Alcohol addiction is simply defined as a compulsive need for an intoxicating liquid that is obtained from fermented grain or fruit. These liquids include beer, wine, and other hard liquors. Alcoholism can lead people into serious trouble, and can be physically and mentally destructive. Currently alcohol use is involved in half of all crimes, murders, accidental deaths, and suicides. There are also many health problems associated with alcohol use such as brain damage, cancer, heart disease, and diseases of the liver. Alcoholics who do not stop drinking reduce life expectancy by 10 to 15 years.

When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a person's size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the amount of food and alcohol consumed. The disinhibiting effect of alcohol is one of the main reasons it is used in so many social situations. Other effects of moderate alcohol intake include dizziness and talkativeness; the immediate effects of a larger amount of alcohol include slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting.

Alcohol addiction often has a familial pattern, and at least some of the transmission can be traced to genetic factors. The risk for alcohol addiction is three to four times higher in close relatives of people with alcohol addiction.* Family members and significant others are severely affected and hurt by alcohol addiction.

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment Resource Center offers a no cost, viable alternative for people looking for addiction treatment answers and assistance. The alcohol and drug addiction treatment hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our experienced, friendly staff knows all about alcohol and drug addiction treatment problems. And we understand people need the best information possible. Our staff knows the emotional turmoil and personal consequences of alcohol and drug addiction treatment.

People who are alcohol dependent are caught in the compelling grip of an uncontrollable need for alcohol that takes priority over their ability to stop drinking. Indeed, this need to drink for the alcoholic can be as strong as his or her need for food or water. In short, and unlike most people, the alcoholic is controlled by "alcohol and addiction" rather than being in control of his or her life.

Alcohol, even at low doses, significantly impairs the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including domestic violence and child abuse. Hangovers are another possible effect after large amounts of alcohol are consumed; a hangover consists of headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue.

Drug addiction and alcohol abuse are complex, life-threatening issues. Our goal is to help the family, friends and those who suffer, get the help they deserve. We understand how confusing this process can be and the impact it has on the family. The vast majority of people are unfamiliar with chemical dependency
, drug addiction and/or alcoholism. As a result, they end up making improper choices and not getting the best help possible or worse yet, not getting any help at all. Detox is the first step in the rehab process.

The disease of addiction involves permanent changes in the human brain that result from the repeated exposure to alcohol or addicting drugs. As the brain becomes accustomed to the presence of the addicting substance, the chemistry of the brain changes, becoming dependent on that substance.

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