Identifying and treating alcohol abuse, Alcohol Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Jasmine Yohman
  • 17th Training Wing Safety
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Safety Office wants to inform you how to identify and help treat alcohol abuse. Alcohol is easily available, which makes overcoming an addiction to it much harder. The Help Guide Organization assists in resolving health problems, including alcoholism. With the help of the organization's website, http://helpguide.org,  here are some symptoms and treatment options for those dealing with alcohol-related problems.

The first step in assisting those with a problem is to first know the signs and symptoms. While the signs are different from person to person, it is still important to watch and be aware of signs in people around you, including yourself. When identifying alcoholism, it is important to look at the small factors because the easiest way to prevent further tragedy is to recognize the problem as soon as possible.

Common signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse include:
· Repeatedly neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school.
· Using alcohol in situations where it's physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving.
· Experiencing repeated legal problems linked to alcohol.
· Continuing to drink even though alcohol use is causing problems in relationships.
· Drinking as a way to relax or de-stress. Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to self-soothe and relieve stress.

After identifying that you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol abuse, the road to recovery needs to begin. It takes great courage to deal with problems with alcohol. There are many steps you can take to start the road to recovery. First is to choose the treatment program which matches the needs. Some treatments include but are not limited to; rehabs, self-help programs, therapy, and self-directed treatment. The type of treatment you choose can depend on various factors, such as how long alcoholism has been a problem and the severity of the disorder. The Air Force offers many programs to help with alcoholism including the Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program, which provides educational information and treatment options to those with problems with substance abuse.

An important aspect to remember is that those dealing with alcoholism are strongly dependant on support from family members and friends. It is important to show your support and stand by those people going through a difficult time. With support and encouragement from others, people have a greater chance of recovering from their addiction and are less likely to revert back to their alcoholism. Alcoholism can become overbearing to people when it starts to affect everything in their lives. Conquering this disorder takes time and effort by everyone involved it the process. By maintaining support, you can make the long road to a positive life change a success. Alcohol abuse cannot be conquered overnight.

Alcohol can cause many health concerns, such as liver and heart disease, sleep disorders, depression, stroke and cancer. Also, excessive alcohol use may lead to car accidents, trauma injuries, homicides, and accidental drowning and burns. Those who become alcohol-dependent contribute to safety concerns for everyone around them. Just remember, you can make a difference in the lives of others, and small observances can change a person's life.