Drinking alcohol with your friends is like a rite of passage. Unfortunately, this rite of passage can become toxic, lead to many health problems depending on how often someone drinks and the quantity of alcohol consumed, and it can create many other problems in your life. Not everyone is addicted to alcohol, but there are many people who are and the sooner they quit drinking, the better. If you’re considering hanging up your drinking shoes, here are seven helpful tips for quitting alcohol.
Consider rehab and AA.
Depending on how much a person drinks, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous and even life-threatening as alcohol withdrawals can be lethal. Many people consider rehab as it gives them a setting and support system for quitting, not to mention people in rehab are monitored around the clock and can detox safely.
Many alcoholics, whether they opt for rehab or not, go to Alcoholics Anonymous because it’s a support system in which people can relate to one another and the members encourage each other to stay sober. AA allows people to talk through their problems and get to the root of why they abused alcohol in the past.
Another option is therapy. If considering this option, we encourage people to visit withtherapy.com as WithTherapy “is a matchmaker that uses science to pair you with a personalized shortlist of therapists.” Therapy can give you a space to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and problems, but unlike AA, it takes place in a personal setting, with just you and your therapist.
Write down why you want to quit and what drinking is costing you.
Similar to creating goals, writing down why you want to quit and what drinking is costing you can help you realize the harms of drinking and all the benefits of staying sober. Like a goals list, you should constantly monitor your why so it stays fresh in your brain. While creating this list, you’ll get a better and more realistic idea of why drinking is detrimental to your life. This list isn’t meant to shame you—it’s meant to make you see more clearly.
Tell your loved ones about your decision.
Telling your friends and family members about your decision can help you create a support system as well as take the peer pressure of drinking off you. They’ll also see how important this decision is for you and that you’re trying to better your life.
Build a strong support team.
On that note, building a strong support team is essential when trying to quit alcohol because there are going to be times when all you want to do is drink. You’ll try to reason with yourself that you’re only going to have one beer or glass of wine, but, unfortunately, willpower is tougher to achieve when you have an addiction.
A support team will cheer you on and help you reach sobriety. Whether it be AA or your loved ones or both, creating a strong support team can help you quit alcohol.
You might be able to go to bars someday and not drink, but when your sobriety journey is fresh, it’s best to stay away from all temptations. This can include bars or restaurants. Don’t keep alcohol in your home when you’re trying to quit. Many alcoholics will only go to places where alcohol is present—you should take the opposite approach, within reason, and steer clear of places that serve alcohol or prioritize it.
Replace drinking with new activities.
Replacing drinking with new activities, such as hiking, going to the movies, reading, or sports, allows you to get your mind off drinking while enjoying something you like. The key, of course, is finding a new activity or hobby that you enjoy. Some people even replace drinking with eating or indulging in desserts, which is perfectly fine as long as you don’t create a new problem.
Don’t give up or beat yourself up if you slip.
Sobriety isn’t a clear and straight path. Some people go off the trail while others are strong enough to eventually have one beer at a time. Everyone’s journey is different, although if you’re an alcoholic and have problems, it’s probably best to stay away from alcohol. If you do slip, don’t beat yourself up. Acknowledge you slipped, get help from your support team, and continue on with your sobriety. Life and people aren’t meant to be perfect.
If you decide to seek therapy or other forms of professional health, we encourage you to choose Cheap health insurance options that support these medical benefits. You can compare health insurance with iSelect and ensure you’re covered and receive quality care.
Drug courts have been around for more than two decades now.
The fundamental premise of these courts is to give individuals with minor
criminal history yet struggling with alcohol or drug addiction a second chance.
Essentially, they allow drug criminals to change their lives by entering into
rehab instead of going to prison. Successful completion of the treatment
program enables these individuals to avoid prison time or criminal conviction
or even both.
Who Are Drug Criminals?
Drug criminals are individuals that commit drug-related
crimes. These are individuals that commit crimes that involve the use of
addictive substances such as illicit drugs and alcohol. When such individuals
are incarcerated, they may quit abusing the addictive substances since they can’t
access them in prison. However, this abstinence from drug abuse may not last.
In most cases, the incarcerated individuals go back to their previous
situations after completing their prison sentence.
Law enforcement and drug treatment is generally a complex
issue. Essentially, when individuals commit crimes they should be punished or
held accountable. However, a small percentage of offenders meet the substance
abuse disorders’ criteria and are allowed to undergo treatment for it. It’s for
this reason that drug courts were established. These programs take an
innovative approach by providing alternatives to lighter sentences or
incarceration to individuals that agree to undergo complete drug
rehabilitation.
How Drug Criminals Are Treated
Drug criminals use drug court facilities (Addiction Resource provides a full guide) to undergo rehabilitation for drug addiction. Basically, drug courts target different individuals depending on their jurisdictions. They also use varying resources to treat drug criminals. Ideally, a team of prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, and treatment specialists like professionals in drug rehabs and social workers manage these programs. Defendants’ family members are also allowed a chance to participate in events like graduation from the program and hearings.
In most cases, the courts employ programs that are aimed at
curbing criminal recidivism, encouraging the defendants to work hard towards
recovery from addiction, or reducing drug use. Basically, these programs are
focused on helping the defendants to lead better, healthy lives without
activities that lead to crimes that may cause them trouble with the drug court
system.
Common programs of these courts include needs and risk
assessment, ongoing monitoring, drug rehab, graduate incentives, and follow-up.
Co-occurring mental health disorders treatment can also be part of these
programs.
Drug Courts Eligibility Requirements
Research has proven the existence of a relationship between
drug- or alcohol abuse and crime. This relationship suggests that addiction
treatment can be more effective in reducing crime than incarceration. After
all, incarceration is costly and the prison environment does not allow inmates
to receive treatment. Drug courts allow offenders to undergo treatment for
addiction at a non-adversarial environment.
But, to avoid being imprisoned or ordered to go to jail,
offenders must meet the drug courts eligibility criteria. For instance, to
qualify to enter drug court programs, offenders must:
Not
have a criminal history
Face
drug crime charges
Prove
their drug addiction
Prove
that they would benefit from undergoing treatment for drug addiction
It’s worth noting that only low-level felonies cases such as
theft and shoplifting are considered for drug court programs. What’s more,
these crimes must be tied to the drug addiction problem of the offender.
Offenders with burglary, robbery, and gun cases are not considered for the
programs of drug cases. Such offenders are mostly ordered to go to jail.
Currently, there are different types of drug courts. They include juvenile courts, family courts, veteran courts, DWI courts, tribal courts, co-occurring courts, re-entry courts, federal district, federal veterans, and campus courts. In total, there are more than 3,000 drug courts across the United States of America. Around half of them are targeted at juveniles and the other half at adults. Family drug courts target defendants that have child welfare cases pending. Their goal is to minimize family separation while maximizing recovery chances and enhancing parenting skills.
Effectiveness of Drug Courts and Their
Implications
Drug court programs are based on the recognition of the
great importance of drug rehabilitation in reducing crimes. Participants of
drug courts’ programs enter the abeyance plea. This is a guilty plea on hold
that allows the offender to enroll in the program of a drug court. The guilty
plea is only withdrawn if the offender completes the program successfully and
charges are dismissed or reduced. But, if the offender fails to complete the
program, they still face imprisonment charges or sentencing.
Research has shown that the scheme of drug court is effective because participants are often less likely to commit crimes than similar offenders that are imprisoned or sentenced. What’s more, there is a less likelihood for participants to test positive for the drugs they abused than offenders in traditional correction systems.
The programs of drug courts incorporate drug rehabilitation.
Therefore, they may cost more than incarcerating offenders in regular court
systems. Nevertheless, reduction in re-offending rates enables drug courts to
save more money per offender when compared to the cost of dealing with re-offenses
in the long-term. Programs of drug courts also have a better outcome for
juvenile cases than juvenile courts combined with intensive outpatient
addiction treatment programs.
So, does this imply that drug courts are the answer to the
drug addiction epidemic? Unfortunately, this question doesn’t have a single
solution. The fact that drug courts help in the reduction of re-offenses
doesn’t mean they can single-handedly solve the drug addiction problem. Their effectiveness
only implies that they can be a great alternative for some drug offenders that
would otherwise be imprisoned. That’s because it emphasizes the use of drug
rehabilitation to ensure long-term recovery which minimizes re-offenses.
The Bottom Line
Everybody deserves a second chance and that’s what drug
courts offer drug criminals. Sending people that commit crimes under the
influence of drugs or alcohol to prison doesn’t help the society. Drug courts
return drug criminals that are ready to reform back to the community while
providing the support they need to recover from addiction. This enables them to
achieve and maintain sobriety without re-offending and this helps
everyone.
The 44-year-old’s battles with drink problems stretch back more than 15 years, with his first reported stint in an alcohol treatment clinic taking place in 2001.
Photo PBS
In his new statement, Ben Affleck wrote: “I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be.
“I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.”
The double Oscar-winner said: “I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.
“This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.”
Earlier this month, former NBA player Lamar Odom was found unconscious at a brothel in Las Vegas. Odom had his fair share of run-ins with the law due to his known drug addiction, but this recent event was the worst so far. He’s fine now, and he claims that he wants to now change his ways and seek the right help.
Although Lamar Odom’s drug addiction has landed him in the spotlight many times in the recent past, he is not the only celebrity to suffer from drug addiction. Take a look at some of the other celebrities who have suffered from drug addiction too.
Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen may be one of the most notorious celebrities to face drug addiction. After all, his “winning” rant has become an internet meme as well as a trending Twitter hashtag, and it’s still used today. Sheen’s drug abuse has been widely known since the 1980s, and it has landed him in many headlines, including losing his job as well as domestic abuse allegations. It was even reported that in the highs of his drug abuse, Sheen spent nearly $2,000 a day on drugs.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is another celebrity who has constantly made headlines due to drug and alcohol abuse. She has been seen out partying many times, and she has been arrested for drug use and DUIs more than once. She even did jail time and was put on house arrest for her partying actions. Although she’s gone to rehab many times, she still seems to catch attention with her partying.
Cory Haim
Back in the 1980s, Cory Haim and Cory Feldman were two teen heartthrobs that were seen in almost every movie. While the two have both struggled with drugs, Haim’s addiction was far worse. He started abusing drugs during his teenage years, and it continued into his adult life. He went on Celebrity Rehab to try and get his life back in order, but in 2010, Cory Haim was found dead, and his death was attributed to a lethal prescription medication concoction.
Robert Downey, Jr.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Robert Downey, Jr. was notorious for his drug use and addiction. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that he was arrested on drug-related charges. Since then, though, he has gotten his life together and is now one of the biggest box office celebrities.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
During his early adult life, Hoffman was abusing drugs and alcohol quite regularly. He finally made the decision to seek help, and he was on a sober path for many years. However, in 2014, Hoffman relapsed, and he died of an overdose in his apartment.
Judy Garland
Most people don’t know that Judy Garland struggled with drugs for most of her life. The Wizard of Oz star regularly turned to drugs to help her cope, and she died from a barbiturate overdose at the age of 47.
Drug and alcohol addiction is serious and can lead to many serious health and legal problems. Those who struggle with addiction should seek professional help.
Jon Hamm has completed treatment for alcohol addiction, his publicist has confirmed.
The Mad Men star, who plays hard-drinking advertising executive Don Draper in the hit TV show, asked for “privacy and sensitivity” following the revelation.
It is unclear when Jon Hamm sought treatment, but he did so with the support of his long-time partner, actress and film-maker Jennifer Westfeldt.
Jon Hamm has recently been seen promoting the final season of AMC’s Mad Men.
According to TMZ, which first reported the story, Jon Hamm was treated for 30 days at the Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Jon Hamm, 44, has been asked to compare himself to his Mad Men character several times over the series’ eight-year run.
“I don’t drink as much as Don Draper,” he told the Daily Mail in 2012.
“I would be unconscious if I did.”
Photo AP
However, Jon Hamm also admitted he turned to alcohol after his father died from complications of diabetes in 1991.
Jon Hamm – who was 20 at the time – was left without parents, having lost his mother 10 years earlier.
“It just changed everything,” the actor told GQ in 2014.
“It was just a profound sense of being alone. And that lasted a while.
“I was in college, and I had to start over again. I started drinking; it was a rough time.
“I was at a crossroads. It really could have gone the wrong way.”
Jon Hamm has roles in two high-profile Netflix series: Playing doomsday preacher Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne in Tina Fey’s critically-acclaimed comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; and starring in the upcoming Wet Hot American Summer, a prequel to the 2001 cult indie comedy about a rowdy summer camp.
The definition of addiction is not always agreed upon among professionals. In general it would be any type of behavior that becomes compulsive and interferes with an individual’s daily life. Building a tolerance and needing more of whatever activities or substances are being used is often a substantial element of addictions. Finally, losing control over the behavior is the hallmark of an addiction. The following are 10 prevalent addictions affecting men in the United States and all 10 addictions have available treatment support in rehabs for men.
Alcohol
Men are twice as likely as women to be addicted to alcohol. It also takes men approximately five years longer than women to seek help for an alcohol addiction.
Smoking
According to the CDC approximately 20 percent of men in the United States smoke cigarettes. The number of men who smoke by age group is fairly evenly divided.
Drugs
While drug addiction covers a wide range of prescription and street drugs, the most commonly abused drug is marijuana. Painkillers appear to be the prescription drug of choice for men and women.
Gambling
Between 15 and 20 million adults have a gambling problem. The majority are men. Research indicates that men tend to be “action” gamblers, preferring games like poker that take a certain amount of skill. Women, however, are more likely to be “escape” gamblers and participate in games based on luck.
Pornography
Studies have revealed that the same brain changes that occur in drug addicts occur in those addicted to pornography. Men between the ages of 18 and 24 make up the largest percentage of men using pornography on a regular basis.
Cell Phone Nomophobia is the official term for anxiety if there isn’t access to mobile technology. Nearly 47 percent of men have two phones. If a guy constantly checks his phone before getting out of bed each morning or can’t get through the first course in a restaurant without texting, there may be a problem.
Work
This is a tough addiction to pinpoint since a hardworking man is often viewed as successful. About 25 percent of American men work more than 50 hours each week. While working long hours is not necessarily a problem, when it interferes with health or personal relationships it may qualify as an addiction.
Sex Sex addictions are not the same as addictions to pornography. One is primarily living in a fantasy world while the other is actually having sex with another person. About 8 percent of men in the United States suffer from this affliction.
Internet/Social Media
While online addictions are often connected to other addictions such as porn and gambling, constantly visiting places like Facebook and Twitter can also become a problem. Men may be especially susceptible to social media addiction because it’s an easy way for them to connect to others while still remaining disconnected on a certain level.
Food
Yes, men can struggle with food addictions, though usually not as much as women. Like so many other addictions, the release of dopamine in the brain is the driving influence behind this behavior.
While women’s addictions seem to be more severe, men are more likely to become addicts. Men are also less likely to seek help for their addictive behavior.
Bobby Brown has checked out of rehab early after admission for alcohol treatment.
Bobby Brown, 43, has left an undisclosed facility, where he was thought to be receiving treatment for alcohol addiction problems.
It comes less than three weeks after he agreed to be admitted as part of a deal struck following his arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) in March.
Bobby Brown has checked out of rehab early after admission for alcohol treatment
A source close to the family told RadarOnline: “Bobby is no longer in rehab, he decided he’s had enough treatment for his problems.
“When he first checked in, he promised his family and friends, including his New Edition band mates, that this time he was going to stay in rehab for the full treatment. That’s normally a 90-day program.
“However, after fulfilling his duties for his DUI plea deal, Bobby has decided that he doesn’t need treatment anymore.”
Bobby Brown’s family are now said to be “terrified” that he will start drinking again, and some are said to have questioned whether his intentions to give up alcohol are “genuine”.
The source added: “Bobby’s family and friends are terrified, despite his pleas that he’s sober, that he will fall off the wagon once again.
“They’re not sure if he was ever serious about conquering his demons and have voiced their concerns.
“It’s difficult to believe someone going into rehab for alcohol addiction for such a short time is genuine about giving up drinking.”
Bobby Brown’s wife Alicia Etheridge recently admitted she and his children – three-year-old Cassius from the couple’s relationship, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina with late ex-wife Whitney Houston, and Landon, 23, La’Princia, 22, and Bobby Jr., 19, with previous partners – were “proud” of the singer for entering rehab.
As we previously said Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill was dealing with more important condition than a mild dehydration.
On Monday they interrupted the summer tour through the United States because “vocal issues and exhaustion,” that Caleb Followill was suffering from. The Kings of Leon‘s representative declared to Us Weekly: “The reason for the cancellation of the tour is Caleb is under doctor’s orders for vocal rest. They feel terrible about cancelling. They look forward to getting back on the road at the end of September.”
“We are so sorry to say Kings of Leon are canceling their entire US tour due to Caleb Followill suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion. The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break. Unfortunately, the US dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band’s international tour schedule. […] The band will resume touring in Canada at the Rogers Center in Vancouver, BC, on September 28th. That show was originally schedule for September 14th. ” stated the announcement posted on their website.
Kings of Leon interrupted show
[googlead tip=”patrat_mare”]On the other hand, on the same day the Kings of Leon bassist, Jared Followill, published on Twitter: “Utterly depressed. It’s completely out of my hands. Family has to come 1st.” Before this he declared (on Saturday) that “there are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be address”.
An insider of the group said
“They are trying to get Caleb to go to rehab. It is mostly for alcohol. …they ended up canceling the whole tour… he drinks like a fish.”
Another source said Kings of Leon never debated Caleb’s drinking as a problem because they all use to consume a little alcohol during their travels.
Caleb, who recently married Lily Aldridge (Victoria’s Secret model) , has been dealing with this problem for some time.
“It’s true. Caleb’s drinking is out of control and they are trying to get him into rehab. It’s a dark demon he has been fighting for awhile.” said other source.
Sources say Caleb becomes nervous about singing in front of the crowds and drinks alcohol to relax.
“There’s a running joke in the band that Caleb can’t go on stage without having a cocktail first.” said an insider.
Let’s hope Caleb will be strong enough and he will get adequate help to solve this problem and he will continue to sing with Kings of Leon. A lot of music talents were lost because of drug and alcohol addiction.
Kings of Leon interrupted a concert Friday in Dallas, Texas subsequent to guide performer Caleb Followill informed admirers, “I’m going to move behind the scenes and I’m gonna vomit, I’m gonna drink a beer and I’m gonna come back out and play three more songs.”
The rocker by no means came back to the stage, that pushed the other members of this rock band to say sorry to the viewers. “Caleb’s just a little unfit to play the rest of the show,” explained bassist Jared Followill. “We love you guys so much, but I know you guys fucking hate us. I’m so sorry. It’s really not our fault, it’s Caleb. He can’t play the rest of the show. We will be back as soon as possible.”
Kings of Leon
Even though Caleb Followill has revealed that the cause he quit the stage was because of heat, fatigue and also lack of fluids, his sibling Jared’s remarks on Twitter after the episode suggest that Caleb’s tendencies may be part of a larger issue in the music group. Soon after apologizing again, Jared published “there are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be address” and also “I know you guys aren’t stupid. I can’t lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade.”
This is a common endeavor that other bands are also pursuing. It’s not unusual for singers and other band members to have health problems or other issues which prevent them from singing. Caleb’s problem was health related but we cannot say for sure if that was the only reason for his behavior.
Please view the video below which shows Caleb Followill talking to the audience at the Dallas concert. The video clip also displays footage of the other members of Kings of Leon apologizing him for his sudden departure.
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