Alcohol Addiction Awareness: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD.org) · Self-Test · Donate · Local Resources
Over time, excessive alcohol use (both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking) can lead to numerous health and social problems, including but not limited to: Dementia, stroke, depression, motor-vehicle accidents, firearm injuries, domestic violence/abuse, liver diseases (including cancer), homicide, and suicide.
Alcohol energy drinks (AEDs) or Caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) are premixed beverages containing not only alcohol but caffeine, a lot of sugar and flavoring. Sold in tall, narrow cans similar to non-alcoholic energy drinks, they are very popular among young people and are marketed to 12- to 24-year-olds, often through “new media” marketing campaigns and “grassroots” strategies using youth-oriented imagery and slogans. Their alcohol content can be as high as 12% as compared with 5% for a typical can of beer.
A major concern is that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to “wide-awake drunkenness,” where caffeine masks the feeling of drunkenness but does not decrease actual alcohol-related impairment. As a result, you feel less drunk than you really are, which can lead to consumption of even more alcohol.
Alcoholism has little to do with what kind of alcohol one drinks, how long one has been drinking, or even exactly how much alcohol one consumes. But it has a great deal to do with a person’s uncontrollable need for alcohol. Most alcoholics can’t just “use a little willpower” to stop drinking. The alcoholic is frequently in the grip of a powerful craving for alcohol, a need that can feel as strong as the need for food or water. Yet, with support and treatment, many are able to stop drinking and reclaim their lives.
Facing Addiction and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) are proud to announce a merger of the organizations, creating a national leader in the effort to turn the tide on the addiction epidemic.