Alcoholism

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is not harmful. However, nearly 17.6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems. Alcoholism is a disease with four main features:

• Craving - a strong need to drink
• Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
• Physical dependence – withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
• Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get “high”

Alcoholism carries many serious dangers. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs. It can cause birth defects. It increases the risk of death from car crashes and other injuries as well as the risk of homicide and suicide.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Alcohol on Wikipedia

In general usage, '''alcohol''' (from Arabic language ''al-khwl'' الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as '''grain alcohol''', and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see ''alcoholic beverage''). This sense underlies the term alcoholism (addiction to alcohol). Other forms of alcohol are usually described with a clarifying adjective, as in ''isopropyl alcohol'' or by the suffix ''-ol'', as in ''isopropanol''. In chemistry, '''alcohol''' is a more general term, applied to any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (''-oxygenhydrogen'') is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms. The general formula for a simple alcohol containing no rings is '''C_nH_2n+1OH'''. As a drug, common alcohol (ethanol) is known to have a depressant that decreases the responses of the central nervous system.

Structure

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alcohols

External Resources

The Beer Witch Project - In 1996 three alcoholics went into the woods to film a documentary.

Make Mine a 007 - Guide to the alcoholic beverages consumed by James Bond, with drink statistics and recipes.

Diversity and New York - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Teach with Movies learning guide emphasizing issues of cultural heritage, alcohol abuse, families in crisis, female role models, and grieving.

BBC Cumbria: Withnail and I - Two struggling actors, running short on money and alcohol, decide to swap dreary London for a holiday cottage in the Lake District. Brief article about the film being made in Cumbria. Messageboard.

Irish Whiskey - Jon Steven's film about an alcoholic bigot. Includes synopsis, cast, behind the scenes and contacts.

Cimarron Country Dancers - A non-alcohol, non-smoking social club in Sumner, Washington. Includes schedules, location, activities and contact details.

FoolProof Improvisational Theatre Troupe - Made up of teenagers from Carroll County, Maryland, it presents improvisational scenes dealing with drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, date rape, and broken homes.

Phantom Projects Educational Theatre - Performs plays for and by young people addressing drug and alcohol prevention, prejudice, and promotes teen abstinence. Available to perform throughout California.

Shadowbox Cabaret - A high-energy evening featuring original sketch comedy, the house rock band performing covers and original songs, and one act plays, including many world and regional premieres every year. The audience sits at tables and is served hot food and cold alcoholic beverages by the performers.

Blue Sky Puppet Theatre - This professional touring company presents educational, fine art, and fun performances. Topics include: math education, peaceful conflict resolution, drug and alcohol prevention.

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