Myths and Facts About Alcohol and Addiction

There are many myths and facts about alcohol. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about alcohol that many people can benefit from learning more about.

Myth #1: Drinking a glass of wine is good for you.
While research has shown that drinking a glass of red wine can help with problems such as heart disease, this does not make alcohol good for you. The fact is that alcohol, in any form, is an addictive substance and many more lives are destroyed by alcohol than those that have been saved by it. There are many other alternatives that are more healthy to improve heart disease or any other conditions besides alcohol. Anyone drinking a glass of wine "because it is good for you" may want to discuss with their doctor other alternatives to becoming more healthy that do not have the potential to kill you if you become dependent on it.

Myth #2: An Alcoholic Should Be Able to Just Stop.
An alcoholic has no control over their drinking or their behavior. Believing that an alcoholic can just stop drinking is like assuming a cancer patient can just stop having cancer because they - or their loved ones - want them to stop. Alcoholics must not only overcome physical dependence to alcohol, but also their emotional dependence as well. It is not as simple as dumping out your alcohol and not buying it again.

Myth #3: Alcohol Rehab and Alcohol Detox Are the Same
Many people do not understand that alcohol detox is different than alcohol rehab. Even more people do not even realize what alcohol detox is or how it can be beneficial to someone addicted to alcohol. Alcohol detox is primarily used to help one manage their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It can make someone overcome their physical addiction to alcohol with little to no physical symptoms. Alcohol rehab is necessary after alcohol detox however for successful addiction recovery.

Myth #4: Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs are Expensive
Most people can obtain drug and alcohol treatment for free or very inexpensively. It is often covered by most insurance companies, and for those without insurance, they can often receive treatment that will be subsidized by state and federal health programs. Sure, there are luxury rehab centers that are very expensive, but for most people they can find the same quality in service and comfort for free.

Myth #5: Binge Drinking is Only Something College Students Need to Worry About
Many people, not only college students, can be at risk for binge drinking. Binge drinking is any activity where someone drinks excessively in a short amount of time. This can increase the risks of alcohol poisoning, which can often be fatal if not discovered or treated quickly. Anyone who drinks heavily only at holiday parties is at risk for binge drinking. Someone severely addicted to alcohol may also become a binge drinker, especially if they do not realize they are drunk due to a high tolerance level.

Myth #6: Men Can Drink More Than Women
While it is true that the amount someone can drink depends on their height and weight, the differences in how many drinks a male has compared to the number of drinks a female has does not make that significant of a difference in their blood alcohol level. Everyone processes alcohol differently, so assuming a male can drink more than a female safely is not true.

Myth #7: Just One Drink Won't Harm Anyone
This is a myth because most people cannot limit themselves to just one drink. In many states with stiffer DUI laws, one or two drinks may be all it takes to be over the legal driving limit and be charged with a DUI, or worse be in an alcohol related accident, which claims thousands of lives each year.

Myth #8: The Alcoholic is the One With the Problem, Not Me!
Many people who love someone with an alcohol problem do not realize what affects it has on themselves and their own well being. It is important that if you are close to someone with a drinking problem that instead of constantly trying to seek help for them, you seek help for yourself. You are a person who has needs that need care for also. Going to Al-Anon meetings or learning more about alcoholism can help you live a healthy and happier life without being affected by the alcoholic's behavior.

Myth #9: Alcohol Can Help Deal With Stress or Uncomfortable Social Situations
Alcohol, in the end, causes more problems than it solves. Drinking only socially can lead to dependence on alcohol, which may cause you to drink anti-socially instead. Learning how to effectively manage and reduce stress can help you avoid the hundreds of possible complications from drinking.

Myth #10: There is Nothing I Can Do About Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a common problem that affects nearly every person you know or meet. Yet, relatively few people are willing to talk about alcoholism or learn about it beyond what they've forgotten about from their high school health class. Alcoholism is a preventable and treatable condition. By getting people to talk about alcohol abuse and addiction and creating more awareness, we can prevent the hundreds of thousands of deaths each year related to alcohol abuse and addiction. The first thing you can do? Share this article with a friend or link to it from your own blog or articles.

These myths and facts about alcoholism and alcohol abuse will hopefully help many people understand alcoholism a little bit better. The more you learn and can share with others, the more you can make a difference. It's time to stop turning a blind eye to one of the US's leading preventable causes of death, and start talking. The more we talk about alcoholism, the more lives we can save.