alcohol and drugs

Alcohol and Drugs The Organ and Child Killers

Alcoholism and drug abuse have haunted my family for years.  I’ve been in recovery for just about 30 years but I’m not alone in my family.  Anonymity disallows further disclosure but trust me, I know about addiction first hand and even as I write this another family member is suffering and causing suffering.  I hate the disease with every fiber in my body and I know how hard it is to fight it.

Alcohol is a drug. It is no different than heroin or cocaine or Dilaudid or Oxycontin.  They are all addictive drugs and they ruin lives and kill people.  Those are facts.  Here’s another fact.  There is an alcohol and drug abuse epidemic among young people in America today.

Here is some shocking information from the National Center On Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.  And if you are not shocked you should be.  http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/Home.aspx?articleid=287&zoneid=32

• Half of college students binge drink and or abuse other drugs and almost a quarter meet medical criteria for alcohol or drug dependence.
•  Prescription drug abuse is the most rapidly increasing drug abuse among teens.
• Each day more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink
• 7 million (26 percent) of public school students age 12-17 say their school is both gang and drug infected.
• Teens who see their parents drunk are more than twice as likely to get drunk in a month and three times likelier to use marijuana and smoke cigarettes
• In 2009 more than one third of teens (8.7 million) said they can get prescription drugs to get high within a day and nearly one in five said they could get them in an hour.

Now, you may ask yourself why a blog about organ donation and transplantation is focusing on alcohol.  The answer is simple.  Alcohol can and does destroy human organs.  If Americans could better control their alcohol consumption the number of people who need organ transplants would drop considerably.  Here are just a few of the effects of prolonged alcohol and drug abuse:’

• The brain —  confusion and memory loss.  Changes in sensation and numbness.
• Scarring of the liver called cirrhosis which can lead to death.
• Disease of the pancreas and stomach even stomach cancer
• Heart irregularities and weakening leading to death (my alcoholism could have contributed to my need for a heart transplant).
• Upset the body’s natural control of blood fats and blood sugar levels.
• Bone thinning called osteoporosis
• Kidney disease

Long-term use of alcohol and drugs in excessive quantities is capable of damaging nearly every organ and system in the body.

Now, back to the epidemic amongst our youth.  Let’s just focus on alcohol.  Underage drinkers account for 11.4 percent of all the alcohol consumed in the U.S., according to Teen Tipplers: America’s Underage Drinking Epidemic, a report released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The report found that more than five million high schoolers (31 percent) say they binge drink at least once a month. The gender gap in alcohol consumption that for generations separated girls and boys has disappeared among younger teens: male and female ninth graders are just as likely to drink (40 percent vs. 41 percent) and to binge drink (22 percent vs. 20 percent), the news release said.

But let’s not depend on just once source.  Here’s what the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says about young teens and alcohol and the related risks.

“For young people, alcohol is the drug of choice. In fact, alcohol is used by more young people than tobacco or illicit drugs. Although most children under age 14 have not yet begun to drink, early adolescence is a time of special risk for beginning to experiment with alcohol.

While some parents and guardians may feel relieved that their teen is “only” drinking, it is important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug. Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body in often unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely. As a result:

• Alcohol-related traffic crashes are a major cause of death among young people. Alcohol use also is linked with teen deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide.
• Teens who use alcohol are more likely to be sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex than teens who do not drink.
• Young people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
• Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with school work and school conduct.
• The majority of boys and girls who drink tend to binge (5 or more drinks on an occasion for boys and 4 or more on an occasion for girls) when they drink.
• A person who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

The message is clear: Alcohol use is very risky business for young people. And the longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help your child avoid any alcohol use.

So you say, “Ok, but what can I do about it. If kids want to drink they’ll find a way.”  And you are right.  But often one of the ways they find to drink is through family members.  Over 70% of eighth graders say alcohol is easy to get and 30% of children age 12-14 get alcohol from a family member.

It’s also wise to use some common sense and remember that as parents you are role models. Your drinking habits are closely observed by your children whether you  think so or not.

There is help and advice from many sectors…SAMSHSA for one (SAMSHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Government.)  http://underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/  Hers’ what they say.

Between the ages of 9 and 13, children start to think differently about alcohol. Many children begin to think underage drinking is OK and some even start to experiment. It’s never too early to talk to your children about alcohol, and encourage them to talk with you.  Over 70% of children say parents are the leading influence in their decision to drink or not.

Lots of little talks are more effective than one “big talk.”

Sitting down for the “big talk” about alcohol can be intimidating for both you and your child. Try using everyday opportunities to talk – in the car, during dinner, or while you and your child are watching TV. Having lots of little talks takes the pressure off trying to get all of the information out in one lengthy discussion, and your child will be less likely to tune you out.

When you do talk about alcohol, make your views and rules clear.

Take the time to discuss your beliefs and opinions about alcohol with your child. Be honest and express a clear, consistent message that underage drinking is unacceptable. When they feel that you’re being real and honest with them, they’ll be more likely to respect your rules about underage drinking.³

Family, peers, school, and the community all play a role in your child’s decision to drink. In fact, most children who use alcohol get it from a friend or family member.¹ To ensure these people become positive role models for your child, let them know how you feel about underage drinking.

I have always contended that the best way to solve the organ shortage is to live healthier lives.  That means we have to start at a very early age.  Parents must teach their children about drugs and alcohol as soon and as often as possible.  If we don’t get a handle on this problem every other problem we have in our society will get worse.

Bob Aronson, a 2007 heart transplant recipient is the founder of Facebook’s 1700 member Organ Transplant Initiative and the writer of these donation/transplantation blogs on Bob’s Newheart.  

You may comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org. And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors. There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance. If you convince one person to be an organ and tissue donor you may save or positively affect over 60 lives. Some of those lives may be people you know and love.

 Please view our video “Thank You From the Bottom of my Donor’s heart” on www.organti.org This video was produced to promote organ donation so it is free and no permission is needed for its use.

If you want to spread the word personally about organ donation, we have a PowerPoint slide show for your use free and for use without permission.  Just go to www.organti.org and click on “Life Pass It On” on the left side of the screen and then just follow the directions.  This is NOT a stand-alone show, it needs a presenter but is professionally produced and factually sound.

Also…there is more information on this blog site about other donation/transplantation issues. Additionally we would love to have you join our Facebook group, Organ Transplant Initiative The more members we get the greater our clout with decision makers.

An Expert Explains Addiction as a Disease

Should Alcoholics Receive Liver Transplants?

This is a re-blog of  a post I wrote about eighteen months ago.  I am posting it again because of the extreme interest in this subject  shown by scores of readers.  All I ask is that you not only objectively read the material but also click on the referrences and read them, too.  Your comments are are not only invited but encouraged.  Addiction is a deadly and cunning disease that can strike any person at any time with no respect for race, religion, social status, gender or age.  No one makes a conscious decision to become an addict, it just happens.  Yes, some bad choices are made that can lead you there but chances are very good that you were born one and activation of the disease only needs the right trigger. 

This is a “think piece.”  I’m hoping this blog will challenge your thinking and cause you to comment.  Please open your minds and consider the total picture not just a narrow view of people involved in substance abuse.  I am taking no position on this issue, I am simply asking some very important questions.

Heavy drinking or alcoholism can severely damage our organs and the liver seems to be the most susceptible to such damage.  So – if you were to ask the average person if alcoholics should be eligible for liver transplants the answer would likely be a resounding, “NO!”

 As with most things in life, though, nothing is that simple.  If transplant eligibility depended on us living healthy lifestyles then there would be no organ shortage because few people would qualify for the life-saving procedure.

 According to a study, published in the April 25, 2009 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine, led by Mathew J. Reeves who is the lead researcher and epidemiologist at Michigan State University, only 3% of Americans lead a healthy lifestyle.   Reeves says a healthy lifestyle that includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and a diet containing lots of fruits and vegetables lessens the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.  http://www.qualityeldercare.com/healthy.html

Back to the question on heavy drinking and liver transplants.  Just what is heavy drinking?  You may be surprised to learn that population-based surveys indicate that 68 percent of adult Americans drink at least one alcoholic beverage per month. About 10 percent consume more than two drinks per day, which is a commonly used definition of “heavy drinking”.  Two drinks a day! http://www.enotalone.com/article/11240.html

Let’s ask the question again, “Should alcoholics or heavy drinkers be eligible for liver transplants?”  Well, I am an alcoholic and had a heart transplant on August 21, 2007.  It Is likely that my alcoholism contributed to the disease that destroyed my original heart.  I quit drinking in 1982 and have had no relapses but I am an alcoholic and always will be.  Should I have been denied a transplant?

Should the obese person suffering from diabetes be denied treatment?  Driving too fast is one of the top killers of American men, should the person with a speeding record be denied a transplant because they are likely to kill themselves?  What about people who have anorexia, bulimia and other lifestyles that could be considered self destructive?  Should prisoners be denied transplants even though they might someday be released?  I fear that once we go down this road it is unlikely we would treat or transplant anyone. 

I am not trying to justify transplanting livers into practicing alcoholics, but if you accept the American Medical Association (AMA) position that alcoholism is a disease, should the patient be punished because of it?  Do we punish cancer patients because they have cancer?  There is a school of thought based on limited research that suggests a liver-transplant recipient was statistically more likely to reject a new liver than to destroy it from continued drinking.  The fact is that most transplant programs around the world require at least six months of alcohol abstinence before they will consider a transplant.  But if two drinks a day is heavy drinking, the average person may be only a few drinks a week away from being a member of that group. 

I began by saying that this is a “think piece.”  I wrote it because I want to hear from you.  Where do we draw the line on who is and who is not eligible for a transplant?  The medical community has some solid guidelines, for example cocaine use in most cases will automatically eliminate a person from being considered for a transplant.  The public however, as was evidenced in the Mickey Mantle case, may not agree with the medical professionals.  What do you think?  Being as there is a shortage of organs and thousands die each year because of it, should we more severely limit who is eligible for a transplant?   

Please comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org.  And – spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors.  On-line registration can be done at http://www.donatelife.net/index.php  Whenever you can, help people formally register.  There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance.  If you convince one person to be a donor you may save or positively affect over 50 lives.  Some of those lives may be people you know and love.  

You are also invited to join Organ Transplantation Initiative (OTI) http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=152655364765710 a group dedicated to providing help and information to donors, donor families, transplant patients and families, caregivers and all other interested parties.  Your participation is important if we are to influence decision makers to support efforts to increase organ donation and support organ regeneration, replacement and research efforts. 

My Battle With Oxycontin

Author’s note.  This is the first time I have written a blog and posted it on both of my blogsites.  I did so because this topic is like an iceberg, most of the scope of the problem lies hidden under fathoms of lies, deception and incredible suffering by patients, families and friends.  For more information on addiction generally log in to my favorite treatment center in Minnesota, www.hazelden.org

When writing blogs I always make an attempt to personalize them often I cannot.  For example, I have written three blogs on how drugs and alcohol may have a negative effect on human organs.  I wrote them because I am a recovering alcoholic (July 17, 1982) and may have ruined my heart due to extremely heavy drinking (up to two quarts of vodka a day).  This destructive behavior may have led to the dilated cardiomyopathy I suffered and the subsequent heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida on August 21, 2007.

Today’s blog will in some way I hope, help others who are substance abusers or are concerned about family members and/or friends who may be.  This missive will only address abuse of prescription medication but let me be perfectly clear.  I am not opposed to drug use made necessary by a medical condition or to social drinking.  My purpose is to offer some information that might help people know when they have crossed the line from “need” to “want,” admit it to someone else and seek and accept help.

Just a bit of background.  When the medical team positions a patient on the table for a transplant, they place your left arm above you and at an awkward and unnatural angle.  Many patients suffer some post operative, but temporary discomfort (that’s what the docs call it, I call it screaming pain).

So here’s my story and I’m sticking to it!  Since my transplant, I’ve experienced “discomfort” in my left arm, pneumonia in both lungs, torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders and carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.  After trying several different painkillers, only Oxycontin offered me some relief.  I knew when Oxycontin was prescribed for the intense pain I was suffering that I was at risk, but all other pain relievers had failed and, believe me, the pain was almost unbearable.  There were times when it was so bad I screamed and cried and even then, I fought the urge to take yet another Oxycontin.  In the end, though, the Oxycontin won.  While the pain had ended, the physical need only got stronger.  I knew almost immediately that I had become dependant on Oxycontin.  As Roseanne, Roseanna Danna used to say on Saturday night live, “It’s always something.”

I’ve experienced “cold turkey detox” several times in the past and while not as wild as Frank Sinatra’s scene in “The Man With The Golden Arm” It is not far off the mark.  Nausea, diarrhea, hot and cold flashes, heavy perspiration, hallucinations well, the list of symptoms is quite long.  I was not looking forward to doing it again but I knew I had to get “off the Oxycontin.”

I did some on-line research and called some friends for advice and recommendations.  Many of them gave me the same name – a clinic in Jacksonville, Florida that specialized in pain medicine, detox and related issues.  I saw a Doctor there Thursday, and began my Suboxone outpatient treatment yesterday.  As of this moment, I am at over 48 hours Oxycontin free, feeling very good and show none of the symptoms of detox I had experienced so many times in the past.  I am well aware that Suboxone can create problems as well as solve some, but with the help of my AA and NA friends the physicians at my clinic and my wonderful wife Robin, I will recover from this as I did from Alcohol.  You see if I don’t recover from it, I will most certainly die from it and there is no greater disrespect I can show my donor family than to let Oxycontin run, ruin and end my life. 

So if you are hooked on prescription painkillers you must do three things, 1) admit that the substance has taken control of your life, 2) Tell someone close to you about your “problem.” and 3) seek and find help, accept it and follow the program. For information on 12 step programs see  http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.com/ or http://www.na.org/index.htm.

Most family physicians are not qualified or licensed to prescribe some of the drugs (like Suboxone) that can help you.  Only a specialist can truly offer the right kind of help and monitoring.  They are not easy to find.  Some may want you to go through treatment; others will help you on an outpatient basis.  That decision can only be made by you and your doctor.

The Clinic I use is: NEXSTEP INTEGRATED PAIN CARE, INC.  904-288-8311, their website address is http://www.nexsteppain.com/  they might be of direct help if you are in or near Jacksonville.  If you are in a more distant city, they might be able to direct you to experts in your area.  In the interest of full disclosure, I have not been compensated, nor will I be compensated by NEXSTEP or anyone else.  My blogs are for public usage and not copyright protected and I accept no compensation or consideration of any kind for any of the blogs I write.

This has not been an easy trip but it certainly has opened my eyes once again as to my character flaws and strengths. Thank you to my friends, family and my wonderful wife Robin for your unfaltering support.  And — readers, if you are so inclined put in a word for me when you talk to “him.”

Please read and comment on my World Wide Issues  blogs on http://blogsbybob.wordpress.com.   Also…visit my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at  http://tinyurl.com/225cfh  OR — my Facebook home page  http://www.facebook.com/home.php

No Comments » | Organ Donation | Permalink

Think Outside the Bottle

In honesty, I must admit I borrowed the title of this blog from my friend Dr. Marvin Seppala MD, a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction and who is the medical director, CEO of Beyond Addictions in Beaverton, Oregon. Marv is an exceptional human being and one I am proud to know.

Recently I wrote a blog on my addiction to alcohol and other substances and how they may have ruined my heart.  After years of suffering with heart disease and finally being placed on the national transplant list, I was given a new heart on August 21 of 2007.  If there had been no organ available, I would probably be dead by now.  Because I got a new heart I assumed God had a reason for wanting me alive.  I believe that reason is to use what I know to help others — to promote organ donation and sobriety. 

I learned a lot from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) but two things stand out.  One is that confession is good for the soul and for the psyche and the other is that it is my duty to carry the word to others who are suffering.  That’s what the 12^th step says.  This blog is meant to accomplish three things.  The first is to carry the word, the second is to promote organ donation and the third is to reduce the number of people on the transplant list by reducing the number of people who need new organs.

Judging from the number of “hits” my blog on substance abuse has had and the number of times it has been reprinted, the subject must be one of great interest.  Well, it should be.  I couldn’t find exact numbers but I’ll bet that a significant number of people on the transplant list, while no longer using, have done great harm to their organs because of substance abuse.  Raising awareness of substance abuse and the fact that treatment works just might help reduce the number of people who need a transplant.  When I say, “Treatment works,” I not only mean formal treatment but also attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings.  I went through treatment a couple of times before it finally stuck in July of 1982.  I have not had a drink since then and my life has changed completely.  Since treatment I developed a highly successful business as a consultant, travelled the world and loved every minute of it.  Most importantly, though, I regained the respect and love of my family.  Had I not quit drinking I would either be dead or in jail.

I cannot speak about any substance abuse other than mine.  I know this, when you are abusing you know you are abusing. When you are abusing you will do things your sense of morality would not normally allow you to do.  When you are abusing you are driven by your bassist instincts.  When you are abusing you don’t eat right, you treat people poorly and you become the person you least admired when you were sober.

My dad, God bless him, was a good man and I loved him.  He worked hard and did his best to provide for his family, but for most of my life, he was a drunk.  He treated his family with disdain and did his best to separate himself from us.  Subsequently I know very little about him.  We never had any kind of a “talk.”  When he drank, he got mean.  I won’t go into detail but my mom, in particular, suffered most of the effect of his meanness.  He hid bottles everywhere, in the rafters of the basement ceiling in cubbyholes in the garage, and in many other places. I swore I would never be like my dad.  I grew up to be almost exactly like him. 

I began drinking seriously at age 15 and didn’t stop for long until I was 43 years old.  I hid bottles everywhere.  I used to have a special briefcase that I always carried.  I bought it because it would not only hold my papers but was big enough to carry a quart of vodka as well.  When I worked mornings as the on-air anchor for a radio network in Minnesota, I would get to work early, hide my bottle in the bottom of the wastebasket in the men’s room and cover it with paper towels.  Whenever I needed a drink I just got up and headed for the bathroom.  Being as I worked from 4 AM to 9 AM there weren’t many people around so I was free to drink as much as I wanted and I did.  I never took a my bottle home with me, it was always empty at the end of my shift.  I’m sorry to say that for most of the time I worked there I was under the influence.  How I did a four-hour on the air program every morning is beyond me.  I only know that I am ashamed of myself for doing that to my employer.

I also was mean.  While not violent I was verbally abusive.  My family suffered and I know it.  Unfortunately, I knew it then, too, but because of the influence of alcohol, I didn’t care.  I would find any excuse to get out of the house at night so I could meet my drinking “friends.”  It turns out that these “friends” disappeared once I sobered up.  My family, for some reason I’ll never understand stood by me.  I will be forever grateful.

During the time I was a practicing alcoholic I drank at least a quart of Vodka a day, sometimes two quarts.  And — often I used both alcohol and drugs.  I have no idea how I functioned and made a living.  Many people told me they never suspected that I drank too much or at all for that matter.

To make a long story short I developed dilated cardiomyopathy and eventually needed a heart transplant.  I am one of the lucky ones who got a new heart and a new life, but not everyone can expect to get an organ.  The shortage far exceeds the number of donors.

I know this is an unusual blog but it does relate to the need for organ donors because so many people would not need organs if they would take care of themselves.  If you drink too much, you know it.  If you abuse drugs, you know it, if your behavior is bad, you know it and you also know you need help.  I’m writing this blog so that if you are abusing alcohol or drugs, you also know you are killing yourself.  You are destroying many of your organs.  You may need a transplant and you may not get one.  There are not enough organs. 

With the help of some wonderful people at a treatment center and years of attending AA meetings, I have remained sober and happy for 26 years.  You can do it too. 

 According to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report, “Substance abuse is the nation’s top health problem, causing more deaths, illness and disabilities than any other preventable health problem today.  Additionally the Johnson report indicates that of the more than 2 million deaths each year in the United States, about one in four is due to abuse of alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs. The economic cost of the abuse is estimated at more than $414 billion a year.”   http://www.infoimagination.org/ps/drug_war/articles/substance_abuse.html In

In conclusion, if you are abusing substances you must stop.  You can do it.  There is help!  Sure there is pain and discomfort when you stop your addiction, but consider the pain and discomfort of cirrhosis of the liver, kidney disease, alcoholic cardiomyopathy or any one of a number of other diseases.  

If you are the spouse or significant other of someone who is a substance abuser, there is help for you, too.  Alanon is nationwide; there are meetings in every city.  The meetings are held to help you, not the substance abuser. You’ll learn how to cope and how to survive and maintain your dignity.  For more information visit: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/english.html.Or for additional information on substance abuse and treatment visit:   http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/treatment_public_i.aspx 

We are all praying for you whether you are the abuser or someone affected by the abuse.

PEACE

Alcohol May Have Ruined My Heart. How Much Do You Drink?

Let us start this blog with a fact.  I, Bob Aronson, am an alcoholic.   I was treated for chemical dependency in 1982 and have had no relapses. My drug of choice was Vodka but in lieu of the Russian national drink, anything would do as long as it had alcohol or any other mind-altering substance in it.  I really liked alcohol; it released me from my inhibitions and demons and made me forget.  For example – I do not remember the entire Carter Administration.  At the time, I was the communications director for a Minnesota Governor and, they tell me, I worked with and met President Carter on several occasions.  I honestly don’t remember much about those years. My behavior during that time was deplorable.  At least I think so, but I can’t really remember a lot of it. 

As far as my body is concerned, the worst thing about my drinking was that the drug combined with my chain cigarette smoking (I dumped that addiction in 1991) was probably responsible for developing cardiomyopathy and then needing a heart transplant.  Imagine a 68-year old man with a history of 3 or more packs a day of cigarette smoking, at least a quart a day of Vodka and currently with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) got a heart transplant on August 21, 2007 at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida.  I remember all of that and every day in my prayers, I promise my donor that I will take very good care of his heart.  The best part of the story is that I was only on the transplant wait list for 13 days and my recovery was comfortable thanks to the compassionate and skilled people at Mayo.  That’s my honest disclosure statement. 

I know I am extremely lucky; you don’t have to tell me that.  I, too, wonder how I got a heart when so many people on the list have been waiting for years and most of them are much younger than I am.  I fully understand all the matching criteria that must be completed prior to a transplant.  I am still amazed, though, amazed and thankful.  I figured that if God decided to keep me around for a while it must be because there was something he wanted me to do.  I hope promoting organ donation is what he wanted because that is what I have chosen to do and I am committed to giving it my best effort until I can no longer type or think. 

So what’s the point of this blog?  I’m writing it to warn people, especially the young, how dangerous alcohol consumption can be.  And — yes, this is about organ donation and transplantation.  If you drink too much or use drugs, you are probably going to damage your precious organs.  That means two things.  1) You may not be able to donate your organs and 2) you become more likely to need a transplant. Right now the organ supply is much less than the demand.  One solution to the problem is to make sure we all lead healthier lives.  If we do that we just might have enough organ donors someday (unless the altruistic approach changes and I hope it does).. 

I understand the effects of alcohol.  Drinking can kill you! I know, I was dead a couple of times because of my drinking.   Even if you don’t think you drink much, each beer or drink causes damage to your body. According to a student study at Bryn Mawr College: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web1/chew.html 

“Due to the irritant action of alcohol, high consumption increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, tongues, and esophagus. There is also the risk of liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Heavy drinkers are also at risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.” 

And – there’s this from SAMHSA’s (U>S. Dept of Health & human services National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information) web site. http://www.samhsa.gov/

“Though alcohol affects every organ of the body, it’s most dramatic impact is upon the liver.  The liver cells normally prefer fatty acids as fuel, and package excess fatty acids as triglycerides, which they then route to other tissues of the body.  However, when alcohol is present, the liver cells are forced to first metabolize the alcohol, letting the fatty acids accumulate, sometimes in huge amounts.  Alcohol metabolism permanently changes liver cell structure, which impairs the liver’s ability to metabolize fats.  This explains why heavy drinkers tend to develop fatty livers. The liver is able to metabolize about ½ ounce of ethanol per hour,,,,”

And, the Women’s Heart Foundation has something to say as well:  http://www.womensheartfoundation.org/content/HeartDisease/alcohol_and_heart_disease.asp

“Most people don’t think of alcohol as a drug…but it is. Alcohol abuse has destroyed more lives, broken apart more families, caused more diseases and contributed to more auto fatalities than any other drug. It is the major contributing factor in the growing epidemic of domestic violence.”  

So perhaps this missive has motivated you to ask questions of yourself (in the dictionary missive is defined as a letter from an official – well, I am an official – an official drunk.  I am a drunk now and always will be.  As long as I remember that I won’t use alcohol or drugs).

Back to the motivation.  Hazelden Foundation, one of the premier chemical dependency treatment centers in the world, is near the twin cities in Minnesota.  They not only treat addictions but they also do a lot of research.  You’ve probably seen Hazelden material.  Their website http://www.hazelden.org/  has a great deal of very useful information.  Browse it and you will see what I mean.  One item in particular is a short test to help you understand what your drinking habits mean.  The test is confidential and you can remain anonymous. http://alcoholscreening.org/AS/index.aspx?CID=86

The following excerpts are from the website below.  I urge you to go to Dr. Dunlap’s site and read all of it – twice!  By:  Michaele P. Dunlap, Psy.D,  Clinical Psychologist. http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/ETOHBIOFx.htm The brain, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, kidneys, and every other organ and tissue system are infiltrated by alcohol within minutes after it passes into the blood stream. The strength of the drink will have a significant effect on absorption rates, with higher concentrations of alcohol resulting in more rapid absorption.  

BODY SYSTEMS AND EFFECTS

The Liver: hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperuricemia (as in arthritis or gout), fatty liver (which may lead to hepatitis or cirrhosis), and hyperlipemia (build-up of fats sent to the bloodstream; which leads to heart problems).

Central Nervous System: When alcohol acts on the CNS, intoxication occurs, affecting emotional and sensory function, judgment, memory and learning ability. Smell and taste are dulled.

The Blood:  capillaries break, create red eyes in the morning, or the red, blotchy skin seen on the heavy drinker’s face. Blood vessels can also break in the stomach and esophagus leading to hemorrhage, even death.

The Gastrointestinal Tract:: In time, the drinker’s overworked pancreas may stop producing insulin and diabetes can result. Conversely, a person with a family history of diabetes may be more vulnerable to problems with alcohol.

The Muscles: One outcome is cardiomyopathy (sluggish heart) which is common in alcoholics. Another outcome, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), or “holiday heart,” is often treated in emergency wards after several days of party drinking. Muscle aches are a common symptom of excessive-drinking “hangovers.

“The Endocrine System: This system controls the body’s hormones and includes the pineal, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, and the ovaries or testes. Prolonged use of alcohol can cause infertility in both men and women.

Special Concerns of Women:  Female drinkers reach higher blood alcohol levels (BAL’s) faster because of less water and more fat in the body and because of differences in digestive enzymes. Women develop alcohol-related disorders such as brain damage, cirrhosis and cancers at lower levels of drinking than men.

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS) and FETAL ALCOHOL EFFECT (FAE): Women who drink during pregnancy risk the development of both mental and physical defects in their children. Effects on the child can include: growth deficiencies; poorly formed bones and organs, heart abnormalities, cleft palate, retarded intellect, delayed motor development, poor coordination, behavior problems, and learning disabilities.”

And so, my blog.  There are a number of comedians who make fun of people with drinking problems, we all laugh and that is just fine.  I sure don’t mind.  But don’t let the laughter mask the problem.  I ruined a good part of my life, did significant damage to my health and to relationships with my family, friends and the people I worked for not to mention those I offended but can’t remember.  The disease of alcoholism is cunning (the big book) and lethal.  I used to say, “I can quit drinking anytime I want to,” and I would, for maybe two weeks at a time.  Then I would say, “See, I did it” and my car would automatically turn into the parking lot of the nearest liquor store.  All I can say is, “Please watch your consumption of alcohol.  I don’t preach abstinence I preach caution.  Explore some of the sites I have noted here and learn more about the subject.  Parents especially need to be aware.”  All of the sites I mentioned can be extremely helpful.  Ok…it’s time for a drink, “Hon, do we have any cold diet coke?”    

PEACE