When some parents discover that their child has been using alcohol or drugs, they brush it off as “inevitable” or assume that it’s okay for adolescents to experiment with substances. However, what many parents may not know is that any amount of “experimenting” can harm their child’s developing brain, sometimes creating irreversible damage.
According to a certified alcohol and drug counselor, an unintended consequence of gastric bypass surgery is the increased risk of alcohol abuse. Laura Lagge of New Dawn Recovery in Citrus Heights, California, told News 10’s Live Online viewers that she is seeing more women struggling with alcohol abuse after having gastric bypass surgery for their weight problems.
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Almost half of Kenya’s adult population drinks alcohol, and some drink too much, putting their children at risk. Voice of America’s Cathy Majtenyi describes a “family entertainment” spot in Nairobi where children play and parents drink nearby. Scenarios like these are disturbingly common in Kenya, says Jennifer Kimani, CEO of the government’s National Campaign Against Drug Abuse.
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Teenagers who are taught the dangers of drug use at home are 42 percent less likely to use drugs, according to www.theantidrug.com. The site also reports that 2 out of 3 teens believe they would lose the trust and respect of their parents if they tried drugs. It comes as no surprise, then, that parents are the “anti-drug” in question. The link is strong between parents who skillfully communicate the dangers of drugs and kids who resist the temptation to try them.
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Besides affecting lives, careers, health, and memory, alcohol also damages relationships. Alcoholics have long been known to have difficulty reading emotional cues, which can range from taking offense when none was intended to failing to pick up on a loved one’s feelings of anger or joy, but it was never known how or why—until now.
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In 2005, New Mexico, which led the United States in alcohol-related crashes for years, became the first state to require an interlock ignition device for every convicted drunk driver. These devices act as an alcohol breathalyzer and require drivers to prove they are sober before the engine will start. Now New Mexico is ranked 25th among states in alcohol-related fatal crashes and is expected to rank lower when the latest numbers are compiled later this year.
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A&E might be the only channel that devotes two shows to drug abuse intervention: There’s the reality show “Intervention,” which profiles real people who struggle from drug and alcohol abuse and their loved ones, and then there’s “The Cleaner,” a drama about a recovering addict, William Banks, who spends his life helping addicts recover—especially those who don’t want help.
“The Cleaner” is back for a second season, with Benjamin Bratt starring as Banks. The character is based on the real life of Warren Boyd, who had nine DUI convictions and had already spent five years in prison at the age of 32. Addicted to alcohol and cocaine, Boyd had been in and out of 26 rehab programs without success. In 1990, his then-girlfriend Deedee gave birth to their child right before Boyd returned to prison. When his daughter was placed in his arms, he said he returned to his senses.
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By Colin Gilbert
The human brain is wired for survival; it is programmed to promote the longevity of both the individual and the species. One of the main ways it helps us survive is by initiating specific cravings. Hunger and thirst, for example, remind us (sometimes quite urgently) that we need to eat and drink to survive. Correspondingly, the human sex drive encourages the propagation of the human race. When we satisfy our cravings for hunger, thirst, or sex, our brain rewards us with sensations of pleasure and contentment, and that reward comes in the form of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Amy Winehouse, the 25-year-old British singer who consistently makes headlines due to alcohol and drug abuse, is “in denial” over her drug addiction and continues to drink heavily, according to her parents. Janis Winehouse, her mother, said that “the need to rescue her is enormous. Amy is in denial all the time.”
Researchers found that an alcohol control program at Western Washington University that also involved the community—including police efforts—led to a decline in binge drinking by college students. The findings highlight the importance of college-community cooperation in combating problem drinking, says lead researcher Robert F. Salz, PhD, of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Berkeley, CA.
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