Category Archives: Alcoholism Education

In Patient Alcohol Treatment

In Patient Alcohol Treatment

Alcoholism is a terrible disease. It is not only hard on the patient but on their family and friends as well. If you or a family member is going to check into an in patient alcohol treatment facility, there are a couple of things to remember to help make this visit a little easier.

All alcohol treatment programs are different. Each has its own unique policies and rules. However, while the programs vary there are a couple of key things you can expect to happen. First, just about everything you have seen in the movies and television is wrong. Most of the time movies offer a dramatized and pretty account of alcohol treatment. I’m sure you already expect that it is not going to be easy. However, alcohol rehab is something that you have to do if you have a dependency problem. Not going through treatment now, will result in even worse situations in the future.


You are at the alcohol treatment facility to not only detox but also to learn about addiction, prevention for the future and how to break your old habits.  In order to stay sober you are going to need a support group that includes your counselors, family and friends. In patient alcohol treatment offers a lot of support from trained staff that will help you break free from alcohol addiction.  In addition in patient alcohol treatment can offer a regimented schedule that will help you keep your mind away from alcohol.

While at the in patient program you will attend support groups and meet people who are going through the same thing you are.

Getting away from your normal environment, expressing yourself and learning from others in a safe environment can help you break through some of your emotional connections to alcohol.  Also, the friends you make while attending can help and support you through the process of staying sober after alcohol rehab.  These relationships may extend beyond the alcohol treatment center and may provide you with a lifetime of support.


The prospect of alcohol treatment can be very scary. It is important that you take the time to find an in patient alcohol treatment program that is right for you. With a little help from your family and friends you can be on the road to recovery.

Addiction Treatment Center 1-800-853-1387

 

Isopropyl Alcohol Ingestion

The three most common forms of alcohol poisoning are ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol (isopropal alcohol). Ingesting these types of alcohol can have horrible and life threatening consequences.

It is important to be able to recognize these forms of alcohol poisoning and their symptoms because prompt treatment is essential to survival. The internal organs are most severely effected depending on how much and which type of alcohol is consumed. Isopropal Alcohol Ingestion is specifically dangerous due to it’s high potency.

“Isopropanol

Isopropanol is found in OTC rubbing alcohol (70% isopropanol), antifreeze, skin lotions, and some home cleaning products.

Death from ingestion of isopropanol is uncommon. Isopropanol has 2-3 times the potency of ethanol and causes hypotension and CNS and respiratory depression more readily than ethanol. Peak levels occur approximately 30 minutes after ingestion because of rapid GI absorption, which is delayed in the presence of food. Isopropanol is a CNS and cardiac depressant with about twice the potency of ethanol. Serum levels more than 400 mg/dL are potentially fatal.

Approximately 20-50% of isopropanol is excreted unchanged by the kidney, while 50-80% is converted in the liver to acetone, which is a CNS depressant in its own right. Acetone is excreted primarily by the kidneys, with some excretion through the lungs. The elimination half-life of isopropanol is 4-6 hours; that of acetone is 16-20 hours. The prolonged CNS depression seen with isopropanol ingestion is partially related to acetone’s CNS depressant effects.”

Source: www.emedicine.com

Isopropanol Alcohol Ingestion can cause severe GI hemorrhage, refractory hypotension, and hemolytic anemia.

Although most cases of Isopropal Alcohol ingestion are accidental and by younger children there are cases of adults ingesting isopropal alcohol in suicide attempts, for recreation and misuse by alcoholics desperate for alcohol. If you suspect someone abusing isopropyl alcohol contact 911. For alcoholics please have an intervention and suggest they seek alcohol abuse treatment.

Types of Drinkers

There are typically four different types of drinkers. All of which have very distinct drinking habits that you should be aware of; either for yourself, or loved ones. Toward the end of this article, you should be able to accurately determine whether or not you or a loved one is a health drinker, social drinker or responsible drinker, problem drinker or irresponsible drinker or an alcoholic. We’ve added two more to our list because of the growing trend and concern for these types of drinkers: Under Age drinkers and Binge Drinkers.

The Health Drinker:

The health drinkers are the types of drinkers that drink alcohol for health-related reasons or to give them a deeper sense of peace.

  • They often drink wines.
  • Red wine has antioxidants.
  • Red wine has also been linked with heart health.
  • They drink sparingly.
  • They drink before bed to relax.

The Social or Responsible Drinker:

The responsible drinker is the type of drinker who will drink slowly, and only on special occasions that call for a little more relaxation among friends or colleagues.

Social drinkers do not allow the alcohol to control them.

  • They never drink and drive.
  • They drink slowly, and enjoy the company.
  • They tend to treat alcohol as an addition to a meal, not the meal itself.
  • They are not dependant on the drink.
  • They drink with nondrinkers around to help them stay accountable.

The Problem or Irresponsible Drinker:

The irresponsible drinker is the absolute opposite of the social drinker. These types of drinkers will often head for the bar for the buzz, and not for the social aspect of drinking. Problem drinkers get loud and brazen.

  • They’ll become impaired and unable to drive.
  • They can become angry.
  • This drinker can have lower productivity ratings.
  • They can also lose their memory of the previous drinking night.

The Under-aged Drinker:

A form of the irresponsible drinker is the under aged drinker. When drinking is done by an under aged person, there are several risks involved.

  • A young person’s body is not meant for alcohol and may not be able to handle the side effects.
  • A younger person already has less mature judgment, and it can become worse with alcohol.
  • It is illegal and can result in legal action such as probation or jail time if caught.
  • It’s dangerous.

The Alcoholic:

Alcoholics have lost all control of their drinking habits. Since the drink has become a drug, or a medication to pain, it can become highly addictive.

  • These types of drinkers find it hard to cope with their problems without a drink.
  • They are dependent, and will regularly seek excessive amounts of alcohol at once.
  • They tend to gain weight around the mid-section.
  • Some tend to lose jobs, or at least can’t keep jobs.
  • They will drink very strong drinks.

The Binge Drinker:

Another type of drinker out there is the binge drinker. Binge drinkers will often go extended periods of time without drinking followed by periods of extreme drinking. A person may believe he or she deserves to drink a massive amount of alcohol because they’ve not drank for a while, a binge drinker is a serious risk to him or herself.

  • Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning.
  • Binging can cause uncontrollable mood swings.
  • Binging is very expensive.
  • Binging is addictive.
  • Binge drinking can be fatal since alcohol poisoning can lead to death.
  • Binge drinking can lead to alcoholism.

Conclusion:

What types of drinker are you and your friends? Do you all have social drinking habits, or problem drinking habits? Always be careful when drinking alcohol. Make sure it does not become a crutch or addiction. Once it becomes an addiction, alcohol can run your life, and it is very difficult to quit drinking and straighten out your life. There is more to your life than allowing a drink to make decisions for you and rob you of the valuable time you have on earth.