:The AA Blog

According to a study published monday, binge drinking is no longer just a stigma associated with teen drinking, College frat parties or a famous spring break beach party full of wasted Co-eds, binge drinking is now a growing problem for many older adults as well – “many overindulging in the drunken nectar a bit too much.”  

Wait Kids, Save a Drink For Grand Ma!

Researchers found that 23 percent of men between the ages of 50 and 64 admitted to binge drinking in the past month, as did approximately 9 percent of women. This data was compiled from a government survey of roughly 11,000 average, salt of the earth Americans ages 50 and up.

The findings published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, suggest that even though 45 percent of U.S. college students ages 18 and 24 reported a recent drinking binge, it also shines light on a growing problem – “Binge drinking is not just for youngters anymore – Adults are quickly joining the party as well!“  Further evidenced by the fact that more that 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women 65 and older also admitted to surrendering to the temptation of the bottle.

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11 States set out to pioneer a  mandatory law that would require all 1st time alcohol offenders to prove their sobriety before they can start their engines. The plan proposes the installation of a device – Alcohol Ignition interlocks., which blocks a vehicles engine if alcohol is detected on the drivers breath.

Starting this fall The Federal Transportation Funding Bill could be up for debate by congress. It is the hope of these 11 states that Mandatory Alcohol Ingition Interlocks be part that debate., requireing all 50 states toinstall these devices for ayone convicted of drunk driving, states that do not comply risk loosing federal highway money.

To date 47 states have some form of the interlock ingition law in place for at least some offenders. However, Alabama, South Dakota, and Vermont have no Such Laws.

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Initially as a meeting to address race relations, the meeting and it’s venue has quickly spurred a debate as to whether beer should be on the menue.

Since Alcohol use among youths has become a permanent fixture in the media, many argue “is it even wise to use an alcoholic component in such a meeting?” – surely it is not needed. This is the very same component that has Alocholics and many through out the recovery community up in arms.

Ironically, the alcoholic component injected into the meeting arose as a result of President Obama’s phone call to Sergeant Crowley, who unexpected took the call on his cell phone in a local police bar. It was later stated that “The idea of meeting for a beer seemed appropriate at the time.”

Now the world has inappropriately coined it the “Beer Summit”, leaving those with real alcohol and addiction problems filled with chagrin.

Many also argue that while the president is experiencing various sates of inebriation, desperately trying to stitch the wounds of his supposed “racial remarks”, many good American men and women are being killed over seas.

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Alcoholism can be a difficult affliction to deal with; especially for women. The word “alcoholic” may disturb some people and for many, the word still suggests a weakness or that an alcoholic is an outcast or a recluse. However, society still tends to look with tolerance or even amusement at a male drunk but recoil at the sight of a woman in the same condition.

Women in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) make it a point to put all their unjustified guilt behind them. Women in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) understand that alcoholism is not a question of manners or morals. Alcoholics suffer from a medical condition; an illness as described by the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association.

The point is that it doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old, man or woman; Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is for anyone who has the desire to quit drinking and stay sober. There is a turning point for many women in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and although for many it is reached through a hospital, rehab or prison, it is a common misconception that someone has to hit “rock-bottom” before they seek help.

In Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) there are no forms to sign or fees to pay. No one in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is asked to subscribe to any formal course of treatment. Any one who wishes to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) will simply find men and WOMEN who have freed themselves from their dependence of alcohol and have begun to repair the damage it has done to their lives.

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The word Alcoholism can be a tough term to deal with but nobody is too young (or too old for the matter) to have a problem with alcohol abuse. Teens can have an especially difficult time recognizing a developing drinking problem. However, make no mistake; teens are just as susceptible to alcoholism as adults are.

That is because alcoholism is an illness that does not discriminate when it comes to age, race or social standing. It does not matter what you drink or how long you have been drinking. What truly matters is what drinking does to you and Alcoholics Anonymous is there to help anyone who decides to stop drinking; no matter your age.

Only you can decide whether or not you have a drinking problem. Answer “Yes” or “No” to the following questions, which have been specially geared towards teens, to get a better insight into whether or not alcohol abuse is becoming a problem in your life:

- Are your grades starting to slip or are you goofing off at work because of alcohol?

- Do you drink because you have problems?

- Do you ever have loss of memory due to drinking?

- Do you think it’s “cool” to drink in social situations?

- Have you started to drink in the morning before school or work?

- Have you ever been in trouble because of drinking?

- Do you get drunk when you drink, even when you don’t mean to?

The Primary purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety; regardless of age. If you need help or if you’d like to talk to someone about your drinking, you can contact Alcoholics Anonymous by looking in your local phonebook or visiting www.AA.org

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Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) in Miami-Dade, Florida provides a priceless service in its “Bridging the Gap” program which helps alcoholics in Treatment Facilities (TF) who will live within or out of the Miami area upon discharge from the TF.

The Bridging the Gap program is a limited time service that helps alcoholics get back into the “real world”. Many alcoholics that come from Treatment Facilities (TF) have not been functioning in society without drinking. Bridging the Gap introduces Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) to alcoholics on “the outside”.

“Bridging the Gap” in Miami-Dade provides the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) Temporary Contact Program; a committee of alcoholics helping other alcoholics. The only thing volunteers of the Temporary Contact Program want from the work is to help other alcoholics.

Do you live in or around the Miami-Dade area and need help from an Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) volunteer? Call the Number below and an answering machine will redirect your information to the “Bridging the Gap” Coordinator and a volunteer will contact you as soon as possible.

Call (305) 891-0351
 
Be sure to leave your:
 
- Name
- Treatment Facility
- Home Number
- Discharge Date
- Gender

As always, all information given to the Miami-Dade Alcoholics Anonymous Temporary Contact Program is always kept confidential.

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In the 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), we learn that A.A. is not formally associated with any particular organization or corporation. However, there are several non-profit organizations and government agencies (A.A. included) that are dedicated to providing crucial information and resources that you may not find at your local meeting. The following are just a few of the organizations dedicated to providing information and resources on alcohol abuse and alcoholism:

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) World Services, Inc.
475 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-870-3400
Email: Via the AA website
Website: www.Alcoholics-Anonymous.org

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
Phone: 757-563-1600
Email: WSO@al-anon.org
Website:  www.Al-Anon.Alateen.org

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
20 Exchange Place, Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-269-7797
Email: national@ncadd.org
Website: www.NCADD.org

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Scientific Communications Branch
6000 Executive Boulevard, Willco Building, Suite 409
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Phone: 301-443-3860
Email: NIAAAWeb-R@Exchange.NIH.Gov
Website: www.NIAAA.NIH.gov

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