Because knowledge leads to understanding - and once you understand what addiction is really about - you can get out of your own way and make progress on finding a way out.

When we have preconceived ideas about something (which many people do when it comes to alcoholism and drug addiction) - we become our own worst enemies in trying to overcome our own/help someone else overcome their addiction problems.

So step number one needs to be you getting out of your own way, getting the information/knowledge you need - and then moving forward from there to start your journey of healing and recovery.

The need to be right is an issue for many of us. Being open-minded can be difficult. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with that - but when dealing with potentially life and death subjects like drug and alcohol addiction, you can't afford to do that.

A particularly controversial subject around understanding drug addiction and alcoholism is the argument over whether or not they can in fact be regarded as a disease. In the bigger scheme of things, not agreeing with the addiction or alcoholism as a disease argument, shouldn't prevent you from doing everything you can to beat an addiction - whether your own or someone you love.

Agreeing on the causes of alcoholism and addiction can also sometimes be a contentious issue. Science now shows that genetics plays an increasingly prominent role, but lots of people still don't believe it despite evidence to the contrary.

For more in-depth information around these subjects, follow the links in the resource box provided. But my point is - ultimately these issues should be secondary to doing whatever is necessary to get clean and sober.

How Alcoholism Impacts the Family

The effects of alcoholism on the family can be devastating. Having a husband, wife, mother or father as an alcoholic can potentially destroy a family.

If you've been in a long-term relationship with an alcoholic, codependency is almost inevitable, which essentially means that as a codependent you suffer from relationship addiction.

Being in a codependent relationship means your needs aren't being fulfilled emotionally and that the relationship will in all likelihood be totally one-sided - you trying to please or 'be there' for your spouse/partner. This will also have a huge impact on any kids you may have because they will pick up on the destructive nature of the relationship, which will affect them especially in later years.

The effects of alcoholism on a relationship or marriage are huge, in that it naturally puts huge strain on the relationship. So it may reach a stage whether things have just gotten too bad for you (and your kids) that staying in the relationship is just not possible. Considering the whole alcoholism and divorce conundrum or looking at separation may then become a very real issue for you.

Having grown up in a family where alcoholism was prevalent and caused so much pain, I know that it's a complex issue to handle and that there simply isn't a right/wrong answer. Each family's situation is unique. Questions like, is there abuse involved, how badly are the kids being effected, how bad has the alcoholism become? - are one's that only you can answer and will provide you with more clarity as to what the right thing to do is.

Eventually something you will have to do is begin taking a stand and practising tough love - if there is to be any hope that things will change. You're going to have to draw a line in the sand and say that 'this is it.'

This is when doing an intervention could be your trump card - because if done properly, and done well - it could well get your partner or spouse into proper treatment, and so be the start of things turning around.

At the end of the day though, there just isn't a quick fix solution. It will definitely help speaking to, and meeting others, who have gone through what you have. Al-Anon, is a great support network and excellent place for you to start. The worst thing in the world you can do, is try to keep things covered up and be ashamed of what is happening - so don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help because there is lots of it out there.

Once they reach their forties, however, problems become more severe. This is a progressive disease that never gets better, and only gets worse, in the aging process, without intervention.

I've seen so many folks, friends and loved ones, have train wrecks around alcohol as they move through their forties. This is reflected in divorces, job and financial problems or coming face to face with the legal system. Several folks I've known have died from the disease in their forties, robbed of living out a full life.

If the truth be known, alcohol, in my opinion, is the most toxic drug known to mankind. The fact that it's "legal", however, distinguishes it from other drugs which are classified as dangerous and even believed to be more so. On the other hand, alcoholism is far more costly to society than illegal drugs ever have been, or ever will be. But, society is collectively in denial of this fact.

Enough of my rant. If you think you have a problem, the article we came across below offers to insight into treatment, and it's never too late to get help.

Alcoholism Addiction Treatment and Treatment for Drug Addiction

So you've identified that you or someone you love needs help. So what then are the options are far as alcoholism addiction treatment and treatment for drug addiction?

As far as I'm concerned your first point of call should always be rehab - or a proper treatment center - where you spend 3-6 weeks getting yourself sober/clean. (Times do vary depending on where you go)

The reason I think rehab should be your first choice - is because it not only helps you detox - but follows a focused in-patient treatment program that will help you deal with a lot of the 'stuff' that causes you to use or drink.

To get the level of intensive treatment and care you need - is so much harder without going to a rehab or inpatient treatment program. How you stay clean/sober successfully after treatment is even more important - so a good rehab will also prepare you for that while you're there.

Many people have a perception that rehab is unaffordable and so is realistically never going to happen. There are a lot of treatment centers however, that have government backing, and so make it possible for just about anyone to go.

I honestly believe rehab should always be your first choice, but what are your other options? You could try addiction and alcoholism self-help approaches, which would involve you working on the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of yourself - and therefore provide enormous potential for growth and transformation. I don't have space to go into detail here (check out my website for that). I still think however that rehab is your best bet (at least initially) - because trying to do it yourself is so much harder.

Alternative Alcoholism Treatment and Addiction Treatment options are becoming increasingly popular. I definitely think there is a place for alternative alcoholism and addiction treatment - but I would recommend using these in conjunction with a more mainstream or traditional way, especially to begin with at least - because again it is that much harder doing it without the help of addiction treatment professionals.

Therefore when considering treatments for drug addiction or alcoholism addiction treatment options - make getting into a treatment center/rehab your priority. Things like alternative alcoholism treatment and addiction/alcoholism self-help methods can play a massive part - but going to rehab will just give you that head start, and so make recovery that much easier.

The problem lies not only in the fact that they are trying to drink their worries away, but also that they are in the dark about the fact that alcohol is in itself a depressant. And hence, they continue to drink, in order to relieve the depression which they have brought on to themselves by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. And while they delve deeper into the recesses alcohol plunges them into, their bodies also suffer severe and often irrevocable damage, which if not treated in time, can also result in death.

When you drink alcohol, it passes into your esophagus and then into your stomach, from where it is absorbed into the blood. All this blood then passes into your liver, which is responsible for breaking down this alcohol into other chemicals, which are then further converted into water and carbon dioxide which can be excreted. This process is far from simple and cannot be carried out by your liver instantaneously. So, when you drink more alcohol than your liver can put up with, the level of alcohol in your bloodstream rises.

Alcohol directly attacks your liver by causing large amounts of fat to be deposited in it. Although this condition is not very severe and can be reversed if you stop drinking heavily, it can also lead to alcohol hepatitis where your liver is inflamed. In its mild stages, hepatitis is usually not noticed as it does not have any distinct symptoms of its own. However, when this inflammation becomes chronic, it leads to over production of bilirubin in the liver, which causes jaundice and finally liver failure. Further, alcohol also leads to the production of scar tissue in the liver or fibrosis. This scar tissue damages the cells in your liver and prevents new ones from growing, which can also result in liver failure. Liver Cirrhosis is even more difficult to detect as the symptoms manifest themselves very gradually and often when the condition is at its most severe.

One of the most frequent origins of heart disease is excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol causes severe and long term damage to your heart, invariably leads to high blood pressure and can also lead to stroke. Victims of alcohol abuse are also known to develop Alcohol Cardiomyopathy, when their excesses with alcohol result in abnormal enlargement and diminishment of their cardio-vascular health.

Sustained abuse of alcohol also results in Alcohol Dementia, where your drinking patterns inflict severe damage on your nervous system, negatively influencing your memory, learning abilities and reasoning. With time, you may even begin to experience lapses in your memory which many alcoholics try to cover up with elaborate tales, which is called Korsakoff Psychosis which can even result in paranoia. The alcoholic may also experience difficulties with his basic cognitive functions like reasoning and problem solving which impairs his social and personal interactions.

Prolonged abuse of alcohol also affects the pancreas, causing a severe inflammation which is called Pancreatitis, a condition which may also lead to him contracting Diabetes. Also, the high calorific content of most alcoholic drinks makes the victim susceptible to obesity and high blood pressure. A victim of alcoholism may also be undernourished as alcohol wears out the inner lining of the stomach and thus interferes in the absorption of many essential nutrients, while also impairing the individual's appetite. Alcohol is also directly responsible for the growth of cancerous tissue in the mouth, liver, colon and gullet while also causing erectile dysfunction in males and putting female alcoholics at an acute risk of developing complications during pregnancy.

Although moderate quantities of alcohol can be absorbed by your body and even aid it in the prevention of heart disease, drinking more than three times a day will drastically turn the tables. Hence, as the adage goes, "If you haven't begun to drink, don't start." Indeed, there are several other ways by which you can lower your risk of heart disease like regular exercise and a moderate diet. Remember, one of the most deceptive of all the symptoms of alcoholism, is the victim's inability to recognize his own addiction. And many of the physical manifestations lie latent until only severe measures have to be called for The next time you raise a toast, pause a minute to contemplate over the tremendous damage you are causing your body with every excessive drink that you take and think about whether those nights of drunken stupor are indeed worth risking your life for