Gordie Foundation

Do you have a substance abuse problem?

The first step in correcting substance abuse is the realization that you have a problem. Many people who have recovered from substance addictions will tell you that this all important step is by far the hardest. When you think about it, until you are totally honest with yourself, you are just kidding yourself. It’s like an over weight person who cheats on their diets – the scale will ALWAYS tell the real story. Therefore, honesty with yourself has to be achieved before anything else.

Here is a little quiz that will help you to determine whether or not you have an alcohol or drug problem. Be honest and answer yes if the statement is true for alcohol or drugs – this includes prescribed, recreational, or illegal substances that can be considered as mood altering.

1. Have you ever attempted to stop using alcohol or drugs for a week or so, but could only stop for a few days?

2. Do you resent the advice of others who try to get you to stop or cut down your alcohol or drug use?

3. Have you ever tried to control your alcohol or drug use by changing from one type of alcohol or drug to another type?

4. Do you envy people that use alcohol or drugs without getting into any kind of trouble?

5. Has your alcohol or drug use negatively affected your family relationships, your job, your driving safety, or any other aspect of your life?

6. During the past year, have you missed any work days because of alcohol or drugs?

7. Do you tell yourself that you can stop using alcohol or drugs any time you want?

8. Do you occasionally go on binges with alcohol or drugs?

9. Do you ever have blackouts or memory loss due to your alcohol or drug use?

10. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not use alcohol or drugs?

If you answer “yes” to two or more questions, then you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs. It is recommended that you contact a health professional.

Teenage Alcoholism

In recent years, we are seeing more drinking from teenagers. Many experts say that the reason for this is a growing anxiety among young people. And since they are still young, their ability to cope with problems is very limited. The real problem here is that they simply do not understand the evils of alcoholism and its aftereffects. It is also hard to convince them of long term affects since most teenagers cannot extend their vision beyond a year or so.  Because of all this, more and more teenagers are facing the many problems that come with excessive drinking.

The thing is whenever you look at the causes of teenage alcoholism and then look at adult alcoholism; you will see that they are very different. The sad truth is that way too many teenagers seem to think drinking excessively is a major part of enjoying life and celebrations. Unfortunately, many times that is just peer pressure.

Often times, the profile of the teenage drinker are characterized by poor academic performance and problems at home, both of which lead to even more anxiety. The sad thing is that because most teenagers do not know how to manage their emotional state, they tend to isolate themselves and this leads to loneliness – yet another reason to drink. It is easy to see how the emotional whirl wind that is often generated in the mind of a teenager.

Statistics tell us that teens that begin drinking at the age of 15 and under have a very high probability in developing alcoholism by the age of 21. The sad thing is that the brain of the teenagers is underdeveloped and prolonged drinking can greatly reduce their memory and thinking abilities. It can also cause accidental injuries like car crashes, homicides, burns, drowning and injuries to occur more frequently.

Alcohol Poisoning

Maybe you have considered saving your everyday permitted units of booze throughout the workweek, to party over the weekend break together with pals? To be honest, in case you have then you really ought to be advised. Binging on alcoholic beverages too much leads to alcohol poisoning very quickly and in many cases death.

Alcoholic beverages which you take in is taken up to your bloodstream right after absorption. There’s a particular restriction with this alcohol content that is safe and sound for ones circulating bloodstream. Whenever you drink up in rounds constantly and binge upon big pitchers of booze you can perilously build up this amount within your blood flow.

Alcohol poisoning can happen in lots of varieties. You can throw-up continually or perhaps may also encounter difficulties in breath. Alcohol poisoning could potentially cause a heart stroke as well in extraordinary instances. People suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure shouldn’t ever contemplate binging on alcoholic beverages. It could possibly put all of them up in critical strain and difficulty.

Alright, so what would you exactly do should you determine a person has alcohol poisoning? Here’s a brief observation:

• Do not allow these people sleep. Make certain they are alert during the time of trouble. You can also continue conversing with continously.

• It is vital that the individual is made pleasantly warm. This makes certain all essential organs remain working.

• Do not give them any kind of coffee as they may become dehydrated.

• Cold showers are also a no-no because they can be harmful.

It is vital to maintain a continuous tabs on someone with alcoholic poisoning. Alcohol does have a depressant impact on a person’s mind. It can make your mind lethargic and sluggish. Yet simultaneously it may also control your pulse and cardiac muscles.

The majority of results of alcohol show up usually in an extended manner. The reason being almost all of the alcohol is actually soaked up in the stomach which turns up by means of behavioural alterations immediately. In some way alcohol is additionally soaked up in the intestines in which it starts to increase the alcoholic content in the bloodstream to elevate considerably. This will cause an extended impact of alcohol to prevail on the individual until she or he passes out.

Severe circumstances of alcoholic poisoning ought to be taken to a healthcare facility right away. At once the healthcare attendants should either provide the affected person a stomach wash or set up an IV drip to stabilize the water and glucose level inside the body. Should the patient experience difficulty in breathing the medical staff should certainly assist her or him using a trachea tube to help the situation.

Prevent Hazing

It is sad to say that in too many instances throughout our nation, there are several associations that engage in a dangerous practice called hazing. Generally, the way this works is that elders members of an organized group require new members to be initiated by completing activities that are described as grueling, emotional and embarrassing. These acts serve as a prerequisite before the new members are allowed into the group. Honestly, most of time these activities are harmless, but in recent times, hazing has gone too far and has resulted in serious injury and even death.

There are several cases where hazing has caused serious injury or impairment. Sadly, in 2009, a Utah freshman died from alcohol poisoning because of hazing activities. Because of this and some other similar incidents, legal actions have been initiated as a preventive measure to protect potential victims in the future.

As stated in 76-5-107.5 of the 2010 Utah Criminal Code, hazing is viewed to be an intentional and willful act of putting another person in danger. While this activity is considered to cover several various scenarios, the law actually breaks hazing down into physical violence (like whipping and branding), forced ingestion of large quantities of food or liquor, the deprivation of sleep or social contact, and even administering humiliation and shame. And they adamantly point out that consent does not relief them of their responsibility.

Furthermore, hazing can be either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the result. For example, should it involve using dangerous weapons or drugs, the hazing act would be considered a felony. Should the victim die during the act of hazing, the defendants would be charged with manslaughter.

It should also be noted that hazing is often added to other criminal charges as well. An example is that someone facing this charge can also be charged for conduct that occurred during the ritual – such as public drunkenness. Thus, hazing actually magnifies other charges rather than eliminating them.

It is critical to take action and prevent any innocent act from becoming a tragedy along with a criminal charge that will most certainly ruin the lives of many. Never be afraid of doing the right thing and preventing peer pressure and hazing to occur. You may think that you will lose your friends, but you will only lose those who were not true friends anyway. By taking action, you are actually being the best friend of all.