Keifer Sutherland was sentenced to forty-eight days in the city jail in connection with a misdemeanor drunk driving charge in West Hollywood a few months ago when he was stopped after making an illegal U-Turn at La Cienega and Beverly Blvd's in West Hollywood.
On the heels of the bust, the media noted that Sutherland had a history of alcohol abuse, and proceeded to tar-and-feather him in the press.
I was surprised that such a dedicated actor - succeeding in a challenging career as an actor - would allow such a monkey to ride on his back.
What was the problem?
A couple of weeks later one of the major weekly rags ran a story on the incident.
The in-depth feature threw the spotlight on Sutherland's past run-ins with alcohol and questionable conduct in public - outrageous and shameful, at times - that plagued the star of the Fox hit TV Drama Series, 24.
But, there was nothing constructive about the report.
For example, the write neglected to offer up any statistics on the issue of alchohol abuse.
Or, even enlighten the reader on how the "disease" might be cured.
Some say, that if your parents drank, you're bound to have a propensity for social drinking, too.
And, if your mother imbibed while you were in the womb, it is wholly conceivable you may end up a "born-alcoholic".
In fact, studies examining adopted children, have shown that offspring of alcoholic biological parents have an increased risk of becoming hard-core drinkers.
Also, recent research has implicated a gene (D2 dopamine receptor) that - when inherited in a specific form - may increase an individual's chance of developing chronic alcoholism.
According to researchers, twice as many men are alcoholics. And, ten to twenty-three percent of alcohol-consuming individuals, are considered bona fide alcoholics.
Alcoholism can be tricky, too.
It's a demon that often lurks beneath the surface, ready to trip up the individual without a watchful eye.
Usually, a variety of factors contribute to the development of alcoholism.
Social factors include family influence, peers, and society.
How quickly the problem develops may depend on the availability of alcohol, as well as psychological factors, which may elevate levels of stress, inadequate coping mechanisms, and reinforcement of alcohol use from other drinkers.
The factors contributing to initial alcohol use may vary from person to person.
The disorder is so complex, however, that no single gene is likely to be a major culprit.
The amygdala is an area of the brain thought to play a role in the emotional aspects of craving, which can lead to addiction.
One study found that the amygdala is smaller in subjects with family histories of alcoholism, suggesting that inherited differences in brain structure may affect risk.
Other studies suggest that certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and proteins in the amygdala region may be involved in the link between anxiety and alcoholism.
Because alcohol is not found easily in nature, genetic mechanisms to protect against excessive consumption may not have evolved in humans as they frequently have for protection against natural threats.
Therefore, some evidence indicates that a lack of genetic protection plays a major role in alcoholism.
In view of this, it is theorized that people with a family history of alcoholism tend to "hold their liquor" better than those without such a history.
Experts suggest some people may inherit a lack of those warning signals that ordinarily make people stop drinking.
Genes that regulate certain chemical byproducts of alcohol are under intense scrutiny as well.
Alcohol is metabolized in a two-stage process.
First, it is first converted to acetaldehyde (AcH), which is then converted into acetate.
AcH is being researched because it plays a role in most actions of alcohol, including damaging effects on the liver and upper airway.
It also may be protective.
For example, some people, particularly in Asian and Jewish populations, may be less likely to become alcoholic because of a genetic deficiency in AcH, which produces a buildup of acetate after drinking alcohol.
Because acetate is toxic and in high amounts causes flushing, dizziness, and nausea, individuals with this genetic factor are less likely to become alcoholic.
This deficiency is not completely protective against drinking, however, particularly if there is social pressure and high exposure to alcohol, such as among college fraternity members.
Other intriguing studies indicate that some people with alcoholism may have an inherited dysfunction in the transmission of serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical messenger known as a neurotransmitter. It is important for well-being and associated behaviors (e.g., eating, relaxation, sleep).
Curiously, abnormal serotonin levels are associated with high levels of tolerance for alcohol. They are also linked to impulsive and aggressive behaviors, which can predispose people to drink and can increase the risk for dangerous behaviors and suicide in alcoholics. Serotonin abnormalities can also develop from environmental pressures as well, such as early loss in childhood.
Since that factor applies to me, it causes me pause to consider the ramifications.
Initially, I never thought I had a problem with drinking, until I backed my car into a pole in an alley one dark, drunken night.
The following morning as I surveyed the gash in the rear bumper, it suddenly hit me.
Drinking problem!
Until that moment, an alcoholic beverage was simply a stress-releaser.
I rarely ever sauntered out to a local bar for a social drink, for instance.
After a rough day on the set, I'd snatch up a couple of brewskies at the liquor store, and head home to nurse them by the TV 'til I dozed off to sleep.
There were other rules to my drinking, as well.
Imbibing in the day was a no-no. So, was taking "a hair of the dog that bit me".
But, early on, it did not escape my attention how clever the demon "rum" was.
I was able to go out one evening for a cocktail or two, then quit for the night.
But, the following week, I'd convince myself wholeheartedly that "three was okay".
After that, four was no problem, or so I convinced myself!
That's one of the characteristic of alcoholism, the inability to control the amount of alcohol consumed.
Not every alcoholic will drink themselves into a stupor, but he or she may be unable to recognize when too much alcohol is more than enough.
One of the most frustrating factors in dealing with alcoholism?
The phenomenon known as "denial".
On the long path towards mental, physical and moral decline, usually the first attribute "to go" is honesty, with self-esteem to follow.
Then, it becomes necessary - as the alcoholic increasingly drinks more - to hide the fact from those around him. Depending upon the circumstances, the alcoholic may drink openly, but more-often-than-not, usually conceals the amount imbibed.
The goal is accomplished by simply not drinking around those closest.
The frequency of consumption is often difficult to control, as well. An alcoholic may drink at inappropriate times during lunch hour or in the early hours of dawn. An alcoholic drinks alone, in a social setting, at any time during the day. In fact, for an alcoholic, there is a preoccupation with the desire to consume alcohol combined with a denial that there is a problem with actual drinking.
The problem for me? When I was drinking, I wanted everyone else to join in.
So, I ordered up rounds for the whole gang, in close proximity.
Yeah, it became costly. American Express? I had to leave home without it!
But, at least I was a happy drinker...some get mean, or morose, or have a tendency to slip into a bluesy, unhappy state.
For the most part, alcohol stimulates the release of neurotransmitters and other chemicals that produce the following pleasurable feelings; for instance, an increase of dopamine produces euphoria and a sensation of being rewarded.
In addition, serotonin production may be accelerated which is tied to feelings of well-being. Chemical balances as they relate to opioid peptides, important for well-being, may be affected, too.
Over time, however, heavy alcohol use appears to deplete the stores of dopamine and serotonin. Persistent drinking, therefore, eventually fails to restore mood, but by then the drinker has been conditioned to believe that alcohol will improve spirits
People forget that alcohol is a depressant. The first couple of drinks may result in a high, elevate the mood. After that, the habitual user is bound to get depressed, foggy-headed, and end up swimming in emotions of all kinds - positive and negative.
Some drink to steal away from problems.
Personally, I found that when I drank, my thought processes accelerated. So, in essence, I was not escaping - like most - but dealing with reality face-to-face.
Because alcohol blocks out emotional pain, it is often perceived as a safe haven in a moment of crisis. Associated with freedom and loss of inhibition, some conjecture the drinking experience offsets the tedium of daily routines.
But, when the alcoholic tries to quit drinking, the brain seeks to restore what it perceives to be its equilibrium. In that scenario, Doctors note that the brain's best weapons to achieve this are depression, anxiety, and stress (the emotional equivalents of physical pain), which are produced by brain chemical imbalances.
These negative moods continue to tempt alcoholics to return to drinking long after physical withdrawal symptoms have abated.
In spite of a high intelligence in some individuals, the over-agitated brain will use all its powers of rationalization to persuade the patient to return to drinking. According to a 1999 study, having a high or low IQ has little effect on quitting.
A handful of my own friends start drinking around five in the afternoon and continue non-stop until late in the evening. Do they have a problem?
Maybe not.
I often wish I could just have a drink or two socially, relax, and be part of the crowd.
There is not a predetermined set of rules which clarifies the exact moment that social drinking becomes problem drinking and transforms into alcoholism, but - it is well-established that alcoholism eventually overcomes a person’s ability to think clearly. It can control one’s emotions and behaviors and ultimately dominate the life, environment, and relationships of the addled.
Long ago, I realized that if I sipped on one ale, I'd end up falling off the wagon; to stumble home later, after about ten drinks.
Thank God, misadventure did not get the best of me on those occasions, and I did not end up in serious legal trouble with the law due to some naughty behavior on the town.
Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence
According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", the Fourth Edition...the symptoms of alcohol dependence are many.
For starters, a warning flag goes up when the individual starts to neglect other activities. Indeed, if alcohol use reduces or eliminates important social, work-related or recreational activities, a problem is underfoot.
Then, there's the issue of excessive consumption...if a drinker begins to consume larger amounts of alcohol over a longer period of time than intended, this is a sign of trouble on the horizon.
Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control how much he or she drinks is an indication that alcoholism may have taken a hold and may be difficult to break free from without help from outside sources.
If the individual continues to consume alcohol - unaware that drinking is causing or contributing to a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem - then there may be a need for intervention.
If a so-called social drinker spends an abnormal amount of recreation time on activities involved with obtaining, using and/or recovering from the effects of alcohol, it is a surefire sign that a line has been crossed.
Actual physical withdrawal occurs when drinking for a short period of time is stopped and he or she experiences symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shaking or anxiety. Also, the issue may enter a new phase when the drinker has lost tolerance and needs increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication.
The bottom line?
Alcoholism is a sneaky disease characterized by need and denial.
Alcoholics often do not realize they are addicted to alcohol until it is too late. If you have made the decision to stop drinking any alcoholic beverage for a relatively short amount of time, but found that you were unable to abstain from alcohol, you may be an alcoholic.
Do people often tell you that you have a problem with alcohol?
Do you argue with friends or family about the amounts of alcohol you drink?
Sometimes the family and friends of alcoholics recognize the signs and symptoms of alcoholism, but the alcoholic denies there is a problem. If this is true for you, and you find that you have negative thoughts about the people who are interfering or being bossy about your drinking, then you may be an alcoholic.
It is important to realize that any life change, even changes for the better, may cause temporary grief and anxiety.
With time and the substitution of healthier pleasures the emotional turmoil weakens and can be overcome.
Close friends and even intimate partners may have difficulty in changing their responses to the newly sober person - even worse - may encourage a return to drinking.
The recoveree may feel un-cool, left out.
These influences are known as "triggers".
Friends may not easily accept the sober, perhaps more subdued, ex-drinker.
In such cases, a separation from these "enablers" may be necessary for survival.
I drank non-alcoholic beer for awhile to give the appearance of drinking at social events, but cleverly hid the label, so no one would chastise me.
You know what they say, never trust a non-drinker.
A sense of isolation, a loss of enjoyment, and the ex-drinker's belief that pity, not respect, is guiding a friend's attitude can lead to loneliness, low self-esteem, and a strong desire to drink again.
For this reason, alcoholism is best treated by professionals trained in addiction medicine. Physicians and other health care workers are best suited to manage alcohol withdrawal and the medical disorders associated with alcoholism.
In fact, home therapy without supervision by a trained professional may be life threatening because of complications from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Usually an alcoholic will experience alcohol withdrawal 6-8 hours after cutting down or stopping alcohol consumption.
Several levels of care are available to treat alcoholism.
Medically managed hospital-based detoxification and rehabilitation programs are used for more severe cases of dependence that occur with medical and psychiatric complications. Medically monitored detoxification and rehabilitation programs are used for people who are dependent on alcohol and who do not require more closely supervised medical care.
The purpose of detoxification is to safely withdraw the alcoholic from alcohol and to help him or her enter a treatment program. The purpose of a rehabilitation program is to help the alcoholic accept the disease, begin to develop skills for sober living, and get enrolled in ongoing treatment and self-help programs. Most detoxification programs last just a few days. Most medically managed or monitored rehabilitation programs last less than 2 weeks.
Many alcoholics benefit from longer-term rehabilitation programs, day treatment programs, or outpatient programs. These programs involve education, therapy, addressing problems contributing to or resulting from the alcoholism, and learning skills to manage the alcoholism over time.
These skills include, but are not limited to, the following: learning to identify and manage cravings to drink alcohol, resisting social pressures to engage in substance use, changing health care habits and lifestyle (for example, improving diet and sleep hygiene, and avoiding high-risk people, places, and events), learning to challenge alcoholic thinking (thoughts such as: I need a drink to fit in, have fun, or deal with stress), developing a recovery support system and learning how to reach out for help and support from others, learning to deal with emotions (anger, anxiety, boredom, depression) and stressors without reliance on alcohol, identifying and managing relapse warning signs before alcohol is used, and finally, anticipating the possibility of relapse and addressing high-risk relapse factors.
Several studies have shown that about half of alcoholics who have successfully undergone detoxification will relapse within 6-12 months. Remaining alcohol-free is a very difficult task for most alcoholics.
Alcoholism is a chronic disease not unlike diabetes or congestive heart failure.
If a person continues to drink excessively after numerous or ongoing treatments, their prognosis is very poor. Persistent heavy drinkers will often succumb to the effects of alcohol. At this juncture, physical health problems may arise.
Too late, the alcoholic must face the reality of the failure to deal with the problem; for instance, the excessive imbibing may have resulted in serious damage to the liver, overall health, without possibility of recovery.
Mortality is a severe end game to deal with in that scenario.
So, take action now, if alcohol is throwing your life off-kilter, eh?