Alcohol Facts & Myths

According to recent studies, 61% of the U.S. population has indulged in at least one alcoholic beverage in the past year. Though beer, wine and liquor are commonly consumed, many individuals do not fully comprehend the impact drinking has on the body and society as a whole. In this entry, we will address some common facts and myths associated with alcohol use to shed further light on its effects. 

Social Drinking

Myth: You are not an alcoholic if you only drink with others.

Fact: Though drinking alone is one of the first signs of a drinking problem, social drinking to excess can also signal an addiction to alcohol.

Driving

Myth: I drive much better with a few drinks in me.

Fact: Though alcohol can reduce stress and increase relaxation, the overall impact of a few drinks significantly impairs our ability to think, judge and react.

Sex

Myth:  Libido is increased by alcohol intake.

Fact: Alcohol works to widen blood vessels in the penis, promoting blood flow both to and from the area – ultimately resulting in erectile dysfunction.

Coffee

Myth: Drinking black coffee sobers me up.

Fact: Though coffee’s water content will help your body dilute the alcohol, it does not sober you up. Caffeine’s effects may cause a person to believe they are sober enough to drive in spite of the fact that they are still under the influence.

Warmth

Myth: Alcohol warms up your body when it’s cold.

Fact: Alcohol actually makes our bodies colder. Though a shot of alcohol can certainly offer a warming sensation, the feeling only results from blood rushing to the skin’s surface, causing heat to escape from the body.

Need Help?

If you have a friend or loved one struggling with an alcohol addiction, Family First Intervention is the place to call. Pick up the phone today and let our team of addiction specialists help your loved one back on track towards the healthy, happy life they deserve.

Denial Defined

Throughout substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment, addicts must go through a series of denial phases in order to truly comprehend the problem before moving towards a healthy recovery. In total, there are 3 unique denial stages throughout the recovery process. For some users, it can take months or even years to properly address and defeat the addiction.

Denial Types

Two distinct denial types exist in recovery. The first type is akin to lying, as an addict, when confronted about their dependence, denies any issue while understanding its existence. An individual who is truly unaware of the extent of the issue at hand defines the second.

Phase 1

Denial stage 1 refers to a user who refuses to admit to the addiction. This does not necessarily mean that they will not address the issue; rather, they do not view it as a problem. Other users may acknowledge the use, but refuse to accept that an addiction is present. Overcoming this initial stage can only occur through abstinence and educational means. In order for a recovery to take place, the addict must first accept their addiction as a problem behavior.

Phase 2

Denial stage 2 often surfaces following treatment. In this circumstance, the addict feels they have been “cured”, while refusing to seek additional help from exterior sources. In order to move beyond phase 2, the addict must understand that they are powerless to maintain sobriety on their own.

Phase 3

The final denial stage sees an addict refusing to commit full-heartedly to recovery. Though the addict may vocalize a commitment, they may prove unable to maintain it for a long period of time. Phase 3 is often the shortest in the denial pack – leading either to relapse or increased involvement in the recovery lifestyle.

Need Help?

If a friend or loved one is struggling to come to grips with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, seek out help. Don't wait - tomorrow may never come.

Intervention Roles

An intervention may be necessary to communicate concern to a loved one struggling with addiction. The goal of any intervention is to encourage the addict to seek help in combating these matters. When it comes to staging an intervention, several roles must be filled to ensure s positive outcome for all participants involved.

Interventionist

At the forefront of the alcohol or drug intervention team is an interventionist. This specialist is a licensed professional with extensive training and knowledge in the realm of addiction and recovery. The interventionist works with participants by explaining the process of intervention, while guiding everyone through best practices in confronting the individual in question,

Family and Friends

The role of loved ones during a family intervention is extensive. Participants are encouraged to communicate their concern and love for the addict, while confronting them about their alcohol and/or drug abuse. Additionally, loved ones must explain that they are no longer willing to enable the addiction any further through emotional or financial means. The alternative to this consequence is that the addict seek help through an addiction treatment program.

Addict

Ideally, the addict should be respectful to all participants by listening to their concerns and requests. Addicts will commonly deny the presence of an issue and refuse to accept help. If the subject becomes combative, the interventionist and participants must support each other while reaffirming their commitment to a happy and successful outcome.

Tips and Warnings

An intervention can be utilized to address an array of addictions, including but not limited to hoarding, sex, gambling and eating disorders. Securing treatment prior to the intervention is encouraged to avoid a last minute change of heart by the addict.

How Families Enable Addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction has the ability to ruin family life from the inside out, in addition to a number of social, economic and legal issues. Though the impact on the individual and surrounding family differs with each situation, the problem does not discriminate according to race, class, or gender. In this entry, we will take a close look at some common enabling behaviors.

Financial

Any form of drug or alcohol addiction comes with a financial burden. Whether financial troubles stem from an inability to maintain employment or the diminished income due to excessive use, the problem remains the same. If an individual loses their job due to addiction, they may be required to seek financial aid from parents, siblings and friends. Though it is natural for loved ones to wish the addict success, continuing to bail them out will only serve to perpetuate the cycle.

Long story short: An addict without reason to quit using will not stop until they have one.

Silence

Some family members may enable addiction by hiding the issue from others within the family circle. A sister who is aware of her brother’s drug addiction but who neglects to inform her parents is enabling the abuse to continue. Choosing to hide or ignore the issue from those who may take action prohibits the issue from obtaining the attention in requires, but does nothing to solve the problem.

Your family member does not need time… They need HELP.

Denial

Many types of enabling are complicit or even overt and proactive, but denial is another characteristic of loved ones who enable addiction. By choosing to deny or ignore the issue, family members only fan the flames of addiction. Denial is both a trick and mechanism of the addict and/or codependents, used to divert attention from the issue at hand. 

Intervention Types

Intervention is a response to a person and situation that require exterior help. Common reasons for intervention include: extreme depression and suicidal tendencies; drug and alcohol abuse; eating disorders; and other serious life issues that pose negative influence on the individual in question. A variety of intervention strategies can be utilized, each of which we will cover in the entry below.

Emergency Intervention

A crisis or emergency intervention takes place when a person poses an immediate threat to themselves of others. This intervention type is typically performed without much planning by friends and family members. Loved ones of the subject understand the immediate danger, confront the person in a loving and time-efficient manner, and transport them to a treatment facility of hospital to begin recovery.

Family Intervention

Family interventions occur in cases where loved ones communicate their concerns to the subject in an honest and open manner. Unlike a crisis intervention, the loved ones plan exactly when, where and how to confront the individual about their behaviors. This confrontation involves communications in a loving and non-judgmental fashion, while making certain to convey a need for treatment.

Teen Intervention

Personality, maturity and age must all be taken into account when considering a teen intervention. These intervention types can prove more delicate than others due to the confrontational and rebellious nature of some adolescents. In many cases, you may consider seeking the aid of an interventionist to assist you throughout the intervention planning and implementation process to help ensure a positive experience. 

What Type of Letter to Write For An Alcohol Intervention

Alcoholism, a dependency to alcohol, is an extreme condition. For family and friends of an alcoholic, being forced to stand by and watch the individual spiral can prove quite frustrating. If you’re seeking change in the life of an alcoholic loved one in addition to yourself, an intervention may be the route for you! In this entry, we will discuss the best techniques and strategies when creating an intervention letter.

Significance

During alcohol intervention, family and friends create letters in an effort to avoid chaos and excess emotion during the intervention. Without these letters, anger and frustration can quickly become a main focus; creating additional barriers on path to the main goal of the intervention: getting the alcoholic to seek treatment.

Intro

Each intervention letter consists of three parts and should not run longer than 2 pages. The introduction of your letter should communicate how much you care for the individual in question.

Body

Your letter’s body should include reasons why the individual should seek help. Cite recent instances where the alcoholic’s behaviors have hindered the life of both the alcoholic and those surrounding them.

Conclusion

Your conclusion should once again affirm your love for the alcoholic, while requesting they accept help for their affliction. A well-written letter is an essential aspect of any successful intervention.

Considerations

Prior the intervention, all participants should gather to share their letters with one another. This will help ensure fresh content, while serving as an editing platform to remove feelings of hostility, finger pointing and blame. 

What Is Your Intervention Objective?

A family requested drug intervention is a momentous step forward for friends and family seeking to address a loved one’s addiction. But before you can properly use an intervention, it is important to determine precisely what you are hoping to achieve by it.

Confrontation

Your first and main objective of the intervention should be confronting the individual whom the intervention is for in regard to their substance abuse issues. It is vital that the subject is acutely aware of the spot they have place themselves and loved ones into, and important they be made to understand the extent of their issue. Until a subject admits to their behaviors, the intervention cannot proceed.

Relationship Impact

The second intervention objective should be letting the individual know exactly how their addiction and behaviors have impacted the lives of those surrounding them. Having each participant communicate just how their life has been affected by the subject’s addiction will serve in opening the subject’s eyes to the damage inflicted.

Healing

Participants should attempt to heal their relationships with the addict. This objective is extremely important, and is recognized as a crucial step in maintaining support for the individual while communicating that their loved ones will be there for them if indeed they choose to seek help for their issues.

Solution

Of course, the real objective of any intervention is a happy outcome. Getting the subject to assume responsibility for their problems and agree to treatment is a win-win situation, and a step towards the healthy, happy life they and the family deserve.