ALCOHOLISM

BATTLING THE BOOZE

ALCOHOL FACTS

Alcohol isnt a stimulant, its a depressant.

Alcohol isnt a stimulant, its a depressant. Thats why drinking too much often leads to impaired judgement, slurring of speech, a tendency to violent behaviour and loss of short-term memory. As alcohol also irritates the stomach, heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. Alcohol also has a dehydrating effect, which is the main reason why excessive drinking can lead to a hangover. It can also lead to temporary impotence in men.

Drink 3 double gin and tonics everyday and you'll put on up to 4lbs in four weeks

Drinking heavily increases your calorie intake and many people are unaware of how fattening alcohol can be. Did you know that: A standard 175ml glass of white/red wine = 2 plain digestive biscuits (115 calories)* A premium 5% lager has the same calorie content as a slice of pepperoni pizza (250 calories)*

An alcopop = 2 slices of carrot cake (170 calories)*

A single measure of spirits = a small Yorkshire pudding (55 calories)*

Drinking after a workout can cancel out any gains.

Drinking alcohol after a workout can cancel out any physiological gains you might have received because shortterm alcohol use can impede muscle growth, while longterm alcohol use diminishes protein synthesis resulting in a decrease in muscle build-up. If you have alcohol 24 hours before exercising you are more likely to develop muscle cramps. Following an episode of heavy drinking, you should have a 48 hour break without alcohol to allow time for your body tissues to recover.

 One in five men develop a drinking problem. Men are twice as likely as women to abuse or become dependent on alcohol.(4) One in 10 men (9%) are at risk drinkers someone who drinks more than 50 units a week.(5)

 Around 29 out of every 1,000 women are dependent on alcohol. Around 3,000 women die each year due to the direct effects of alcohol

 MYTH: Talk to me about drugs - that's a bigger issue than alcohol. TRUTH: Both drugs and alcohol are serious problems among teens. Alcohol kills young people just like cocaine, heroin and other serious illegal drugs. Also, according to recent studies, nearly one-half (47%) of persons who began drinking before age 14 were alcohol dependent at some point in their lifetime.

 Myth: A drink with diet cola will keep me sharp Actually, it wont, nor will sipping coffee keep you sober. "Having caffeine with alcohol is actually more dangerous," Dr. Walters says, "because you feel more energized and may drink past what you should."

 Myth: Ive had one drink in an hour, so Im safe to drive While its true that it takes one hour for mens bodies to metabolize one drink, Dr. Urschel suggests that women wait at least an hour and a half, due to our unique physiology. Even then, he says, "you cant trust your judgment once youre buzzed," and youll probably feel buzzed sooner than you think. The longer you wait to drive, the more sober youll feel and the lower your BAC will be.

 Myth: I dont get as drunk when I drink vodka We wish. Truth is, any hard liquor will get you drunk just as fastbut darker liquors might make you feel worse the next day, Dr. Walters says. Thats because brown liquors (think: whiskey and rum) contain impurities called congeners, byproducts of fermentation that can bottleneck in the body while enzymes in the stomach and liver try to convert them to water, leading to intense hangovers.

 PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT ALL.

 Drew Barrymore Perhaps the most infamous child star addict, Drew Barrymore started drinking at 9 years old, smoking pot at 10, and using cocaine at 12; she went to rehab the following year. Barrymore chronicled her troubles in her autobiography Little Girl Lost, published at age 14. Now, at 36, Barrymore, who co-founded Flower Films production company in 1995, says she strives for balance in her life. Im not [completely sober], she told Parade magazine in 2009. And I don't claim to be quite the opposite. I've tried to find the balance.

 Elton John Elton John first used cocaine in 1974 while recording his eighth album. I never thought of myself as being handsome or goodlooking or whatever, he told the UKs Telegraph in 2010. I always felt like an outsider. And I think thats why I started doing drugs, to be one of the gang. What followed were what John refers to as the lost years, a time full of drug addiction, alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, and eating disorders. In 1990, John finally cleaned up. My life as I get older is such a great experience. The demons that I had inside me the fear of confrontation, the shyness, the self-loathing because of [husband David Furnish] and my recovery, its really so much better. Im quite at peace with myself now.

 Robin Williams After struggling with alcoholism and cocaine abuse in the 1980s, Robin Williams says the overdose of fellow comedian John Belushi and becoming a father served as his wake-up call to get help. It was great to have full sentences once I cleaned up. It was also great to be aware of the experience of a child and watching him grow, which is another amazing experience, Williams said in 2001 on Inside the Actors Studio. However, in 2006, after more than 20 years of sobriety, Williams checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse. "It's hard admitting it, then once you've done that, it's real easy," Williams told ABCs Diane Sawyer that year. "You think people don't notice. Then you find out later, 'We knew. You went outside naked.' No, I didn't. But even the dog was like, 'What's wrong, boy?' Humiliation gives you humility."

 Mel Gibson Mel Gibson began drinking at 13 and has said that alcoholism runs in his family. As a manic-depressive, alcohol aggravates his condition, and his unruly behavior has prompted accusations of homophobia, racism, antiSemitism, sexism, and misogyny. In the past, Gibson has sought professional help and attended AA meetings. He finally went into rehab after being arrested for a DUI in 2006.

 Lindsay Lohan The young starlet, like many child actresses, turned to drugs and alcohol as a response to her high-pressured life. Lindsay has to work hard to stay sober and has already had one failed attempt with rehab. She was forced to wear an alcohol detection bracelet to monitor her alcohol consumption.

 Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway is one of the worlds most famous and successful literary alcoholics. He began drinking heavily as a young man, and drank continuously through the years he spent writing his masterpieces. He suffered from severe mental and physical problems as he aged, aggravated by his drinking, and eventually committed suicide in 1961.