The Effects of Alcohol on Your Motor Skills

Alcohol is by most measures the most widely consumed drug in the world. Most people who drink alcohol do so in order to experience a mild sense of relaxation, while others use alcohol as a way to cut loose and get into a better mood at a party or in similar settings. Both of these effects have to do with the fact that alcohol is a depressant. One of the functions of alcohol is to suppress certain areas of the brain that have to do with the ability to take in visual messages and other types of sensory perception. Simply put, the person’s consciousness is partially cut off from the outside world, since the messages coming from the various senses are not as clear nor as immediate. Consequently, the person’s motor skills become impaired. Motor control depends on having clear and accurate information about what is going on in the immediate environment. Alcohol gets in the way of this relay of information, leading to a situation in which the person is not able to react as quickly to an emergency and is less able to respond in the way that is called for by the situation. The motor control system is only as good as the information it receives. While some people may enjoy this impaired or out-of-control sensation, it is highly dangerous. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute reports that drunk driving accidents kill 27 people every day, a figure that adds up to nearly 10,000 every year.

How quickly does drinking impair motor skills?

Public advocacy organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has assembled an informative chart based on information gathered from a variety of sources including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the American Medical Association, the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, and www.webMD.com. The purpose of this chart is to provide readers with an idea of the ways in which the motor controls of a person who is drinking will be impeded as his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases. A person’s BAC depends on several factors, including weight and gender, the percentage of alcohol content of the drink consumed, the volume of alcohol consumed and the amount of time spent drinking. As an example, a 170-pound man who drinks 2 beers over the course of an hour will probably have a BAC of just under .05 percent. 


• At .02 percent the person will experience relaxation and a decline in the visual functions involved in tracking moving objects
• At .05 percent the person loses some degree of the small muscle control involved in focusing the eyes, along with a reduced ability to track moving objects and respond to an emergency situation
• At .08 percent the person will suffer from poor muscle coordination, with impairment or disruption of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing
• At .10 percent there will be a clear deterioration of reaction time and control, along with slurred speech and poor physical coordination
• At .15 percent the person will possess far less muscle control than he or she normally does, along with a major loss of balance and substantial overall impairment

As can be seen, even a small amount of alcohol can cause dangerous problems for a person who is driving or doing anything else that requires any amount of attention. It is not only the stumbling drunk who is unsafe to get behind the wheel, operate machinery or do other things that can potentially be dangerous. Unfortunately, an alcoholic may seem to have little or no choice in the matter of whether or not to drink and drive. Because he or she is addicted, simply not drinking is often not an option. Instead, the person will frequently do all manner of things throughout the day despite being under the influence of alcohol. The safest course of action, for the alcoholic and for everyone else, is to check into rehab without delay so that the person can overcome the addiction and return as nearly as possible to 100 percent in charge of the motor controls. 


Source: 
http://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/about/understanding-08.html

What Makes Drugs and Alcohol So Addicting?

Many people make the assumption that addiction to drugs or alcohol is nothing more than a lack of self-discipline and control. This widely-held concept is common not only among people who have never been addicted, but also among alcoholics and drug addicts who blame themselves for not being strong enough to quit. The truth is that addiction is a powerful condition, one that is by its very nature difficult or even nearly impossible to overcome. It is not merely that the addict is weak-minded or doesn’t want to quit. Addiction is a trap into which a person can fall and in many cases will never find his or her way back out of. The first thing to understand about addiction is that it has two primary aspects: physiological and emotional. Attempting to address the problem from only one of these sides is all but guaranteed to end in failure. No matter how effectively you tackle the physiological component of a person’s addiction, you still must rehabilitate the person and put an end to the emotional dependence, and vice versa. Without doing so, you leave the person at risk of suffering a relapse and losing everything that he or she has worked so hard to achieve on the path to sobriety.

Why Drugs and Alcohol Are Physically Addictive

The high that a person feels after taking drugs or consuming alcohol is a result of the fact that the substance throws the naturally occurring chemical processes in the person’s body out of balance. For example, cocaine causes the brain to suddenly release enormous quantities of dopamine, a neurotransmitter chemical that is associated with sensations of pleasure, well-being and euphoria. Heroin and other drugs, on the other hand, mimic the action of dopamine. In either case, the person experiences a rush of pleasurable sensation. A similar effect is experienced with alcohol, which causes a major increase in the levels of endorphins in the brain. The reward mechanism takes over at this point and makes it all but certain that the person will become addicted. Whatever caused such a pleasurable sensation must, in the primitive “thinking” of the physiological reward mechanism, be beneficial to survival. Consequently, the person will feel compelled to get more of the drug. This function of the carrot being dangled in front of the horse to entice it to move forward is not the full picture in terms of physiological addiction. There is also a whip. In order to avoid damage caused by overload, the brain will adjust itself back towards the normal levels of balance in terms of neurotransmitter chemistry. For example, a heroin addict’s brain will typically start producing significantly less dopamine, on the basis that it does not need to since it is getting the chemical from an outside source. If the person suddenly stops taking the drug, he or she will suffer withdrawal symptoms which can be agonizing, due to the fact that the brain is now no longer receiving the chemicals that it needs to operate normally.

Drug Addiction Is Also Emotional

The emotional aspect of drug addiction is a trap in which the very thing that leads the person in is also the thing that keeps him or her there. Most people

who become addicted to drugs of alcohol get their start in substance abuse when they begin using chemical substances as a way to find relief. They are looking for a way to escape from the pressures and stress of life, and drugs or drinking offers them an escape. This refuge is only temporary, however, since the person is likely to build up a tolerance and start to experience less and less of a high. Further, the consequences of drug use will tend to make life less and less tolerable, with the result that the person increasingly seeks refuge in getting high or drunk. Before long, the time spent under the influence of the drug or alcohol is the only time when the person is “happy” or relaxed. In this way, the person becomes emotionally addicted. The chemical substance assumes the role of a substitute for actual skills of coping with life, and the person feels that without the drugs he or she would simply not be able to get by. Anyone hoping to fully overcome addiction must find a rehab program that effectively addresses both sides of the issue in order to pull the problem out from its roots.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5407503_drugs-addictive_.html

How to move on after losing a parent to alcohol and drug addiction

The loss of a parent to alcohol and drug addiction can be devastating. The loss of a parent at any time is heartbreaking in itself, but for drugs or alcohol to be the cause can bring about a slew of other emotions. It makes things much more confusing and can even bring about drug or alcohol addiction in the loved ones left behind. However, there are ways to move on after losing a parent to alcohol and drug addiction. 

The Turmoil of Losing a Parent

Watching a parent suffer from drug or alcohol addiction can be confusing and disheartening. To an outsider, it seems so simple to quit. You see that addiction is ruining his life and is a danger to his health, so it should be clear that abstinence is the solution. However, to an addict this is not so easy. You may have made several attempts to help your parent with his addiction. Perhaps you have been through grief, frustration, betrayal, and dozens of shouting matches on the subject. You have been hopeful and then been let down. And through it all, you see your parent drowning in his addiction, unable to surface long enough to reach your hand. He is the person you know and love, but changed somehow--and you don’t know how to deal with it. When addiction finally takes his life, it can break your heart. Perhaps you feel like you should have done more to help him, and that you’ve let him down somehow. Maybe you are angry at him or the drugs or even some higher power that allowed this to happen. All of this is completely natural.

 

 Getting Help to Handle Grief

While it is completely normal to experience these emotions, it can make things worse if you take it out on those around you. Do not allow your loss to consume you and force you to do things you will later regret. It is only natural to want to fold up in your grief and disappear from the world, but the truth is that you will get more relief if you find ways to communicate about it. Reach out to loved ones who understand your pain. Find fond memories and remember your parent when he or she was sober. And remember that you are not responsible for his or her death, even if you feel like you should have done more. You did not place that drink in his hand or that needle in her arm. You are still alive and deserve to move on. Ultimately, that is what your parent would want.

 

Stay Sober

A surprising number of people follow in their parents’ addiction footsteps even when they watch drugs or alcohol take their lives. It is especially easy to take this route when you allow painful emotions or memories to take control and you don’t know what to do with them. If you feel the urge to drown out your despair with drugs or alcohol, it is imperative that you get help immediately. There is an abundance of people who understand what you are going through and are there to help.

Alcohol and Depression: Is There a Connection

It’s a matter of the “chicken and the egg”--what comes first, alcoholism or depression? Do people turn to alcohol because they are depressed, or are they depressed because of alcohol? Regardless of what came first, it is clear that there is a connection between alcohol and depression. The question is how to remedy it.

From Depression to Alcohol

People abuse alcohol to handle a problem. They may drink to ease stresses at work, to handle nervousness in social settings, or to get rid of unwanted feelings or memories. Even using alcohol to “have a good time” raises the question, why can’t you have a good time without it? When a person is depressed, alcohol temporarily remedies this problem. Alcohol works on the central nervous system as a depressant, causing sadness, guilt, and feelings of unworthiness to melt away. At the same time, it elevates mood, causing euphoria. The trouble with alcohol, however, is that disappointing modifier: “temporarily”. After the effects of drinking wear off, depression returns. Not only that, it is often more pronounced than before. After the natural systems of the body have been bypassed, it becomes dependent upon alcohol to feel good. The hormones and other biochemical processes necessary to provide energy and a positive outlook are completely drained, leaving one feeling worse than before. More often than not, the user returns to alcohol to address this problem. Again, he feels good temporarily--only to find himself worse off the following morning. And so the pattern continues.

The Facts on Alcoholism

Alcoholism can begin without the impetus of depression. A person may lead a perfectly cheerful life but turn to alcohol because his friends do it, because the culture promotes it, or to address a different problem such as stress or anxiety over a particular area of life. As was explained above, alcohol use creates dependency as the body no longer acts independently--it begins to rely on alcohol for various physical processes. Additionally, alcohol burns nutrients that monitor mood, sleep, energy, and so on. B vitamins are some of these nutrients. When B vitamins are depleted, a person can experience symptoms of depression. He may feel tired and drained; he will have trouble sleeping; and he may feel irritated or melancholy. Sometimes the body can become so deficient in B vitamins that it is stricken by a condition known as delirium tremens--an acute physical problem common among alcoholics that includes tremors, profuse sweating, fever, chills, body aches, and even seizures.

Natural Remedies for Depression

While depression is often treated with medication, a number of studies show that this involves risks, including the risk of addiction. To combat depression, there are a number of alternative solutions. • Exercise, which increases energy and elevates mood. • Changes in diet, including more fruits and vegetables, which contain minerals and other valuable nutrients. • Lifestyle changes, such as changing one’s environment or friends to those that make one happy. If you suffer from alcoholism, it is important to get treatment and become sober in order to address any problems with depression.

Source:
http://www.ipass.net/a1idpirat/Alcoholism-Depression.html

The Wrong Way To Deal With Alcohol Abuse

There are an estimated 25,000+ alcohol-related deaths in the United States each year. In other words, thousands lose their lives by way of accidents, homicides and other alcohol-related situations.

It is extremely important to analyze effective alcohol rehab strategies and key components. Conversely, it is considered equally important to look at the wrong ways to deal with alcohol abuse (of which there are many). Failing to act or acting incorrectly in the presence of alcoholism can mean a life.

Alcoholism And Social Drinking

The first step to treating alcohol abuse is recognizing that there is a problem or a dependency present. Because drinking is such a socially accepted activity, this can be hard. Look for signs of alcohol tolerance, addiction or abuse in yourself and others.

Some signs of alcoholism include:

• Drinking at odd hours, or alone
• Smell of alcohol consistently on the person’s body/breath
• Physical discomfort or illness upon cessation of drinking for a few hours
• Requiring excessive amounts of alcohol to feel drunk
• Requiring alcohol to get “loosened up” or to feel comfortable
• A look of physical wear or sleeplessness, as is caused by heavy alcohol consumption

Further, you will likely see an alcoholic drinking much more than the rest of the people in a group. Physical tolerance to alcohol causes you to “need” excessive and heavy levels of alcohol to feel drunk or even just normal. The body struggles to adapt to being flooded with a tsunami of toxic alcohol by becoming dependent on it instead—predisposing alcoholics to liver damage, alcohol poisoning and other life-threatening conditions.

What Not To Do As The Onlooker

As an onlooker, it can be difficult to sit and watch your loved one throw their life away because of an alcohol problem. The wrong way to deal with alcohol abuse as a loving friend or family member, is to do nothing at all.

Further, do not enable your loved one to continue abusing alcohol by providing money or alcohol to them. This may seem an obvious point, but many family members become shocked and worried that they might lose their loved one forever and so cater to the every demand of the alcoholic.

Talk to your loved one above his/her problem. Gain understanding and learn where their head is at, and this will help you to help them in overcoming their problem.

Alcohol Treatment: Key Components

Underlying Issues
Alcoholism is an individual problem. As such, the underlying causes and issues for an alcohol dependency problem are equally as personal. In alcohol treatment, counselors push alcoholics to locate these key underlying problems which may have led to the substance abuse to begin with.

Making Amends
Your history of poor choices as an alcoholic may have burned some bridges and hurt others around you. Take the time in alcohol treatment to make amends for these past mistakes, in an effort to regain the trust and support of loved ones.

Re-learning Life Skills
Seize the opportunity to learn (or learn again) life skills, such as communication, planning, organization, time management, etc. Having these skills firmly in place will help you to settle in once back at home.

Building a Future
Rather than dwell too long on past mistakes, focus on now and tomorrow, and what the future holds. Establish new, creative hobbies and make friends out of those who are likeminded, living alcohol-free.

Whether you are an alcoholic yourself, or you are the loved one of someone who is struggling, do not wait to get help.

Contact a professional today and work out a plan for recovery. You’ll be glad you did.

Fact Or Fiction: Alcohol Is Okay In Moderation

Especially for those exiting alcohol treatment, the question is commonly asked: is it okay to drink after leaving rehab?

Some say that refraining from alcohol completely is the only way to maintain sobriety post-rehab, while others proclaim that a little moderate alcohol consumption is possible.

Treatment and recovery is wholly an individual journey, but the risk factors and potential dangers must be considered. Incorporating alcohol back into your life after having previously struggled with alcohol dependency is an idea with bad news written all over it.

Should Alcoholics Resume “Moderate” Alcohol Use?

Majority of experts agree that alcoholics should not including drinking alcohol in their new routine or lifestyle after leaving treatment. There are obvious reasons for this, some of which are as follows:

1. The risk of losing your foothold on sobriety far outweighs any possible and temporary pleasures from drinking.
2. Alcoholism is often rooted in an inability to act moderately. Best not to test oneself straight out of rehab.
3. Your family and friends trust you to uphold your new standards of living alcohol-free. Don’t let them down.
4. Most importantly, giving in to urges for alcohol will likely cause you to feel regret and shame. If you are unable to function without social drinking, talk to your alcohol counselor and work out a stronger exit strategy for your new life.

Binge Drinking vs. Moderate Consumption

Binge drinking is considered heavy alcohol consumption where usually 5 (or more) alcoholic drinks in a short time period. Binge drinking usually results in severe drunkenness, impaired judgment and bad choices.

Moderate alcohol consumption is recognized as a glass of wine over dinner, or 1-2 beers. This is generally considered acceptable if done so responsibly, as a small amount of alcohol can be enjoyable if consumed over a larger period of time. (Thus avoiding severe drunkenness and a bad hangover the next day.)

The issue in question is whether or not alcoholics should allow themselves to drink moderately upon completion of alcohol treatment. 

Because recovery from alcoholism is such an individual feat, it is hard to say whether “safe” and moderate drinking amongst former alcoholics is fact or fiction. Alcohol is okay in moderation for those who have not previously struggled with a dependency problem, but it is simply too risky for those fighting to rebuild a life free of substance abuse.

Certainly, moderate drinking and binge drinking are two different activities. For an alcoholic, however, it may be very difficult to stop once a few drinks impair his/her judgment. In other words, “moderate consumption” may not be possible for a former alcoholic until several years down the road. This is a personal time frame, and you should never pressure someone into testing their limits.

Finding Alternatives To Alcohol

Alcoholism is generally a long-term condition, developed over months and years. This means that deeply rooted habits, patterns and dependencies can be especially hard to break due to their long history of being present.

An important part of any alcoholic’s journey to achieving and maintaining sobriety is the establishment of new, positive hobbies and activities that don’t include alcohol consumption. For example:

• Art: writing, playing an instrument, drawing, painting, pottery, etc.
• Hiking 
• Biking
• Yoga
• Exercising (lifting weights, running, kickboxing, etc.)
• Reading
• Traveling
• Learning a new trade (such as carpentry or welding)
• Spending time with family and friends

The successful and lasting sobriety of a former alcoholic depends largely on how much time he/she invests in establishing a new life full of enjoyable and positive activities, surrounded by loving and supportive people.