Co dependence (or codependency) is usually defined as a behavior where an individual exhibits too much, and often inappropriate, caring for persons who depend on him or her. Another term associated with being “codependent” is enabling. In other words, being codependent is enabling the destructive behavior of an individual close to you to continue. It can also mean an individual may rely on the emotions and opinions of others around them to determine how they feel about themselves.

There are many things to consider before labeling yourself an enabler or codependent. No one should consider him or herself an enabler or codependent without first honestly reviewing their own situation and environment. Being compassionate, sympathetic or empathetic to a suffering individual’s predicament does not necessarily mean you are being an enabler or a codependent. If you, by chance, are allowing an active alcoholic to live in your house free of charge while you pay the bills and this has gone on for a while now, well, you may be codependent. The reason being is you are enabling them to continue their destructive behaviors toward themselves and you. Taking little to none of the appropriate action to help a sick individual get well is a good sign of co dependence.

One drawback many codependents experience is self-identification. If the destructive behavior has gone on for years, they may find themselves subconsciously sabotaging the sick individual’s chances of getting better. A common fear is, “If they get better, what will happen to me? I won’t be needed anymore.” The disease of alcoholism and drug addiction is sometimes called a family disease because of all the people it affects. To some degree, everyone who lives with or is close to an active alcoholic or drug addict is sick. Years of destructive and sporadic behaviors of the alcoholic or drug addict will make a sick person out of anyone. Nearly no one is immune, employers, friends, coworkers, and especially the immediate family members.

Another situation for a codependent may be the result from being raised by an active alcoholic or drug addict. Usually what happens for the codependent in this scenario is they are overwhelming dependent on the actions, emotions and opinions of others (such as a parent) to identify who they are. They are, in a sense, grown to believe they are incapable of living a successful life and usually suffer from extreme low self esteem and possibly depression or other psychological disorders.

One solution for someone who is suffering from codependency and would like to learn how to live without it is to attend some type of group support meetings. There, an individual can find freedom from the years of negative programming they experienced as a child, teenager or adult.

There are numerous groups around the country that can help: Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA); Al-Anon (for friends, wives and family members of alcoholics in and out of recovery); and Alateen (for children 12 to 20).

If you or someone you know is suffering from codependency, there are options available to you. A quick look in the local phonebook or newspaper will set you on a path of change that will benefit you and everyone around you.

For more information on alcohol and drug addiction, please visit: Alcohol and Drug Rehab. For information on intervention, please visit: Intervention. For testimonials on how rehab worked for them, please visit: Testimonials.

Patrick McLemore has been a recovering alcoholic and drug addict since June 6, 2005. Patrick widely known as an expert in the field of addictions, he has not only studied the topic extensively, but has lived it. Patrick has worked with the Manor House Recovery Center for over two years. During that time he has been instrumental in the recovery and continued sobriety of numerous recovering alcoholic and drug addicts.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Using the tree metaphor, this is like looking at the tree and pruning and cutting off the dead branches. This is where we start the healing process.

When an alcoholic or addict thinks about something they “can’t believe they have done”, they drink or use to cope with the depression and guilt associated with remorse. We need to get past the remorse of what we have done in the past.

“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves”.

This doesn’t say “make a list of all the bad things you have done” it says make a moral inventory. Unfortunately, as we make a list of what we have done, we alcoholics and addicts tend to have a lot more bad then good.

The term “searching” is important because it doesn’t allow you to simply ponder for a few minutes or hours and come up with your list. You have to actually search your recollection, you need to dig deep, deep down into those things that you have buried in the far reaches of your mind.

I believe the term “fearless” to be important on several different levels. Ultimately, you need to have faith that this is part of a healing process and not a hurting process. “You can live in fear or you can live in faith, but you can’t live in both”.

It is hard, when you are making an honest effort to better your life and become a better person, to look back at the horrible things that you have done. But this is necessary if we alcoholics want to continue the healing process. It is important to recognize the nature of our wrongs and accept that they were bad choices we made when we were drinking or using. We need to be able to accept that all we have done, good or bad, has led us to where we are now.

As a recovering alcoholic, we do not want to regret the terrible things we have done in the past, we just don’t want to repeat them. We need to learn from them.

Please visit: alcohol rehab and drug treatment centers for information on Rehab Centers.

Please visit: alcoholism and drug addiction for more information and more articles on alcohol and drug addiction.

Bill Alexander, Jr. is a recovering alcoholic who was fortunate enough to turn his life around. He has worked as an instructor, manager, and Director of Operations of a prominent Alcohol and Drug Rehab for three years. Bill is currently working on an alcohol rehab directory to assist those who are looking for information on how to find an alcohol or drug rehab or information on alcohol and drug addiction.

Most people, and certainly most smart people, avoid looking too closely at their alcohol use. Frequently that’s a good idea, at least in the short run. Unhappily, over the long haul this can lead to problems, both real and mythical, that early and productive awareness might have helped avoid. The problem here is the mythology - not alcohol itself.

Most of us have been mislead into believing that the misuse, or over use, of alcohol is a progressive and irreversible condition leading - a terminal “disease” for which there is only demeaning and unending recovery, a condition many understandably consider worse than being a drunk. This situation is further muddied by most “assessments” which only serve to justify one-size-fits-all treatment that almost never includes either moderation or real recovery as options - despite the research and what we all know from experience: people make all sorts of changes with regard to their alcohol use just as they do with smoking, weight loss, and many other nagging problems.

What’s a person to do? First, consider the following alcohol use categories: healthy, abusive, dependent, and addicted, and decide where you fit:

Healthy alcohol consumption has been found to be approximately two drinks of distilled spirits, two bottles of beer, or one half bottle of wine per day for an adult man, and half that for an adult women. These amounts confer the most health benefits without any associated detrimental effects. Obviously, not everyone consumes these set amounts, nor do most people who drink necessarily always stop at one or two. Certain social settings may find one consuming more over the duration of an event, for example, but the average should remain within the recommended parameters.

Alcohol abuse is defined as consumption which consistently exceeds the recommended levels and/or is done in isolation rather than socially. Generally these two symptoms will occur in unison but either is sufficient to cause concern. Frequent contributing factors include loneliness, exhaustion, and a paucity of peers or activities. At this stage, remediation is common enough to be the norm, with a return to healthy use the usual outcome. Counseling may expedite the process and help with the underlying causes.

Alcohol dependence occurs after long periods of excessive use leading to social, physical, and emotional dependence. Drinking becomes a primary coping mechanism across multiple categories; for example, socially, recreationally, vocationally, and spiritually. Symptoms may include physical withdrawal following cessation, depression, increased isolation, significant weight gain, decreased liver function, and possible legal, financial, and/or employment problems. As multiple problems need attention, counseling can help with the reorganization, prioritization, and systematic accomplishment of necessary changes.

While a return to moderate or healthy use is normal, a period of abstinence, possibly one to two years, is recommended. Many people who do this never return to drinking at all, having successfully modified their lives in other and more satisfactory ways.

Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, results when a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological being is permeated by alcohol and its consumption. Distinct withdrawal symptoms - physical (i.e. tremors, seizures) and psychological ones (i.e. blackouts) - are present and alcohol related disintegration in several areas of life (i.e. financial, legal, vocational, marital, recreational, social, medical) is present. While approximately a third of diagnosed alcoholics return to moderate drinking, this is not generally recommended.

At this stage both medical and counseling help is usually necessary given the physical, social, emotional, and psychological aspects. Recovery prospects are uncertain at best and outcomes vary. As always, motivation and a belief in personal efficacy, as opposed to “powerlessness,” are the primary factors in success.

Please remember that the three problem categories are all amenable to fixing without labels, meetings, or lifelong stigma. Alcohol abuse and dependence are particularly correctable back to healthy moderate consumption levels, and more than 58% of U.S. adults with alcohol addiction (alcoholism) that began more than one year ago were able to moderate their use by a year later (according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

If you have concerns about your own situation, or that of a loved one or friend, look for help where options exist, not where a single “program” is inflicted on everyone regardless of their condition. You wouldn’t accept a single treatment for every stage and type of a real disease like cancer, don’t be fooled into accepting one for a non-disease like alcohol abuse.

In the U.S. resources can be found for moderation at www.moderation.org, for non-pathology based therapy at: www.goodtherapy.org, and for Harm Reduction at: www.hamsnetwork.org

Dr. Mary Ellen Barnes is President and co-founder of Your Empowering Solutions, Inc, a southern California based alternative alcohol counseling center. Dr. Barnes is particularly interested in the plight of women who wish to change their use of alcohol, either through moderation or abstinence. Learn more about Dr. Barnes and Y.E.S. and the innovative work being done at:
http://www.non12step.com

As I have mentioned in several of previous articles, addiction to opiates is chronic disease of the brain and should be managed as such. It is usually the result of a combination of by genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors that ultimately lead to the development of this relapsing disease. Now that we agree that it is a disease shouldn’t we treat it as such?

Unfortunately, although many of the professionals working in the addiction field agree with this fact they still adopt of the mind set of our great grandfathers who looked down on those patients and considered addiction as an immoral sin and that addicts should repent. Some of the drug treatment programs are resistant to prescribing medications indicated for addiction treatment, rather, they place those patients in what looks like a lock down atmosphere and strip them of their ability to make decisions or communicate with certain people. While this approach may be needed in some cases to avoid external influences on patients as the facility implement their treatment protocols, it should not be generalized. Moreover, patients would be more receptive to the counseling efforts implemented in those facilities if they were comfortable and not suffering from the sever pains and aches associated with withdrawals from opiates.

What do you think will happen once those patients are released back into the society where all the triggers associated with addiction reside?

Also have you ever seen a diabetic who is not very compliant with their doctor’s recommendations placed in a diabetic rehab?

Treatment should be individualized and as recovery moves forward patients should gradually be empowered to take control of their life in order to eventually become productive members of the society.

In contrast, the outpatient programs using Buprenorphine, implement an approach which deals with addiction as a chronic relapsing disease that needs medical treatment in the form of medications in addition to psychosocial rehabilitation. While being on Buprenorphine, patients are relieved from the dreadful symptoms of withdrawals and cravings. This helps patients develop the interest and passion to participate in their rehabilitation process and makes the education efforts on our parts much easier.

The stigma imposed by our society on patient suffering from addiction has a profound negative impact on the recovery process. We hope that through education, research and solid evidence the medical community would be able to change the views and beliefs of the society and some of the professionals in order to provide the best treatment approach to our patients.

Board certified Internal Medicine.

More info at www.softlandingrecovery.com

Let us begin with the definition of drug rehabilitation: Drug rehabilitation or therapy is a procedure. In most instances persons will be admitted into a stay at a medical unit/facility and will go through a succession of examinations, tests, questions, analyses etc., etc. Now although these people undergo a phalanx of questions and tests, in the end, the ultimate aim is to help the patient to purge their bodies of the toxic drugs that at one time impaired their judgment and ability to function appropriately and also to subsequently permit them regain control of their lives, thereby allowing them full realization that toxic drugs are unimportant, unnecessary and bad/harmful.

Guess what? A good drug rehab program will centers strongly not only on the mind but also on the physical issues surrounding the breaking of an addiction. Fundamentally important to an excellent drug rehab procedure is a good and meticulous drug detoxification program.

Needless to mention but important nonetheless is the fact that drug rehab is not enjoyable. It is not a stroll in the playground. It can be the most taxing aspects of anybody’s life. It is difficult for people who have had no reason to deal with it to understand it. Also difficult is explaining to that guy who is hooked on drugs or that girl taking her first hit what it will entail to desist later on and to check into drug rehab. The point though is that however you may want to see it…drug rehab is effective!

Guess what? Most times, the issue isn’t whether or not drug rehab will be effective for the individual but whether or not the individual will be committed to the recommended rigorous and, often times, regimented procedure.

Drug rehab will in most cases be powerful for the persons. Initially the person will need to be committed to the programme but at times they can be mandated by their relatives or ordered into rehab by a judge. Nevertheless, the true healing process does not begin until after they commit to being clean. The following are a few issues that drug rehab deals with:

–The first concern is how to get the drugs out of your body. From outside, this tends to look easy, but because you body has gotten used to the drugs, it craves it thereby creating the “withdrawal syndrome” which is very, very, very, uncomfortable (to put it mildly!). Addiction is DIFFICULT to get through. In fact, most patients may end up needing external physical help as well as need restraints placed on them so as to remove the danger of them hurting themselves.

–While this is going on, patients will need to cooperate with doctors and counselors to better come to terms with the real reason why they began taking drugs in the first place so that they can work through those problems to limit the possibility of relapse.

–The rehab center will need to organize group sessions so as to allow family members and relatives meet with the patients to help them and reintroduce them to each other.

–Examinations, tests and screenings from time to time, will help patients to realize the distance that they have covered and also how far they have achieved.

–Also, therapy involving other drug rehab patients helps the patients rebuild their lives.

Guess what? Whatever the case may be, whether you seek help for yourself or a loved one, just remember that where there is life there is hope and also that whatever the mind can conceive and believe - It WILL achieve! It is possible to break drug addiction!

Tywford Lamai is an expert on issues pertaining to Drug Rehabilitation.

To effortlessly discover a lifetime of amazing Drug Rehab secrets,

tips and resources please visit: http://www.cri8tivdrugs.blogspot.com/

If you have ever heard of the Psychedelic Toad or about people licking toads to get high, it is most likely they were talking about Bufo Alvarius. Also called the Sonoran Desert toad and the Colorado River toad, Bufo Alvarius is unique because of its venom. These large toads have glands that produce a milky white venom that is composed of as much as fifteen percent the alkaloid 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MEO-DMT). This is a powerful hallucinogen, the mind altering effects of which were discovered in the late 1950s. 5-MEO-DMT is the active ingredient of hallucinogens used traditionally by several South American tribes.

The fact that a toad secretes a substance that can alter the human mind may lead to speculation about the “Frog Prince” fairy tale. In this folk legend, a woman finds a frog in the wild, kisses it, and it turns into a handsome prince. Could this ancient tale actually be based on fact? After all, if someone were to lick not a frog but the right kind of a toad, perhaps she might experience hallucinations that made her imagine the amphibian was transforming into a handsome prince. This theory is merely speculation, of course. In reality, licking the venom of toads or any other animal may be highly dangerous and is certainly not recommended.

Albert Most, the author of “Bufo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert” does not discuss the licking of toad venom in his text. Rather, his information involves drying and then smoking the toad venom in order to achieve what he calls “almost overwhelming psychedelic effects.” These effects are evidently not unlike those generated by LSD, in which hallucinations, visual illusions and distortions of the perception occur. The episode is relatively short, however, perhaps as little as fifteen minutes, after which, Most writes, “There is no hangover or harmful effect.”

It has been reported that Bufo Alvarius toads have been an element in the rituals of native shamans for hundreds of years. Returning to ancient European folklore, witches are often associated with toads. Toads supposedly give warts to people, and witches were frequently portrayed with large warts. In our more enlightened age, it is now known that so-called witches were more like wise women, possessing useful knowledge about medicinal herbs and plants. Could it be that these wise women were also aware of the powerful effects of toad venom?

Literature published by the California State Department of Fish and Game states that the problem of people trying to become intoxicated from licking the skin of toads or smoking dried toad venom is sufficiently extensive that laws against toad licking have been passed by some states, and that toad venom is currently classified as a controlled substance.

Robert Scheer is a freelance journalist and consultant for the Bufo Alvarius Report web site. For more information visit http://www.bufoalvariusreport.com

Think all drugs are illegally obtained? It may surprise you to know that similar highs achieved through substances like cocaine and marijuana may be found in common household objects. Unfortunately, damaging effects and health risks also come with the abuse of these items, which are commonly classified as inhalants.

Inhalant abuse is defined by the chronic inhalation - also known as sniffing or huffing - of household products that are high in toxicity. Look around your home and you may find things like nail polish, model airplane glue, correction fluid, aerosols, or paint thinner. Get too close to these products and the fumes may invoke a dizzying sensation. This is the high that entices many people, in particular children, to abuse these products.

When inhalants are abused, the vapors and fumes from these products are taken into the lungs and distributed throughout the body, provoking a feeling of intoxication not unlike that of being in a drunken state. However, since the sensation wears off quickly, the abuser may be influenced to continue huffing, and the risk greatly increase. Inhalant abuse can lead to headaches, lethargy, fatigue, and body pain.

Continued absorption of toxic chemicals into the body can also cause severe damage to the central nervous system, a decrease in oxygen to the body, and in some cases death. Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome may occur among younger users who suffer cardiac arrest from inhaling for the first time. It commonly occurs when an aerosol is sprayed into a bag, which then covers the nose and mouth. Oxygen is cut off from the body, and the abuser suffocates.

SIGNS THAT A LOVED ONE MAY BE ABUSING INHALANTS

Parents in particular should be alert and look for signs their children are abusing household items for a quick high. Some signs to look out for may include:

• Constant dizziness or slurring of speech

• Constant sniffling, red eyes and runny nose
• Unusual behavior with markers or correction fluid (bending close while using them)
• Paint marks or other unusual stains on the face

Does this mean that you should get rid of all items in your house that may be abused. Of course not. When used properly, many of these products serve a useful purpose in our daily lives. It is important, however, to be aware of the risk involved in mishandling aerosols, lighter fluids, and other products that give off fumes. Parents should school their children accordingly and watch for any sign of abuse. For those that are constantly abusing inhalants, rehabilitation may be needed in order to stop the damage being done to the body.

If you suspect a loved one of abusing inhalants, speak to a physician or a drug rehab professional immediately to determine the next steps in helping the user. The sooner you act, the sooner you can help preserve the quality of your loved one’s life.

Stephanie Loebs is the executive director of Williamsburg Place, one of the top drug rehab clinics in the nation. Williamsburg Place aids those who suffer from drug and/or alcohol addiction, and specializes in caring for health care professionals. For over twenty years Williamsburg Place and its joint rehabilitation center, the William J. Farley Center, have helped thousands of people from all walks of life take back their lives and overcome substance abuse.

The Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as fly-agaric has been variously described as a poison, a gateway to mental clarity and a religious sacrament.

Few would disagree that the appearance of the Amanita muscaria mushroom is dramatic and very colorful. Although their facade is distinctive, with their bright red and yellow colors with white spots on the caps, it must be noted that within the Amanita genus are the Amanita virosa, known as Destroying Angel and Amanita phalloides, called the Death Cap, and it has been stated that more than 90 percent of deaths caused by mushroom poisoning are caused by Amanita species. To make matters worse, the so-called good Aminitas look very similar to the more deadly ones.

The name muscaria derives from musca, the Latin word for a fly. It is commonly believed that this was because the mushroom was used as a fly-killing insecticide, although it has recently been argued that there is no valid evidence to support the idea that fly agaric mushrooms were ever used for this purpose. A more likely explanation is that ingestion of the mushroom caused a delirium similar to mental illness. During the Middle Ages it was believed that mental illness was caused by flies entering a person’s head.

In the book “Plants of the Gods” authors Richard Evans Schultes and Albert Hoffman wrote, “The use of hallucinogenic plants has been a part of human experience for many millennia, yet modern Western societies have only recently become aware of the significance that these plants have had in shaping the history of primitive and even of enhanced cultures. In fact, the past twenty years have witnessed a vertiginous growth in interest in the use and possible value of hallucinogens in our own modern, industrialized, and urbanized society.”

Contemporary users describe its effects as including a dreamy intoxicated sensation, great mental clarity, uniquely different from the effects of such hallucinogens as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin. Alterations of the senses include visual, hearing and tasting sensations. Side effects are often listed as including nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, profuse salivation and sweating, chills and convulsions. Unlike the effects of alcohol, it is said not to leave a hangover effect afterwards. It should not be surprising that, because mushrooms are a natural, rather than a manufactured psychoactive, its described effects span quite a wide range. These effects take from thirty to sixty minutes to commence, and the experience lasts from three or four to ten or more hours.

In conclusion it should be noted that the amanita muscaria mushroom is listed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a poison. It is not uncommon for people who sell Amanita muscaria mushrooms to refer to them as poisonous non-consumables. The author of this article does encourage, recommend nor endorse their being eaten, smoked or ingested in any way.

Robert Scheer is a freelance writer and consultant for the Amanita Muscaria Report web site For more information visit http://www.amanitamuscariareport.com

According to a recent British study published in the March 2007 issue of Lancet magazine, it’s been determined that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than illegal drugs such as marijuana or ecstasy.

The research, conducted by Professor David Nutt of Britain’s Bristol University and his colleagues, proposes that a new framework be created for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks posed to society. The study ranks alcohol and tobacco among the ten most dangerous substances.

The Bristol University researchers used three factors to determine the harm associated with any drug, including physical harm to the user, the drug’s potential for addiction, and the impact on society of drug use.

The researchers asked two groups of experts - psychiatrists specializing in addiction and legal drugs, and police officials with scientific or medical expertise - to assign scores to twenty different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and LSD. Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the overall rankings. The experts ended up agreeing with each other - but not with the current British dangerous substances classifications.

While heroin and cocaine were ranked most dangerous, followed by barbiturates and street methadone, alcohol made the list as the fifth most harmful drug and tobacco as the ninth most harmful. Marijuana came in 11th, and ecstasy came in nearly last.

Yet, according to existing British and U.S. drug policies, alcohol and tobacco are legal, while marijuana and ecstasy are both illegal. Previous studies, including one from a British parliamentary committee in 2006, have questioned the scientific rationale for Britain’s drug classification system.

Tobacco causes 40 percent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.

The researchers hope that the study will provoke debate within the UK and beyond about how drugs - including socially acceptable drugs such as alcohol - should be regulated. While different countries use different markers to classify dangerous drugs, none uses a system like the one proposed by the Bristol University study, which could serve as a framework for international authorities.

Other experts in the field not connected to the research feel that this study is the first real step towards an evidence-based classification of drugs and that, based on the paper’s results, alcohol and tobacco could not reasonably be excluded.

While experts agreed that criminalizing alcohol and tobacco would be challenging, they said that governments should review the penalties imposed for drug abuse and try to make them more reflective of the actual risks and damages involved. The study called for more education so that people were aware of the risks of various drugs.

If you’re a healthy individual who lives in Dallas, Houston or anywhere in Texas, and you’ve never considered the ramifications of types of drugs - legal or illegal - that you put in your body, maybe you should. It may not seem like it will affect your health now, but it certainly will in the long run. And as you’ll discover, what affects your health also will eventually affect your bank account.

So, if you’re young adult who watches what you consume and tries to stay healthy, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. For more information, visit us at our website, www.precedent.com. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

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Even though alcohol consumption is legal for individuals in Dallas, Houston or anywhere in Texas who are 21 or over, it should be remembered that alcohol is still a harmful, dangerous drug. Sure, it seems like “everyone” drinks, and sometimes it even seems like everyone drinks a lot. But that’s not really the truth. There are a lot of people who don’t drink at all, and the vast majority of adults don’t drink at all heavily.

What Defines Binge Drinking?

When it comes to heavy drinking, the phrase “binge drinking” comes to mind. It used to mean heavy drinking that lasted for days. Now, the meaning has changed to irresponsible, heavy drinking that often comes under the disguise of fun and games. Binge drinking is not only dangerous to the drinker, but to the people around him or her.

Binge drinkers, by definition:

* Drink “to get drunk.” The goal is to lose control.

* They drink large quantities, five or more drinks at a time.

* They drink quickly.

* They do foolish, potentially deadly things like drive drunk, start fights, and take unnecessary risks.

New Study on an Old Problem.

According to a recent study issued by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York, about half of U.S. college students binge drink or abuse drugs, and the number who abuse prescription medication such as painkillers is up sharply.

The report found that 49 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 binge drink (consuming five or more drinks at a time), or abuse prescription drugs such as painkillers or illegal drugs like cocaine and marijuana. That translates to 3.8 million students.

In 2005, 23 percent of these students met the medical criteria for substance abuse or dependence, the report said. That’s about triple the proportion in the general population.

The percentage of students who drink remained about even with a similar 1993 report - 70 percent then and 68 percent in 2005. Binge drinking stayed at 40 percent of students.

But the proportion of students who binge drink frequently, defined as three or more times over two weeks, rose by 16 percent from 1993 to 2005. Drinking 10 or more times per month rose 25 percent, and drinking three or more times per month rose 26 percent.

Substance abuse has contributed to alcohol-related deaths and injuries, and sexual assaults against female students, the report said.
“College presidents, deans and trustees have facilitated a college culture of alcohol and drug abuse that is linked to poor student academic performance, depression, anxiety, suicide, property damage, vandalism, fights and a host of medical problems,” the report said.

The report was based on results of a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,000 students, surveys of approximately 400 college and university administrators, interviews with researchers in the field and other data.

Binge Drinkers can be Troublemakers.

Researchers at Kansas State University have also found that college students who drink alcohol may get themselves into trouble not necessarily because of how much they drink, but because of their risk-taking attitudes while they are drinking, which can be modified to reduce harmful consequences. Males tend to be greater risk takers when it comes to alcohol, while women tend to use more protective strategies. They recommend the following steps to all college students who drink as a way to avoid dangerous drinking episodes:

* Limit the number of drinks consumed

* Use self-protective strategies

* Limit money spent on alcohol

* Drink with friends

* Pour your own drinks

* Develop low-risk attitudes

While the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University report has shown that substance abuse on college campuses is nothing new, it is taking a more extreme and dangerous form, with higher rates of frequent binge drinking and prescription drug abuse, which equates to more negative consequences for students such as arrests and risky sexual behavior.

The Risks of Binge Drinking.

Many people don’t think about the negative side of drinking. Although they think about the possibility of getting drunk, they may not give much consideration to being hung-over or throwing up.

You may know from experience that excessive drinking can lead to difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, mood changes, and other problems that affect your day-to-day life. But binge drinking carries more serious and longer-lasting risks as well.

Alcohol Poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning is the most life-threatening consequence of binge drinking. When someone drinks too much and gets alcohol poisoning, it affects the body’s involuntary reflexes - including breathing and the gag reflex. If the gag reflex isn’t working properly, a person can choke to death on his or her vomit.

Other signs someone may have alcohol poisoning include:

* Extreme confusion

* Inability to be awakened

* Vomiting

* Seizures

* Slow or irregular breathing

* Low body temperature

* Bluish or pale skin

If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.

Other Health Issues.

Studies show that people who binge-drink throughout high school are more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure by the time they are 24. Just one regular beer contains about 150 calories, which adds up to a lot of calories if someone drinks four or five beers a night.

Binge drinkers have a harder time in school and they’re more likely to drop out. Drinking disrupts sleep patterns, which can make it harder to stay awake and concentrate during the day. This can lead to struggles with studying and poor academic performance.

Drinking Responsibly.

It’s possible to be a responsible drinker, but it means paying close attention to your drinking behavior. Adults who do drink responsibly have a few key things in common:

* They don’t drive after drinking.

* They don’t drink “to get drunk.” They may like the taste of the drink, or may be seeking a mild relaxing effect. They stop drinking before they feel “drunk.”

* They drink less - usually far less - than four drinks on any one occasion.

* They drink slowly, often with food, and have non-alcoholic drinks in between alcoholic drinks.

Believe it or not, your drinking habits can influence your individual health insurance rates, now and into the future. So it’s wise to keep your alcohol intake in check when you’re young before it takes its toll in later years. If you’re young and healthy, and you drink alcohol responsibly (or not at all), you deserve a break when it comes to the premiums on your individual health insurance plan. Take a look at the revolutionary comprehensive individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for young, healthy individuals like you. For more information, visit us at our website, www.precedent.com. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com.