ALCOHOL+ADDICTION!

=God Created Family!!= =Find A HEALTHY FAMILY YOU CAN LOVE AND CAN LOVE YOU.=

**Pastors**
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! Alcohol Addiction can start with one drink, because one drink leads to another drink



If you are having problems with alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is simply defined as a compulsive need for an intoxicating liquid that is obtained from fermented grain or fruit. These liquids include beer, wine, and other hard liquors.

Alcoholism is present when a person craves alcohol and cannot limit or contain his or her drinking. If someone experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety when alcohol consumption has ceased, or if there is a need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to feel a high, that person is most likely alcoholic.

Some may think that it’s just a matter of having the will to stop drinking, but alcoholism is more complicated than that. An alcoholic’s craving for alcohol is so great that it suppresses their ability to stop drinking. The majority of alcoholics need assistance to stop drinking. With treatment and support from family and friends, many have been able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. It is a sad fact however that there are still some who are unable to stop in spite of these aids. Scientists say that someone who has alcoholic addiction in his/her family is more likely to develop alcoholism if they choose to drink. Alcoholism can also develop or worsen based on a person’s environment and traumatic experiences in life. These factors may include culture, family, friends, peer pressures, and the way the person lives.
 * Alcohol Addiction - What are the causes and effects of alcoholism?**

Alcoholism can lead people into serious trouble, and can be physically and mentally destructive. Currently alcohol use is involved in half of all crimes, murders, accidental deaths, and suicides. There are also many health problems associated with alcohol use such as brain damage, cancer, heart disease, and diseases of the liver. Alcoholics who do not stop drinking reduce life expectancy by 10 to 15 years.
 * Too much alcohol can destroy brain cells, possibly leading to brain damage.
 * Alcohol greatly disturbs the structure and function of the central nervous system, hindering the ability to retrieve, consolidate, and process information.
 * Moderate consumption of alcohol can affect cognitive abilities while large amounts interfere with the oxygen supply of the brain causing a blackout when totally drunk.
 * Alcohol addiction may also inflame the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and could cause cancer in these areas, especially in drinkers who also smoke.
 * Splurge drinking may produce irregular heartbeats, and abusers experience a higher risk of high-blood pressure, heart attacks, and other heart damage.
 * Alcohol also can harm vision, damage sexual function, slow circulation, be the grounds for malnutrition, and water retention.
 * It can also lead to skin and pancreatic disorders, weaken the bones and muscles, thus, decreasing immunity

A large portion of alcohol taken in is broken down in the liver. It is important to note that the liver has a fixed rate of breaking down the alcohol, so as the liver is overused, disorders and malfunctions can result, making the liver the primary location of alcohol’s damage. Liver damage can occur in three stages. The first stage is liver enlargement whereby liver cells are penetrated with abnormal fatty tissue. The second stage is the alcoholic hepatitis whereby liver cells swell, inflame, and eventually die. The third stage is cirrhosis in which fibrous scar tissues are formed, hindering the flow of blood through the liver.

There are plenty of places to find help: http://www.drug-addiction-hotline.com/alcohol.html There are local rehabs in every major city, and some small towns. If you or someone you know needs help, please let someone know today.

Alcohol Addiction can lead to child abuse, and the children are helpless to tell anyone. So if you know anyone who may be an addict, please let someone know.

As Alcoholics Anonymous grew during the late 1930s and early 1940s it became more structured and the 12 basic principles were developed that are still the backbone of the organization today. The original 12 principles were:
 * Admitting alcoholism ruled their lives
 * Believing God could [|cure alcoholics] of their addiction
 * Putting themselves in God’s hands
 * Honest self evaluation
 * Self confession of wrongs enacted
 * Preparedness for God to remove bad characteristics
 * Requesting that God remove these bad characteristics
 * Listing the people they had harmed and committing to redress wrongs done
 * Actually making any amends possible
 * Continuous self-evaluation and admittance of any ongoing imperfections
 * Vowing to try to understand God and his plans for recovering alcoholics
 * Committing to help other practicing alcoholics