Alcohol and Alcoholism Support Group
Description
Alcohol is a clear drink that is made from corn, barley, grain, rye, or a beverage containing ethyl. When a person drinks alcohol, about 20 percent is absorbed in the stomach, and 80 percent is absorbed in the small intestine. The concentration of alcohol, the type of drink, and whether the stomach is full or empty depends on how fast the alcohol is absorbed. Once the alcohol is absorbed into the tissue, it affects your mind and body. Blood alcohol concentration can rise up to 20 minutes after having a drink. After alcohol is absorbed it leaves the body in three ways: the kidneys, lungs, and liver.
Beer and wine are called fermented beverages. They are made by adding yeast to a substance that contains sugar. The yeast starts the formation process, which turns sugar into ethyl and carbon dioxide gas. Beer is made from barley malt. The people who brew the beer soak the barley in water to make it sprout. When the barley dries, they take off the sprouts only leaving starch, or malt. The malt is ground up and mixed up with water to form mash. This is put into another mash which contains corn or rice that has been crushed and heated. The starch from corn or rice is then changed to sugar. Some dried flowers are added to the mash to add flavor, then the mash is fermented. Then the brewers age the beer for several weeks to add taste in the beer.
Another type of alcoholic beverage is called a distilled beverage. That is made from fermented grain mash or fermented juice. Distilled beverages include drinks such as whiskey, vodka, liqueurs, gin, rum, and other beverages.
Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative social consequences it causes. Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, including dependence and symptoms of withdrawal.
While the ingestion of alcohol is, by definition, necessary to develop alcoholism, the use of alcohol does not predict the development of alcoholism. The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. In addition, although the biological mechanisms underpinning alcoholism are uncertain, some risk factors, including social environment, emotional health and genetic predisposition, have been identified.
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"It's better to absorb the pain, and know the size of your container, than to dull the senses and forget who we are." -my quote
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October 8, 2009 @ 8:38 PMI have heard about Revia (Naltrexone) used for treating alcoholism and narcotic addiction. Has any used this drug. Here is the place where it says about it http://www.internationaldrugmart.com/revia.html
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June 26, 2009 @ 7:20 AMHi - I'm new and hoping to meet more like minded friends online. I am an alcoholic in recovery in AA. Look forward to getting to know you.
Cheers!
Alcomum
www.alcomum.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/alcomum
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May 10, 2009 @ 5:13 PMWelcome to the group Supermom!
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March 17, 2009 @ 1:20 PMwelcome to the group firemanjohn!
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January 28, 2009 @ 6:23 PMAlcoholism as well as any addiction can be extremely difficult to overcome. The more positive you are and the more you surround yourself with positive people can help substantially.
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December 17, 2008 @ 4:36 PMLet's welcome our newest group member, Shadow Two!
Welcome Shadow Two!
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December 11, 2008 @ 7:45 PM