Alcohol and Drug Use Rising in San Diego County

For those of us living in San Diego County, we are honored to have outstanding researchers and treatment providers for alcohol and drug addiction. Mark Schuckit, MD a leading researcher from the University of California San Diego has again helped us to understand more about the disease of alcoholism.

His latest research was published in Lancet, a medical journal this week to show, that in the developed countries, men have a 15 percent risk over their lifetime for abusing alcohol, and in addition, men have a 10 percent risk for becoming dependent (addicted) to alcohol.

Looking at these numbers: at least one in five men (20%) are at lifetime risk of becoming dependent on or abusing alcohol. Women's risk over all is 8-10%. Why? Dr. Shuckitt states that a higher proportion of women rarely or never drink.


What are the consequences (negative outcomes) of alcohol and drug dependence? Statistics show alcohol and drug abuse and dependence can increase auto accidents, suicides, divorces, child abuse, domestic violence, thefts, assaults, physical deterioration, organ damage, sexual dysfunction and brain damage.
What does this mean to us in day to day living? Be aware of what you go through when you drink alcohol or use drugs.

Symptoms of this progress and chronic disease go unnoticed for years:
drinking or using drugs to calm nerves

1. occasional memory lapses after heavy drinking or drugging
2. preoccupation with alcohol or drugs (thinking about the next time to drink or use)
3. hiding your alcohol or drugs
4. sneaking while drinking or doing drugs
5. feeling of guilt about drinking or using drugs
6. grandiose or aggressive behavior
7. overwhelming feeling of helplessness
8. thinking 'what's the use', a sense of futility
9. complete dishonesty
10. loss of other interest
11. family, work and money problems
12. neglect of feed
13. drinking alone, or secretly
14. family and friends avoided

If you feel your alcohol or drug use is becoming a problem, seek treatment before the symptoms and consequences get more severe. We can help!

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS

Have you had a Relapse in your attempts to quit drinking and using drugs in beautiful San Diego County?

Why does this happen?

I get calls daily from people who report they have attempted to quit drinking alcohol and using drugs, and have relapsed. Generally successful in many areas of their life, men and women trying to quit without help from a treatment professional can be frustrating and leave people feeling guilty and hopelessness.

What’s the answer to the residents of our local communities in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, or Scripps Ranch? Whether the mind altering chemicals such as alcohol or illegal drugs or prescription drugs such as tranquillizers, or opiate pain medication, the answer is to call a treatment professional now! Do not wait for the DUI, or the Possession charges; don’t wait for your spouse or children to leave because they say they can no longer cope with your addiction. Seek treatment before you loose your job, business or profession.

According to most well known researchers in the areas of alcohol and drug dependence, alcohol and drug use changes the brain, in fundamental and lasting ways. Does this mean you have brain damage? Some people do develop brain damage. Others are able to complete a process of treatment and learn how to care for their brain and quickly begin the healing process, repairing the brain within a couple of years.

Attendance in an Intensive Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Addiction program can teach you the tools to support your commitment to recovery, and both recognize a relapse trigger and change your thinking and behaving.

This is one of benefit of treatment…. To help you recognize the internal triggers (emotional states, thought processes and memories) and external triggers, those people, places and things that have part of your alcohol or drug dependence. For some people it means staying away from certain situations, for others it means learning another way to cognitively and emotionally respond to specific events, without reaching for a mind altering chemical such alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, meth, a tranquillizer such as Xanax or an opiate such as Vicodin or Oxycontin.

Take action now to seek care for your self, your health and your family!

To a Healthy 2009,

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS