Alcoholism is killing people

[Silverstarqueen]

I’m neither, but I would rather be an alcoholic, than a drug addict.

That only works in our society because booze is legal. If clean drugs carefully measured out were as easily available as alcohol is, it would amount to the same problem. Addiction is addiction, the family and friends who have to live with these people are just as badly harmed, but people are more accepting of alcohol abuse until the user becomes completely non-functional (and sometimes well beyond).
Pot is another matter, people generally do not become aggressive from smoking pot. Maybe different(not sure about that) if they are also using other drugs at the same time. If we could switch all the drunks to pot (reasonably priced, not gov't prices), they might still be non-functional, but I think there would be a lot less harm to others.

[gman313]

Alcoholism is killing people - I fully believe that. I drank wwwwwwaaaaaayyyyyy too much. Weekends I went hard and weekdays not as much, but enough to make it slow getting out of bed

I am late 30's.

Following things started happening

Gout
Bowel Issues - painful ones
Major reflux to the point I randomly puke
Depressed forsure
Very anxious - not when I am drinking but boy when I wake up
about 35 lbs overweight
overspend
hungover at work - it sucks
loss of interest of other activities
irritable with the kids
not getting the kids out enough
crap sleep

I talked to my doctor. 42 days ago he prescribed me something called disulfuram. It is from a mushroom. Basically, if you have even a sip of alcohol (or vinegar, mouth wash, salad dressing, certain ice creams, be careful!) you get violentelly ill. Food poisoning but worse. It stays in your system for up to two weeks so you can't say, hmm it's Friday, won't take my pill today and get hammered.

I have not had a drink in 42 days. I have one puff of another recently legalized product after the kids are in bed and sleep great.

In 42 days I now have the following

0 gout attacked and almost no general swelling or discomfort
pain free bowels
reflux is much better - but not yet gone
I still have anxious moments, but fewer and far between. I feel more positive
down 12 lbs and counting - 0 other changes
We increased our savings last month
I am on track for top sales person for June (I have been here two years and never achieved this)
I am back to my hobbies
I am up before the kids. With waffles ready to go most mornings
We off to the park, or movie, or beach almost every night this month

The best part, my 8 year old came up to me and said. Dad, you seem really happy and aren't grumpy anymore. That makes me (him) happy. That is the best thing I could ever hear. Boy to I sleep well now.

For anyone that cannot simply have a drink and go home, which I think is many of us. Alcohol has no useful purpose. I find it amazing how integrated into society it has become. We celebrate it and it is everywhere in our lives.

My next goal is handling social situations where it is present, especially when I stop taking this pill.

[southy]

Gman313 - CONGRATULATIONS. I sincerely hope you are feeling better about yourself more and more everyday. I too had an addiction to alcohol. Cost me my marriage, my health and a whole lot more. I quit 36 years ago … became a new person. Have a wonderful relationship with my children from the divorce, have a new wife and family who love me and I love them dearly. Retired successfully from a career I enjoyed. Today I wake up with non of the anxiety and fear you speak of … I wake up grateful and I'm ready to take on the day. I hope you continue on your path of sobriety and I truly wish you well. You didn't mention if you have any kind of emotional support to help you on those off days? Again all the best Gman.

[jimmy4321]

Those are great stories, shows you can change things up anytime.

[Queen K]

Thank you so much Southy and gman, new lives, renewed enthusiasm for life, renewed family life. Nothing can replace those, no amount of material goods, no amount of fame or infamy. Both you men may have far reaching effects on people who may read your stories , maybe not today, but a month from now, maybe more. Inspire someone, and who knows whose life may be changed? Because you opened up.

[gman313]

Thanks for the positive feedback

Since I am reasonably active on here you will tell when I was struggling more than other tomes by the tone of my posts. I had some pretty out there thoughts and felt plenty of anger. All self induced it is nice to be moving in the right direction

[Ka-El]

Lot of courage displayed in opening up as well - even in anonymity. Thanks.

[alanjh595]

Alcohol kills and hurts 1000,s every year. It is also responsible for mental break-downs and stories to be told at a later date.

How many good stories have started out with, "Here, hold my beer".

[Queen K]

I just came across this on fb. As if on cue right? But here it is.

[Grandan]

I was a two glass of wine per day and on occasion I doubled that but never more.
I was gaining weight and under pressure from my wife.
She showed me a video or three which shows what alcohol and its root, sugar does to your blood, your liver kidney and brain.
I stopped wine in December along with sugar and refined carbohydrates so I have been free for 6 months.
In that time I have lost 35 lbs and gained hours of quality time to do the many projects that are lined up waiting.
I have more energy and I am not so grumpy and annoyed.
I had always heard that two glasses of wine per day was tolerable and pretty much stuck to that but in my case it was causing problems.
I did not need a pill just the proper information to get to the right place.

[coffeeFreak]

Came across this in a news feed and while this is in England, it is still relevant to the discussion.

One in ten patients in NHS hospitals is alcohol dependent, Kings College study finds

One in ten people in NHS hospitals is alcohol dependent, according to a major study which calls for all patients to be quizzed on their drinking habits.

The study of more than 1.6 million admissions found that one in five people admitted for any reason was drinking at harmful levels.

And one in ten was classed as being dependent on alcohol, the research by Kings College London found.

Researchers called for checks on all patients admitted to hospital - whatever the reason.

Alcohol related conditions have previously been estimated to cost the NHS around £3.5bn pounds a year.

But experts said the findings suggest Britain’s alcohol problem is far greater than had been assumed.

Lead researcher Dr Emmert Roberts, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said: “The numbers are so massive that it shows that everybody in hospital should be being screened about their alcohol use.

“If you only ask people about the drinking when the signs are obvious, such as alcohol on the breath, or conditions that are most closely associated with alcohol, you are missing a vast swathe of people.”

The research pooled the results of 124 studies covering 1,657,614 participants in NHS hospitals.

The findings suggest that harmful alcohol use is ten times higher in hospital inpatients than in the wider population.

Earlier this year, health officials announced plans to pilot screening systems in 50 hospitals, to quiz patients on their drinking habits. It came as guidance urged the public not to let their lifestyles “place extra demands” on the NHS.

The checks will see hospital patients quizzed on their intake, with those thought to be drinking too much given advice sessions lasting 20 to 40 minutes, with personalised feedback about their level of risk, tips about how to cut down, and referrals for those in need of urgent help.

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, said the numbers were “shocking”.

“What we must recognise is that there are more people with alcohol problems in the UK than most of us realise,” he said, calling for minimum unit pricing and restrictions on alcohol marketing.

“We must wake up to the unacceptable levels of suffering that alcohol is causing our society,” he said.

Earlier this year global research suggested British people are the most likely to get drunk regularly.

Britons reported getting drunk an average of 51.1 times in a 12-month period - almost once a week - according to the latest results from the Global Drug Survey.

Last year a study in the Lancet found that the UK is almost unique, in the fact that on average, women are drinking the same amount as men.

The study, led by the University of Washington, shows that on average women in the UK are now consuming three alcoholic drinks daily - exactly the same as men.

Experts said a steady growth in wine drinking since the 1980s, and the marketing of “female-friendly” drinks such as cocktails, had driven the trend.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: "Alcohol dependence can devastate families with the NHS often left to pick up the pieces, yet the right support can save lives.

“The NHS Long Term Plan will expand specialist alcohol care teams in hospitals across the country to tackle problem drinking and prevent 50,000 admissions over the next five years.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/03/one-ten-patients-nhs-hospitals-alcohol-dependent-kings-college/

[DarbyD]

Anything in excess will have consequences sooner or later.

Exactly right GordonH.

[DarbyD]

I’m neither, but I would rather be an alcoholic, than a drug addict.

That only works in our society because booze is legal. If clean drugs carefully measured out were as easily available as alcohol is, it would amount to the same problem. Addiction is addiction, the family and friends who have to live with these people are just as badly harmed, but people are more accepting of alcohol abuse until the user becomes completely non-functional (and sometimes well beyond).
Pot is another matter, people generally do not become aggressive from smoking pot. Maybe different(not sure about that) if they are also using other drugs at the same time. If we could switch all the drunks to pot (reasonably priced, not gov't prices), they might still be non-functional, but I think there would be a lot less harm to others.

Agreed

[Queen K]

So true right? Do I have to explain that I don't want a drink? EVERY time?

And sometimes I want one, but not so overwhelming so that I'm actually gonna get out of pajamas and drive to the store.