, you probably have to go to the bathroom. A lot.

Alcohol does a few other things to sleep. First, it inhibits REM sleep. REM is the phase of sleep that involves dreaming, and it is also considered one of the most restorative sleep phases. So, people who use alcohol to sleep can have difficulty concentrating and feel drowsy during the day. Second, alcohol relaxes the muscles. This leads to snoring, and conditions like sleep apnea are exacerbated. And when combined with prescription drugs, such as opioids, prescription sleep medications or anxiolytics, these problems can be much worse – sometimes, the results are even fatal.

In summary, while alcohol might get you to sleep more quickly, it interferes with restful sleep and can make it harder to concentrate and feel alert during the day.

Kirsten Helgager, PsyD
Psychologist
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 Health

June 25, 2017 // by Aton Center

Alcohol is a major depressant and its biggest effect is on the central nervous system. Alcohol interacts with the receptors, neurotransmitters, cell membranes, enzymes and even the genes. The breakdown of alcohol is a multi-step process, and the first step is the change to acetaldehyde. The enzyme that starts this breakdown is called alcohol dehydrogenase. In men 30% of the alcohol that is consumed is broken down in the stomach, for women it is only 15%. The rest of the alcohol goes straight into the blood stream. This is why woman tends to get drunker quicker than men.

Visible symptoms of an alcoholic may be:

Jaundice of the skin and the whites of the eyes
Very thin but with a bloated stomach
Ataxia, unsteady gait
Bruises
Swollen ankles
Shrunken testicles, enlarged breasts
Odor of alcohol
Hair loss
Swelling of the parotid glands in cheeks
Fiery red palms, liver palms
Whites of the eyes may have small blood vessels with a corkscrew shape

Digestion

Chronic consumption of alcohol stimulates the stomach’s lining, which causes secretion of hydrochloric acid with irritates and erodes the gut’s lining. This can lead to peptic ulcers, bleeding and even cancer. Acute and chronic alcohol use may cause gastritis and bleeding from the GI track. Another cause of massive and sometimes fatal bleeding may be from the esophagus, again due to thinning of the esophageal lining; known as esophageal varices. Chronic use of alcohol can lead to abnormal absorption of a variety of foods and vitamins, which can also lead to nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Pancreatitis

Alcohol often inflames the pancreas. The pancreas makes digestive juices that break down starch, fats and protein. It also houses the (Islet of Langerhans), which secretes insulin and is needed to regulate sugar levels in the blood. With too much alcohol, the pancreas becomes inflamed and the bile and digestive juices cannot freely escape, so auto-digestion of the pancreas can then occur.

Liver

The liver breaks down alcohol other toxic substances, produces essential blood components, clotting factors, and helps regulate glucose levels. The liver is very sensitive to alcohol, and liver disease is one of the physical illnesses most commonly associated with alcoholism. Acute fatty liver occurs when 30-50% of the dietary calories are in the form of alcohol. Alcohol hepatitis can follow a severe and prolonged bout of heavy drinking, and alcoholic hepatitis is usually a forerunner to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis – means scarring and is a very serious and often irreversible disease. If a patient continues to drink after a diagnosis of cirrhosis, death will follow within 5 years. Toxic substances that are usually removed from the liver can start to create problems elsewhere in the body and particularly in the brain, which can lead to hepatic coma. Another problem that occurs with cirrhosis is “ascites”. As a result of backed upped pressure, the fluid in the tissues of the liver starts to weep directly into the abdominal cavity.

Alcohol affects red and white blood cells and platelets.

Alcohol causes problems with anemia when too few red blood cells are produced. Alcohol depletes white blood cells and lowers the immune system and therefore increases susceptibility to infections. Alcohol also decreases the number of platelets which are a major component of the blood clotting system.

Cardio Vascular System

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy occurs in 2% of all alcoholics, as does, AHMD – alcoholic heart muscle disease. AHMD is a severe condition with low-output heart failure marked by shortness of breath and dramatic enlargement of the heart. A variety of cardiac arrhythmias are also associated with alcohol abuse. Congestive heart failure can occur when an otherwise normal heart can’t keep up with the abnormally high metabolic needs of the body. High blood pressure and strokes are also of great concern.

Central Nervous System

The major effect of alcohol is on the central nervous system. The effect of alcohol on the nerve cells plays a major role with tolerance withdrawal and intoxication. Alcohol effects the production of many neurotransmitters including serotonin, GABA and norepinephrine. Alcohol also increases the level of endogenous opiate-like substance which leads to an increase in dopamine activity, especially in the part of the brain that is linked to pleasure and well-being. Impaired visual ability, impaired motor skills, and slowed reactions also affect the CNS with too much alcohol.

Kidneys

Alcohol actually affects the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. This gland secretes a hormone that regulates the amount of urine produced. When the pituitary is affected by alcohol its function is depressed. Therefore, too little of the hormone is released and the kidneys form a larger than amount of dilated urine. Hence, when we drink a lot we keep running to the bathroom. Problems with the kidneys usually occur because of other disorders going on somewhere else in the body.

Reproductive System

In women too much alcohol decreases fertility, and in men libido, impotency and sterility. When the liver is impaired the sex hormones also become affected. Decreased amounts of testosterone can cause enlargement of breasts in alcoholic men. When women drink too much alcohol during pregnancy the fetus can also be affected with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.

Respiratory System

High amounts of alcohol may cause the heart and breathing to stop; death can occur.

Endocrine System

Alcohol effects the secretions of hormones and upsets the regulation of other glands in the body. With increased and decreased levels of hormones the question arises about the potential role for cancer.

Skin

Alcohol and nutrition, or lack of, severely affects the skin. Deficiencies of Vitamin B, C, magnesium and zinc seemed to be the most affected, and the skin takes on a dirty tan like appearance when these vitamins and minerals are lacking.

Musculoskeletal System

Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium resulting in weak bones, arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and septic arthritis. Muscles become weaker and atrophy. Pain, spasms, tenderness and polyneuropathy, which is a painful burning of the feet yet an absence of normal sensation, can also occur and may be caused by poor nutrition.

Alcohol and REM sleep

Alcohol depresses REM (dreaming) sleep. The drinker frequently wakes up many times throughout the night. It is thought that DT’s and hallucinations could be due to lack of REM sleep. REM sleep is important as it helps our brains sort out problems and helps relieves stress in our lives.

Blackouts

A black-out is an amnesia-like period that is often associated with heavy drinking. A person may appear to be acting perfect normally, yet later, the person has no memory of what has transpired. The short-term memory function is severely and selectively impaired by alcohol while the long-term memory remains intact.

So as you can see, alcohol can affect every cell in the body.

Johnina Noar, 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

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