If Someone Close Has a Problem with Alcoholism or Drug Addiction

There are millions of people suffering from alcoholism and other drug addiction in this country. A recent study reported that 28 million people age 12 and older used illicit drugs during the past year. By current estimates, more than 76 million people have been exposed to alcoholism and drug addiction. Experience shows that for every person with alcoholism or drug addiction, at least four others are affected by their behavior.

The person who has someone close who abusing alcohol or abuses drugs has plenty of company. People experiencing alcohol abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse or drug addiction often feel they hurt only themselves. That isn't true. They also hurt their families, friends, coworkers, employers, and others.

The person who sets out to help someone with an alcohol or other drug problem may at first feel quite alone, possibly embarrassed, not knowing where to turn for help. We have preserved so many wrong ideas and attitudes about problem drinking and other drug abuse, too often thinking of them as moral weakness or lack of willpower.

However, looking at it another way -- as we should -- millions of Americans have a personal stake in helping "someone close" find the way to overcome alcohol and other drug problems.

You may have learned to better understand alcohol abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse or drug addiction and already made contact with nearby sources of services. This does not mean that "someone close" will cooperate at once by going for alcohol treatment or alcohol rehab. Those with alcohol and other drug addiction may deny they have a problem. They may find it difficult to ask for or accept help.

If there is one thing true about alcoholics and other drug addicts, it is that, as with all people, each one is different -- different in human needs and responses, as well as in their reasons for drinking and taking other drugs, their reactions to these drugs, and their readiness for alcohol rehab or addiction treatment.

Be active, get involved. Don't be afraid to talk about the problem honestly and openly. It is easy to be too polite, or to duck the issue by saying, "After all, it's their private affair." But it isn't polite or consolidate to let someone destroy their family and life. You may need to be persistent to break through any denial they have.

You are in a good position to help your relative or friend, because you know a good deal about their unique qualities and their way of life. And having made the effort to gain some understanding of the signs and effects of problem drinking or other drug abuse, you should be in a better position to consider a strategy for helping.

You also may need to let them know how much courage it takes to ask for help, or to accept it. You will find that most people with drinking- or other drug-related troubles really want to talk it out if they find out you are concerned about them.

To begin, you may need to reject certain myths that in the past have done great harm to alcoholics and other drug abusers and hampered those who would help them. These untruths come from ingrained public attitudes that see alcoholism and other drug problems as personal misconduct, moral weakness, or even sin. They are expressed in such declarations as, "Nothing can be done unless the alcohol or drug abuser wants to stop," or "They must hit bottom," that is, lose health, job, home, family, "before they will want to get well." These stubborn myths are not true, and have been destructive. One may as well say that you cannot treat cancer or tuberculosis until the gross signs of disease are visible to all.

The truth is that with alcoholism and drug addiction, as with other kinds of acute and chronic illness, early recognition and treatment intervention is essential -- and rewarding.

Be compassionate, be patient -- but be willing to act. Experience proves that preaching does not work. A nudge or a push at the right time can help. It also shows that you care. Push may even come to shove when the person with alcohol or other drug troubles must choose between losing family or job, or going to treatment. Thousands of alcohol and other drug abusers have been helped when a spouse, employer, or court official made treatment a condition of continuing family relationships, job, or probation.

You cannot cure the illness, but when the crucial moment comes you can guide the person to competent help. To locate a alcohol rehab or drug rehab in your area, you might want to try this national helpline, Recovery Connection at, www.recoveryconnection.org or call 1-800-511-9225.

Alcohol treatment attempts to discover the relationship between a person's alcoholism and other drug use to their real needs -- an understanding of what they would really strive for it they were not disabled by their problems. One goal is building up their capacity for control which becomes possible in periods of sobriety.

Persons with alcoholism and drug addiction have the same needs as all other people -- food, clothing, shelter, health care, job, social contact and acceptance and, particularly, the need for self-confidence and feelings of competence, self-worth, and dignity. This is where "support" comes in.

What may be needed in most is warm, human concern. The kinds of support given depend, of course, on finding out from the person what they feel they need. Strained family and friend relationships, money troubles, worry about the job or business, sometimes matters that may seem trivial to us, all confuse their file situation and may contribute to their drinking and other drug problems.

Moral support in starting and staying with addiction treatment or alcohol rehab, reassurances from employer or business associates, willing participation by spouse or children in group therapy sessions -- are examples of realistic support.

Three out of four men and women suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction are married; living at home; holding onto a job, business, or profession; and are reasonably well accepted members of their communities. For those in this group who seek addiction treatment, alcohol rehab or drug rehab the outlook is good. Regardless of life situation, the earlier treatment starts after troubles are recognized, the better the chances for success.

Many therapists now use alcohol rehabilitation, alcohol rehab, as a measure of outcome -- success is considered achieved when the patient maintains or reestablishes a good family life and work record, and a respectable position in the community. Relapse may occur but do not mean that the person or the treatment effort has failed.

A successful outcome, on this basis, can be expected for 50 to 70 percent depending upon the personal characteristics of the patient; early addiction treatment or alcohol treatment intervention; competence of the therapists; availability of hospital and outpatient facilities; and the strong support of family, friends, employer, and community

Detroit-Area Doctors Charged with Illegal Distribution of Prescription Drugs and Health Care Fraud

An indictment was unsealed today charging Dr. Hussein “Sam” Awada, 43, and Dr. Luis Collazo, 53, with the illegal distribution of prescription drugs and health care fraud, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Robert L. Corso, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge,Robert D. Foley, III, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The 68-count superseding indictment charges that from December 2010 through 2012, Dr. Awada and Dr. Collazo distributed controlled substances, including the highly addictive drugs Oxycodone, Roxicodone, and Opana ER, outside the course of usual medical practice and for no legitimate purpose. Both defendants were also charged with billing Medicare and other health insurance programs for medically unnecessary testing and procedures.
The superseding indictment alleges that Dr. Awada used recruiters, including co- defendant James Lyons, 39, to bring patients to his Midwest Family Practice at two locations in Warren. After ordering unnecessary medical procedures, Dr. Awada gave controlled substance prescriptions to the recruiter in exchange for cash payments. The recruiter then sold the pills for profit on the illegal street market.
The superseding indictment also charges that Dr. Awada and Dr. Collazo committed health care fraud by billing for unnecessary office visits, submitting patients brought by recruiters to medically unnecessary testing and procedures (including X-rays, nuclear cardiac stress tests, electrocardiograms, blood work, and injections), and by causing Medicare and other insurance programs to pay for unnecessary controlled substances.
According to the superseding indictment, Dr. Collazo participated in the drug diversion and health care fraud scheme while he worked for Dr. Awada at the Midwest Family Practice on 12 Mile Road in Warren.
More than $600,000 in funds and three automobiles were seized during the course of the underlying investigation. The United States will pursue forfeiture of all proceeds and property traceable to the offenses charged.
U.S. Attorney McQuade said, “Health care fraud diverts taxpayer dollars from needy patients to greedy criminals. We hope that our enforcement efforts will deter other doctors from engaging in fraud.”
Robert L. Corso, DEA Special Agent in Charge said, “This indictment is another example of DEA’s determination to combat the troubling prescription drug abuse problem in this country. These two doctors abused their positions of trust and jeopardized the lives of many individuals by illegally distributing highly addictive opiate painkillers. The DEA and our partners in law enforcement will continue to investigate and bring to justice those individuals that are responsible for the illegal distribution of prescription medicines.”
“The improper distribution of controlled substances poses a significant threat not only to the financial health of the Medicare and Medicaid programs but to the well-being and safety of the patients that these programs serve,” said Lamont Pugh, III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General-Chicago Region. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate allegations of this nature in order to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure patient safety.”
Robert D. Foley, III, FBI Special Agent in Charge said, “These charges represent a serious abuse of the health care system. Those motivated by greed who unlawfully take from a system designed to care for patients will be tirelessly pursued by the FBI and prosecuted for their crimes.”
Dr. Collazo will be arraigned on the superseding indictment on Friday, June 21. Dr. Awada will be arraigned on Monday, June 24.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by special agents of the DEA, HHS-OIG, and FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne Pratt, Sarah Resnick Cohen, and Gjon Juncaj and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Bidwell.

Former Director of Cleveland VA Medical Center Indicted on Conspiracy, Fraud, Money Laundering, and Other Charges

The former director of the Cleveland VA Medical Center was indicted on 36 counts, accused of accepting bribes in return for influencing development projects and decisions involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, law enforcement officials said.
William D. Montague, 61, of Brecksville, was charged with conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, bribery, money laundering, multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, disclosing public contract information, and other charges.
The indictment is part of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation.
“As a Veterans Affairs Medical Center Director, William Montague misled staff and misused his position to enrich himself and businesses pursuing contracts with the Veterans Administration,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office. “The arrest of Montague reflects law enforcement’s continued dedication to root out corruption at any level.”
“Violating the public trust for personal gain cannot be tolerated, particularly at the expense of our nation’s heroes,” said Gavin McClaren, United States Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General, Resident Agent in Charge, Cleveland.
The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center was approximately the fifth largest in the country, annually serving about 95,000 veterans who lived in 24 counties in Northeast Ohio. Montague began working for the VA in 1975 and served as director of the Cleveland VA Medical Center from 1995 until his retirement in 2010, according to the indictment.
The VA had been operating medical facilities in both Brecksville and the Wade Park neighborhood in Cleveland. In the early 2000s, the VA began exploring the feasibility of consolidating the facilities into one location, known as the VA Development Project. The combined facility would include a domiciliary, office space, and parking, according to the indictment.
The VA selected Business 42 to develop and managed the VA Development Project. Michael Forlani was the sole member of Business 42, and he had multiple other business interests, including as president and part-owner of Doan Pyramid LLC, according to the indictment.
Forlani is currently serving eight years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering, bribery, and other charges.
On or about January 1, 2010, Business 66 began operations, having purchased Doan’s assets. Business 66 operated out of Doan’s former office space and retained many Doan employees, according to the indictment.
Montague solicited and accepted gifts, payments, and other things of value from Forlani and Business 66, including a consulting contract between Business 66 and House of Montague, a financial services company Montague started in 2008, according to the indictment.
The indictment details numerous instances between 2007 and 2010 in which Montague took actions on behalf of Forlani or others. Those activities include helping expedite getting a bond rating from Standard & Poors and desired ratings, help getting desired legal opinions from the VA, help getting desired parking rates, and other activities.
Montague retired from the VA on February 3, 2010, about a month after Business 66 began operations. On February 15, 2010, Business 66 issued a check to House of Montague for $2,750, the first of many approximately monthly checks. On December 29, 2010, Montague became a member of the Business 66 Board of Advisers, according to the indictment.
From about February 15, 2010 through May 2012, Business 66 paid House of Montague $156,750, according to the indictment.
In a different scheme, Montague entered into a consulting agreement with a company identified as Business 73, headquartered in Virginia. The company agreed to pay Montague $2,500 a day for a minimum of 24 days, between July 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009, while Montague was still employed by the VA, according to the indictment.
Montague emphasized his ability to access key decision makers in the VA quickly and effectively as one of the reasons he could help Business 73 develop joint ventures and/or expand services provided by the VA. Montague told an official at Business 73 that he had consulted with a VA ethics panel and that he had authorization to do the consulting work as long as he took vacation time to perform the work. In fact, Montague had no such authorization, according to the indictment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette T. Bacon and Nancy L. Kelley following an investigation by the FBI and United States Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases they will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Effectiveness of Treatment in Alcohol Addiction

Effective treatment therapy can decrease high drinking limit - it's proven to ensure it that the alcohol rehabilitation center is perfect place.

Most of the rehab centers concentrates on, recovery of the addict. This recovery can classify under four categories. Those are: life style optimization, prevention of alcoholism and physical and spiritual growth of addict.

It is noticed that, the more complex lifestyle is more or less responsible for alcoholism. During this treatment session addict can enhance his power to overcome those complexity.

Prevention - is most important part of the holistic pattern treatment. Through this session addict can achieve how to overcome those triggers which will curve him towards alcohol. It's a very crucial stage of treatment where addict need a lots of specialist, who will cross verify the explanation of the addict and guide him to get the proper think ability.

Some of rehab centers focused on physical and spiritual growth of the addict through music and yoga. It is proven that, most of the cases relapse the alcohol abuse caused the improper prevention plan. Basically it's a problem solving technique. Through which addict can overcome the "Helplessness". So the addicts need a proper substance prevention plan by providing a continuous support. Generally the holistic approach takes 1 year for continuous support.

This is recommended that, the holistic intervention process is the beginning process of the treatment, so done it carefully with specialist supervision or by taking help of any rehab center. Sometimes detoxification is required; detoxification is a process - where using proper medicine alcohol and damaged cell can be removed from human body. Doctors will provide cross tolerance drugs into addict's body that will effect to prevent alcohol. Detoxification may or may not be required for all addicts. Perhaps it's a good therapy used by rehab centers.

Some of rehab centers develop their treatment in reverse way. First they start detoxification then they will provide holistic therapy. Although detoxification is difficult so do the detoxification with all medical facility.

Alcohol detoxification mainly classified under two categories. First approach is medicinal approach where doctor and other medical stuff will detoxify the addicts' body, and the second approach is after completion of medicinal approach - addict should make his body completely free from alcohol by taking proper healthy food and drink.

There will be little side effect of detoxification. After detoxification person can feel little nervous or feel little bit anxiety for a few days, little difficulties with sleep for few nights, but all this for a few days. Finally, to take a decision please consults with any rehab centers for proper guidance. Proper care and treatment can minimize the side effects of detoxification process.

The Problem With Dual-Diagnosis in Addiction Treatment

Dual-diagnosis - diagnosing someone with both a substance abuse problem and a mental or emotional condition at the same time - is a growing trend in the field of addiction treatment. Alcoholics or drug addicts are treated for both their addiction and their other problems concurrently. However, many of those treated for dual-diagnosis may never get the help they need for either problem.

How can dual-diagnosis prevent successful treatment?

The major pitfall is the risk of labeling the person with a condition they don't have. Just about every substance abuser displays symptoms of some disorder or other simply as a side effect of the addiction. Until they're off the drugs and well on the road to recovery, it can be impossible to tell which symptoms are associated with the alcohol or drug addiction and which are not.

The effect is similar to that of any wrong diagnosis - when they're treated for the wrong thing, the real problem they have continues, and may actually get worse.

A good example of the danger of incorrect diagnosis is a recent story about a woman who, while her family doctor was out of town, went to emergency reeling with irrational confusion, difficulty breathing, and heart palpitations. The doctors did blood tests and an EKG, and, finding nothing wrong, concluded that the problem was anxiety and prescribed Prozac.

Fortunately, the woman did not take the Prozac and the next day was able to see her own doctor. The problem turned out to be potassium deficiency - a condition which could have been fatal. Thanks to her family doctor's correct diagnosis, the condition was easily resolved. Within a few hours of following his advice she was completely back to normal.

What would have happened had she accepted the 'anxiety' diagnosis and taken the Prozac?

- She would have had to cope with the possibly severe side effects of Prozac.

- She would be living with the stigma of being diagnosed as 'mentally ill.'

- Since the diagnosis was incorrect, she might be desperately trying to figure out why she suddenly developed this 'mental problem' and would be assigning cause to situations in life that, in fact, were not really problems. This in itself can be extremely disruptive to a person's life - she could suffer years of mental anguish trying to figure out what was wrong with her mind when, in fact, there was nothing wrong in the first place.

- She could have developed an addiction to or dependence on Prozac.

- Since her 'mental problem' did not resolve with the Prozac (how could it when it didn't exist in the first place?), she may have been prescribed additional harmful drugs and had to cope with the side effects of those.

- Because she was driving herself crazy trying to figure out what was really wrong with her mind and never really finding an answer, she could have developed other emotional symptoms and been incorrectly labeled with yet another disorder.

- Last, but not least, she could have died from the undiagnosed and untreated potassium deficiency.

If she lived, her life could well have been ruined.

Had his happened to a drug addict who was already coping with sometimes severe physical, mental and emotional side effects from the drugs alone, what would their chances be of recovery? Pretty slim. The combination of the effects of drug addiction and the consequences of the incorrect diagnosis could really drive them around the bend.

Also, whatever started them on the road to drug addiction in the first place may never be found or addressed - which is pivotal in addressing addiction successfully - and if the person did manage to quit drinking or taking drugs, chances are they would revert.

If you or someone you care about is having a problem with alcohol or drug addiction, make sure they're treated for that problem first. The treatment should be thorough - get them through withdrawal, put them on a nutrition and exercise program to get their body back in shape and enable them to get rid of more of the drugs in their system and, when they're in better shape, dig into what caused the addiction in the first place so those issues can be addressed, and then develop a program for them to follow when they leave rehab. This is the sequence followed in a good addiction treatment center.

Once they're well on their way, any other problems will surface independent of their addiction and can be addressed as needed.

Michigan Doctor Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Fitzgerald Anthony Hudson, 53, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Chief Judge William M. Skretny to health care fraud. The fraud related to the defendant lying about his qualifications to practice medicine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2008, the defendant submitted an application to Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, New York, for appointment to the medical staff. Prior to that, Hudson was an undergraduate student at York University in Ontario, Canada, from September 1987 to August 1990; however, the defendant did not obtain enough credits to graduate and did not earn a bachelor’s degree. The defendant then attended medical school at Ross University, after which he worked in the Warren Hospital Family Practice Residency Program in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, from July 2002 until July 2003. At that time, Hudson was suspended from his duties as a resident and dismissed from the residency program due to academic incompetence. This means, in essence, that the defendant never received his medical degree or license and was not legally qualified to practice medicine.
During the course of this prosecution, the government presented evidence that while employed at Jones Memorial Hospital, Hudson treated a 5-year-old child who subsequently died shortly after being treated by the defendant. That case is now the subject of an ongoing wrongful death civil suit in state court.
In addition, from February 2008 to June 2008, the defendant was employed at the Emergency Department at the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, New York. Hudson resigned in June 2008 due to an unfavorable incident.
“Each and every day, millions of Americans entrust their health to the care of trained medical professionals,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “By misrepresenting his background and education, this defendant put in danger the lives of those who came to him seeking emergency care. This office will continue to vigorously prosecute all fraud, particularly where such crime affects that which is most precious to us all—our health.”
In the application the defendant submitted to Jones Memorial Hospital, he (a) indicated that he disassociated with the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center because it was “too far away”; (b) indicated that he had never been denied or had suspended or restricted completion of training or certification of completion of training by any healthcare facility; and (c) stated that he earned a bachelor’s degree from York University. Hudson was aware of the false statements and representations at the time he made them and acted knowingly and willfully in submitting the false application to Jones Memorial Hospital.
As a result of the defendant’s false application for medical staff appointment, Hudson was granted privileges at Jones Memorial Hospital in Emergency Medicine. Between August 2008 and November 2009, the defendant worked as a physician at the Emergency Department at Jones Memorial Hospital and, based on that work, payments totaling approximately $227,548.35 were received from Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Univera Healthcare, and Independent Health for services rendered by the defendant.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Richard M. Frankel, Acting Special Agent in Charge; special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, under the direction of Thomas O’Donnell, Special Agent in Charge; and investigators with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2013, at 9 a.m. before Judge Skretny.

Drug and Alcohol Rehab and the Integral Role It Plays in Recovery

Drug and alcohol rehab facilities play an invaluable role in the addiction recovery process for a variety of reasons. Many addicts valiantly try time and time again to kick their substance abuse habits on their own, and one after the other, they rarely seem to stick. So what exactly is it about drug and alcohol rehab programs that seem to make the difference between getting sober and staying sober? Why is addiction so hard to recover from in the comfort of your own home? What do you learn at these drug and alcohol rehab facilities that make such a crucial impact?

One of the most important things to remember about residential drug and alcohol rehab is the controlled environment in which treatment takes place. When you fall victim to addiction, it permeates through every aspect of your life. Your social life, your home life, your professional life can all become tainted and therefore toxic environments. It's unreasonable to think anyone can recover from an illness in a toxic environment and addiction is no different. In order for treatment to take, the addict needs to be completely removed from the environment they were abusing substances in. The temptation to use consistently proves far too great to resist otherwise. They also need to be in a 100 percent substance-free space, which any drug and alcohol rehab facility should be. An addict needs to be completely separated from all crutches, excuses and codependent relationships to fully own up to what's become of their lives and come to terms with their addiction.

Long-term recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction in your own home is next to impossible. If it were feasible, many drug and alcohol rehab centers would not exist. For starters, you are still most likely living in the same environment that you used to use in, and still probably spending time with many of the same people you used to use with. Under those circumstances, if you can even manage to get sober, it's typically only a matter of time before a relapse takes place. Recovering from an addiction requires an individual to make drastic changes to their thought patterns, behaviors and lifestyle and it's naive to think that one can make those changes while staying in their current routine.

What You Really Learn at Alcohol and Drug Rehab

In addition to the controlled, segregated environment and the complete break from your pre-treatment life, the counseling you'll receive at a quality drug and alcohol rehab can make the difference between getting sober and staying sober. Recovering from an addiction truly takes the guidance and support of a knowledgeable, experienced community. It's only through open and honest communication, establishing trust and creating new relationships that don't revolve around substance abuse that you can truly make your post-rehab life transition successfully.

Alcoholism Requires Recognition and Treatment

He was only about fifty-eight years old when he died. My former boss was an alcoholic. In fact, I doubt he could function without a drink. He was in the restaurant business and he could be seen mixing it up with patrons always obviously drunk. Yet, he was a highly 'functional' alcoholic. He made a flaming dessert drink for the customers.

Alcoholism hurts people, it damages lives and the addiction is a leech that controls and dominates the person it is attached to. Alcohol treatment can help, but it can only help if the person wants to change.

My former boss was a really nice guy. He had a really nice family, lived in a nice place and was successful in his field. I liked him, I liked his family. Maybe one of the lessons he taught me was to never take up his bad habit.

Not too long ago, I ran into a young woman. She was very beautiful. When I saw her 6 months later her face had been scarred by an automobile accident. Her boyfriend was driving drunk. He felt so guilty about it that he agreed to go to a rehab center to get his drug and alcohol problem under control. Unfortunately, this kind of tragedy had to happen for them to wake up to the reality of their problem.

I knew another guy when I served in the Navy, he was one of the funniest people I'd ever met. But he had to have a drink all of the time. To me, one of the worst things in the world is to be so dependent on a substance that you can't function without it. He was young then. Many years have passed and I wonder what kind of shape he is in today.

A former high school classmate was the president of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving). Just two months or so before graduation she was struck and killed by a drunk driver. She didn't get to see her own graduation except maybe from above.

The list goes on and on. I'm sure you have your own list of alcohol related situations and problems to draw from. Everyone does, because the problem of alcohol abuse and addiction is wide spread.

Is it possible to break an addiction to alcohol? The answer is yes, but the addicted person needs to be willing to do so. If he or she is not willing, not much can be done. Unfortunately, before a person can be willing to do so, he needs to admit to himself and others that he actually has a problem.

Our society and culture make it far too easy to explain away an alcohol problem or to hide the fact from others or worse, from one's self. The critical factor to getting help and removing the addiction or at least controlling it is the person himself. The willingness to change has to be there coupled with recognition that the problem exists.

Growing up in an environment littered with alcoholics makes it even more difficult to recognize alcoholism as a problem. This person may have grown up thinking that excessive alcohol use is normal.

The health of the physical body can be seriously damaged. The liver is very important to a person's survival and alcohol abuse can damage that vital organ.

Finding a good alcohol treatment program can help immensely. Getting away from the enabling environment that contributes to alcoholism can be very beneficial to the alcoholic's recovery.

If you have an addiction or any kind of health problem or think you might, please contact your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.