Just like any other addiction, alcohol addiction affects your overall health but is something that you can still stop. There are many effective methods that can help you to stop drinking alcohol once and for all. From specialized government programs to medical professional help, self help and support groups among others, finding the most appropriate method to help you live an alcohol free life is very possible. If you believe that it is high time you stopped drinking alcohol, you must be honest with yourself and know the reasons why you should quit. The following pointers give you more information why you need to stop drinking alcohol.

One major demerit of heavy drinking is that alcohol can lead to early death or permanent damage of vital body organs like the liver and the brain. This is because alcohol depletes your body of the vital nutrients thereby raising your blood pressure, increasing your exposure to cancer as you will have a weaker immune system. With a weak immune system, you will be more exposed to allergies, infections and other diseases. If you are a man, you might experience impotence as a result. On the other hand, women tend to experience problems with their thyroid function.

The second reason why you need to stop drinking alcohol is that when you become dependent on alcohol, your finances are likely to suffer as a prolonged exposure to this destructive substance results to cravings – just like any other drugs.

The third reason why you need to stop drinking alcohol is that alcoholism affects relationships in a very big way. This means that it can have major impacts on your family and social life. Given that alcohol will interfere with your mental wellness, you will not even know that your behavior is affecting the people around you. In many cases, working alcoholics end up losing their jobs, getting into arguments, behaving improperly with some having violent and abusive behavior.

Drinking alcohol can often lead to impaired judgment as well as lack of coordination. Often, this leads to road accidents. Given that the alcoholic will experience physical effects as a result, the drinker is more likely to engage in other harmful activities like using drugs, unprotected sex and even gambling. In some situations, the drinker might experience memory loss or blackout and will not remember some events afterwards.

Another reason why you need to stop drinking alcohol is that drinking is known to make one an easy target for other dangers like rape, abuse and even robbery. One may also suffer from hangover which will make them have serious migraines, feel dehydrated, or fatigued. The drinker is also likely to suffer from stress and severe insomnia.

If you are pregnant, you should stop drinking alcohol as the habit can lead to mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities for the unborn child. What is more, children of alcoholic parents have higher chances of becoming alcoholics themselves.

Basically, there are many reasons why you need to stop drinking alcohol. Lucky enough, there are many ways to kick the habit and start enjoying a healthier life. If you are addicted to alcohol, take the first step into fighting this destructive habit and you will live a quality life.

I am a firm believer in the notion that you can’t get enough quality education. With respect to drug and alcohol abuse we as a society seem to be trying our best by bombarding our youngsters with warnings about drugs and alcohol.

As a counselor for both in class and online alcohol awareness classes and online drug classes, I often ask my students if they think the court-mandated class which caused the vast majority of them to wind up in my classroom will be beneficial toward their not becoming addicted to alcohol and or other drugs, or to help them along their path to recovery if they already are an addict.

This article will look through my student’s eyes as we examine this question. Let’s face it – as a society what do we have besides education to keep the streets safe and drugs and alcohol out of our, and our children’s, bodies? The answer of course is law enforcement. What do you think might be the more positive way to resolve our nation’s problems with drugs and alcohol abuse.

War on Drugs

Since Nancy Reagan officially launched the “War on Drugs” back in 1981, can you say the war campaign has been successful? I would say the answer is definitively, no, but many other things besides the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in society today merit examination. If law enforcement is not the answer – education must be – or at least it cannot hurt.

The Answer

We cannot rely on law enforcement as the main thrust of our goal to rid society of its addictive tendencies. There is no doubt law enforcement is necessary, and in some cases even medicinal.

I remember the first time I was arrested and it changed my life, for a while. I spent a few days in juvenile hall and was scared senseless by the entire situation. This was my first attempt to quit all of my bad habits, which included, but was not limited to, alcohol abuse, drug use and shoplifting.

For almost five years I was the model citizen. I was the son my parents wanted. I was becoming successful. I was devoted and communicated well with friends and family. I was well-liked and involved all across the board.

Oh, No – A Relapse!

Then, out of nowhere, I encountered a relapse. I had been sober from all drugs and alcohol for more than a year. I had not stolen for more than 13 months. Then my entire world crashed down upon me.

Anyone who ever has been an addict knows that there are certain triggers for addiction. IN my case, I had my college roommate come to visit. In college, we had been fraternity brothers. Alcohol and drugs were a major part of our relationship.

My “friend” knew I had been sober for more than a year. But how good a friend was he to bring up the “good, old times” and admit that he had brought pot and prescription drugs with him that we could take if I wanted to.

I hate to say it, but – I wanted to. I did not make the smart choice. I chose to do drugs and drink 1 beer with my buddy. I had somehow reasoned that I was sober for over year, so what kind of big deal would one night be?

The Future

One year of sobriety down the drain. That was not the hard part. The hard part was the next 15 years of addictive behavior that cost me jobs, friends and family.

Yet another relapse on my ever-hopeful road to sobriety. My prayer always remained the same – please let me become sober before I kill myself or someone else!

Please, if you or someone you love is an alcoholic or a drug addict, please seek help immediately. If you prefer to maintain total anonymity there are online alcohol awareness classes and online drug classes as well.

In drug rehab, your loved one is working to make improvements physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For these changes to last, other areas of their life need to change simultaneously, including their family relationships and home environment.

Whether or not you realize the extent of it, addiction has taken a heavy toll on your family. Some unhealthy patterns may need to be addressed before lasting recovery can become a reality.

Family involvement before, during, and after drug rehab is essential. But certain types of involvement are not helpful and can actually make the situation worse. Here are five ways to play a positive role in your loved one’s recovery:

1. Set and Enforce Boundaries

During drug rehab, particularly in the early days, your loved one may beg and plead to come home. They may have a laundry list of complaints about how they feel and how they’re being treated, and will likely go through at least one phase when they believe they’ve overcome addiction and are ready to go on with life. This is the denial, fear, and rationalization of addiction talking, not them.

This is an important time to set and enforce boundaries. Lend a sympathetic ear and work together to solve any problems, but stand firm in your commitment to seeing treatment through. When you and the treatment team work together to send the message that treatment is essential and non-negotiable, your loved one is more likely to complete the program, which in turn increases their chances of lasting recovery.

After your loved one returns home from drug rehab, have a plan in place in the event of a relapse. Although you do not want to withdraw your love and support, you’ll need to set boundaries around the behaviors you will not accept and refrain from falling back into codependent or enabling patterns.

2. Participate in 12-Step Support Groups

You’ve probably been trying to help your loved one for a long time. Some of that help was effective enough to get them into drug rehab, but some of it may have been unintentionally destructive.

Twelve Step support groups can help you understand your role in your loved one’s addiction. Perhaps you have unwittingly enabled the addiction by giving your loved one money, bailing them out of jail, giving them a place to live, or protecting them from the consequences of their addictive behaviors in other ways. Maybe you have spent so much time trying to control the behavior that you’ve lost yourself (codependency).

Those patterns can be unlearned with guidance and practice. Twelve Step support groups such as Al-Anon are free, anonymous meetings for loved ones of addicts and alcoholics. Addiction specialists highly recommend that you attend as many of these meetings as possible. They will introduce you to healthier coping strategies and combat isolation, showing you that others share similar struggles and have prevailed in the face of tremendous obstacles.

3. Get Involved in the Family Program

Most quality drug rehab centers offer a family program. Whether it occurs once during your loved one’s stay or numerous times, attend as often as possible. During this time, you may be invited to participate in family therapy, multi-family group sessions, and educational talks about the disease of addiction. In addition to learning valuable information, your involvement sends an important message to your loved one that you are in this together.

If you’re able, write letters of encouragement and be available for phone calls. During this vulnerable time, try to keep conversations positive and supportive rather than discussing problems at home or airing grievances.

4. Practice Self-Care

When all of the focus is on getting an addict into drug rehab, there’s a good chance you’ve ignored many of your own needs for quite some time. What goals have been pushed aside because of your loved one’s addiction? Take this time while your loved one is getting treatment to reconnect with yourself, rebuild your social support network, and reinvest in work, hobbies, or other interests.

Also make sure you schedule time for yourself and your own needs and responsibilities after your loved one returns home. Supporting their recovery is important, but taking care of yourself has to be a priority.

5. Prepare for Your Loved One’s Return Home

When your loved one comes home from drug rehab, they will look, act, and feel different. If you’ve been attending Al-Anon meetings and family therapy sessions, there’s a good chance you will, too. In preparation for your loved one’s return, make sure home is a stable and supportive environment with minimal stressors and no drugs or alcohol.

If the drug rehab center has recommended extended care or a sober living environment, encourage your loved one to continue treatment. Be patient with your loved one and give them the time and space to attend as many 12-Step meetings as they need and help them follow through on their aftercare and relapse prevention plans. Keep an eye out for relapse triggers, encourage them to share their feelings, and lend your support as often as you can.

Most importantly, have faith. After all of the lies and disappointments fueled by your loved one’s addiction, you may feel you have nothing left to give. But your loved one needs your support during this critical stage of recovery. You already have a few “wins” under your belt in the battle against addiction and there are many more to come. Finding the strength to be there now can make a lifetime of difference.