Hangover Movie: Bad Santa

Posted on January 25, 2013 by pgh

Hangover Movie: Bad Santa

Bad Santa is an American Christmas crime comedy. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham.

The movie starts off with the main character Willie Stokes, played by Thornton. Every year Willie Stokes finds a different job at shopping malls to dress up as Santa. Supposedly Willie Stokes is a jolly old man whom all the kids love. This isn’t the case though. On Christmas Eve, Willie and his friend Marcus the ‘elf’ will disarm the alarms in the shopping mall and then rob the store blind. Willie then spends the rest of his year getting drunk and committing other crimes waiting for next Christmas where he will find a shopping mall where he can dress up as Santa and then rob them again. The following Christmas Willie and Marcus meet up once again to rob a mall in Phoenix, Arizona and during that time Willie meets a bartender named Sue.

Meant to be funny and full of insult and Christmas humor, Bad Santa really is bad. During Willie’s shift work as Santa, Willie finds a quiet, fat boy named Thurman. One night when Willie is getting off work he gets attacked by a strange man and Thurman ends up helping Willie. Willie drives Thurman home and then realizes that Thurman lives in an expensive house with only his grandmother so Willie manages to talk Thurman into letting him rob the house and take the expensive car in the driveway.

Eventually at his job at the mall as Santa a security guard starts to pick up on Willie’s antics. The security guard, Gin Slagel played by Bernie Mac then decides to break into Willie’s house to search for any evidence he can find to get Willie fired. The movie continues on with Willie and Sue’s relationship and Willie is now living with Thurman. The security guard eventually figures out that Thurman’s father is actually in prison for embezzlement and decides to pay him a visit. When he goes to visit Thurman’s father he realizes that Willie should not be staying at Thurman’s house and from that point on it is the end of Willie’s robbery days.

On Christmas Eve, Willie, Marcus and Lois break into the mall and disarm the alarms. It takes Willie longer than usual to crack open the safe; Marcus notices this and after successfully opening it, Marcus reveals to Willie that he is becoming too unreliable and was planning on killing him. Before Marcus could take his shot, a police squad appears and starts shooting at all three of them. Willie makes an escape, but manages to snag a pink stuffed elephant as Thurman’s Christmas present. He escapes and drives back to Thurman’s house with a convoy of policeman behind him. However, while trying to get to the front door, the police shoot him down.

The epilogue of the movies is told from a letter Willie wrote to Thurman from the hospital explaining his innocence. In the end Marcus and Lois are arrested and Sue gets custody of Thurman and Willie ends up being a sensitivity security guard.

Binge Drinking Facts

Posted on January 21, 2013 by pgh

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is also known as heavy episodic drinking. Binge drinking usually serves the sole purpose of becoming increasingly intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. Binge drinking rapidly brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. The definition of binge drinking for women is when they consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours and for men it is 5 drinks in about 2 hours. People who engage in binge drinking are not usually alcohol dependent but it can quickly turn into alcohol dependence if it is done on a regular basis.

Here are some binge drinking facts according to different national surveys:

Around 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the last 30 days.
It may seem like binge drinking would be more common in college students and while it is true they commonly binge drink, 70% of binge drinking episodes actually involved adults age 26 years or older.
Binge drinking is also more common in men with it being twice more prevalent in them than in women.
Binge drinking is fairly common among all people. One in six U.S. adults binge drink about four times a month. Not just that but they also drink eight drinks per binge.
Over half of all the alcohol being consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
Binge drinking is more common in households that have incomes of 75,000 dollars or more a year.
Nearly all, 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.

One of the biggest facts about binge drinking is that it can severely and negatively affect those who engage in it. Binge drinking comes hand in hand with many health problems such as:

Binge drinking because of the level of intoxication in individuals can cause unintentional injuries. These unintentional injuries include car crashes, falls, burns, drowning.
Binge drinking can also cause intentional injuries such as firearm injuries, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
Binge drinking can quickly and easily lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal.
Binge drinking can also lead to a lack of inhibition and risk taking behavior which can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.
Binge drinking for those who are already pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome in the unborn child.
Binge drinking can also cause high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
Binge drinking just as any drinking, can cause liver disease, neurological damage, sexual dysfunction and poor control for those who have diabetes.

Believe it or not but the negative effects of binge drinking don’t just affect the people who are drinking. Binge drinking costs everyone money.

Binge drinking and drinking too much, costs the United States a whopping 223.5 billion in 2006.
That is $1.90 a drink from losses in productivity, health care, crime and other expenses.
Binge drinking also cost federal, state, and local governments about 62 cents per drink in 2006 while the federal and state income from taxes on alcohol only totaled 12 cents per drink.

Binge drinking is very harmful not only to the individual and those who know the individual but it is harmful to the community. The bad things we hear about that happen when someone is drinking are usually due to some form of binge drinking. Not only that but the facts about binge drinking can easily lead to a larger and more serious alcohol dependency which will require outside help to overcome.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm

Alcohol’s Effect on Cholesterol Levels

Posted on January 16, 2013 by pgh

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels

Drinking alcohol is common in the United States. Almost half the population drinks regularly. Drinking moderately can actually be good for your health, especially for your cholesterol. In some respects, moderate drinkers are actually healthier than people who don’t drink and people who drink excessively.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Types of Cholesterol

Alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels is beneficial if alcohol is consumed in moderation. There are two types of cholesterol-HDL and LDL. HDL cholesterol is known as the “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better. If levels of HDL are low, the risk of heart disease increases. HDL travels to the liver, which processes the cholesterol and rids it from the body. LDL, on the other hand, tends to build up in deposits around the body. It causes a buildup of plaque on the walls of arteries. When there is a buildup of plaque, the blood cannot flow as freely, and the risk of heart disease increases.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: HDL Cholesterol

Alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels is that it actually raises the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood. So it promotes the removal of excess cholesterol in the body. Consuming two drinks a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 16.8 percent.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Triglycerides

It is important to note that although alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels can be beneficial, cholesterol is not the only factor in determining overall heart health. Another factor is triglycerides. Alcohol is the major source of excess calories which get turned into fat, so the triglyceride level in the blood increases. Alcohol also slows down fat metabolism. When alcohol is present in the blood, the liver prioritizes removing alcohol in the blood over other metabolic processes, including sugar. While the liver is breaking down the alcohol, glucose gets further processed into triglycerides instead of being broken down and removed from the body. The same two glasses of alcohol that will reduce HDL cholesterol will raise triglycerides and the risk of stroke and heart disease by 4.6 percent.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Moderation

To reap the benefits of alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels, alcohol must be consumed in moderation. Anything beyond the standard definition of “moderation,” however, is considered detrimental to heart health, and alcoholic beverages are usually high in calories, which can lead to unwanted weight gain. Those extra pounds can increase your risk of diabetes and stroke. In addition, overconsumption has been connected to liver disease and even damaged heart muscle. Moderation is considered one to two drinks a day. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, one and a half ounces of 80 proof liquor, one ounce of 100 proof liquor, or four ounces of wine. You do not increase your heart health by increasing consumption. Binge drinking one night is not healthy and will not benefit the heart, even if

Hangover First Aid

Posted on January 14, 2013 by pgh

Hangovers are nasty business. Whether we want to or not, we all end up having a little too much to drink sometimes. We wake up in the morning with a pounding head, parched mouth and upset stomach-the price we pay for overindulging. While nothing can cure a hangover besides time, there is some hangover first aid you can do to treat the symptoms.

Hangover First Aid: Food

Eating something as soon as you wake up can help with your stomach upset and overall lack of energy. Foods that contains fat and protein seems to help the most, so make yourself a plate of bacon, eggs and toast. Bacon contains a lot of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. One particular type of amino acid, amine has been shown to be effective in clearing your head after a night of partying. Binging on alcohol depletes your store of amino acids, and eating bacon can replenish some of what you lost. Eggs are also a good source of protein. Bread is great because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. It not only can absorb some of the acid in your stomach when you wake up with a hangover, it also gives you a boost of energy.

Hangover First Aid: Liquids

If your stomach can’t handle food, drink a glass or two of juice or a sports drink. Follow it up with a couple glasses of water. Many hangover symptoms are caused by dehydration. You’re body loses a lot of fluids and other nutrients during a night of drinking. Drinking a lot of water, juice, or other sports drinks can help you replenish some of what you lost. Steer clear of acidic juices, like orange, as acidic juices can sometimes exacerbate a sour stomach. Sports drinks can help replenish electrolytes, as well as hydrating your body.

Hangover First Aid: Rest

Many of the hangover symptoms you experience are made worse by lack of rest. Usually when you overindulge, you also stay out much later than you normally do. Rest is an integral part of hangover first aid. Rest gives your body the time it needs to restore itself. After you eat and drink, pull the blinds and climb back into bed. By the time you wake up, you should be feeling much better. For an added benefit-take an OTC pain killer like Tylenol or Advil. It will help with any aches and pains you may be feeling. Putting an icepack on your aching head can help with a wicked hangover as well. If you don’t have an icepack, a package of frozen vegetables works too. Or just rinse a washcloth in cold water and apply it to your forehead.

Hangover First Aid: Time

Time is really the only cure for a hangover. Try to take it easy and deal with your symptoms until nature takes its course. If you have consumed a large measure of alcohol your hangover probably is severe and more time will need to elapse before you begin to feel better. The fewer drinks you consume — the less time it’ll take you to recover.

Facts About Alcohol Poisoning

Posted on January 11, 2013 by pgh

What is alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning is the result of drinking copious amounts of alcohol in a short period time. Alcohol poisoning is very serious and can sometimes be deadly. Binge drinking or drinking too much too quickly can affect your heart rate, your breathing, and your gag reflex. This can potentially lead to coma and death.

Binge drinking is rapidly consuming five or more drinks in a short span of time. Binge drinking is the main culprit of alcohol poisoning. But alcohol poisoning can also happen when you accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.

Someone who has alcohol poisoning requires immediate medical attention. If you think someone may have alcohol poisoning, call 911 or for emergency help immediately. The treatment for alcohol poisoning will include breathing support, intravenous fluids, and vitamins until all of the alcohol is out of the body.

What causes alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol comes in different forms. The three most common forms of alcohol are Isopropyl alcohol which you find in rubbing alcohol, lotions and cleaning products, Methanol which is common in antifreeze, paints and solvents, and Ethanol which is found in alcoholic drinks, mouthwash and some medications.

Alcohol poisoning can occur from drinking household products accidentally or purposely but usually alcohol poisoning is due to drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time.

Alcohol is not like food. Alcohol is absorbed into the body very quickly where as food takes hours to digest. It also takes your body a long time to get rid of the alcohol you have consumed. So it hits you faster and lasts longer. Alcohol is processed by the liver and it takes about an hour for your liver to metabolize the alcohol in one drink. The rate which alcohol is metabolized varies depending on the person. But the more alcohol you give your body the more alcohol your liver has to handle and drowning it in alcohol is dangerous. Binge drinking is what usually causes your liver to become overworked.

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system. This means that alcohol affects the nerves that control your involuntary actions such as breathing, regulating body temperature, your heartbeat, and your gag reflex. Drinking too much can cause these functions to stop working properly or cause them to shut down all together which can lead to cardiac arrest or even seizures. In worst case scenarios this can lead to death.

What are the symptoms of alcohol poisoning?

Some of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning are:

Confusion
Vomiting
Seizures
Slow breathing-this means less than eight breaths a minute
Irregular breathing-this means there is a space of more than 10 seconds between breaths
Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
Low body temperature
Unconsciousness or passing out
Inability to wake the person

Not all of the symptoms need to present for someone to have alcohol poisoning. A person who has alcohol poisoning and cannot be woken up or is unconscious is at risk of dying so it is important to call 911 immediately.

Some factors can put at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning. For instance your age, your sex, your size and weight, and your overall health can all determine if you are at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning. This is because all of these qualities have to do with how your body processes alcohol. There are other things that can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning such as what you eat, your drug use if any, the type of alcohol you’re drinking, your tolerance level, and the rate at which you are drinking. These are quite apparent.

Alcohol poisoning is very dangerous and should be taken very seriously. No one has to die due to alcohol poisoning if everyone takes the right action and drinks responsibly. If not and you see someone who you think may have alcohol poisoning call 911 immediately.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/alcohol-poisoning-the-hard-facts-364840/

Hangover Movie: Love and Other Drugs

Posted on January 9, 2013 by pgh

Hangover Movie: Love and Other Drugs

This picture can best be summed up as a kind of old fashioned romance falling in love story that touches your emotions as you feel the couples Jamie (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and Maggie’s (played by Anne Hathaway) growing pains of trust, sickness and feel good pleasure.

Set in the mid 1990’s when the economy was booming you have Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) who’s a young playboy from a well to do family and his biggest love in life is going to bed with hot young females. Then Jamie decides to get a little bit more power hungry when he becomes a pharmaceutical sales rep. He’s taken under the arms of an ego driven boss Bruce (Oliver Platt) and the catch and sale of the game is for Jamie to use his charm and good looks to help sell medicine like Zoloft and Viagra. Plus his connection with a cocky Dr. Knight (Hank Azaria) helps his climb and profile in the drug selling world too! Now that Jamie has become a hotshot pharmaceutical rep he now meets his match in one of Knight’s patients that being the sassy and witty sharp tongued free spirited sexy Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway) as you can see a lot of adjectives to describe her. Only blemish with the beautiful Maggie is that she has stage one Parkinson’s disease. Never mind these hot young attractive singles hit it off perfect as this quickly becomes a relationship of no strings attached lust bedroom making very hot passionate sex.

Yet as the charms of Jamie continues to go both for Maggie and his business he unexpectedly starts to have feelings for Maggie has he finally met his match can he charm the stubborn sex magnet Maggie? Soon after the feelings between the two arise, Maggie’s condition begins to get worse and Jamie goes on a long hunt to find a cure for her Parkinson’s disease with no avail. And of course there is an ending that fits right in with the romantic cliché’. Something bad happens they split up and then have to go chasing each other down again.

The film is blended well with both comedy and drama as Jamie’s slob geek overweight brother Josh(Josh Gad) provides laughs trying to score and it’s fun seeing he’s addicted to watching internet porn and sex tapes. Plus the scene of Jamie’s boner from taking the Viagra pill was downright funny. Still Maggie is a serious go getter by traveling even to Canada to Parkinson support groups in the search for new cures and ways of living with the disease.

Either way you look at it Love and Other drugs is a great movie that is different than most romantic comedies. It’s real, funny, witty, and sad at times.

More Hangover Movies You Might Like.

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly

Posted on January 7, 2013 by pgh

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly

Alcohol related problems put elderly people in the hospital more often than heart attacks. But alcohol abuse among the elderly is more hidden that in any other age group because of social isolation, loneliness and depression. Often the signs of alcohol abuse among the elderly mimic other signs of aging, so doctors misread the signs.

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly: Causes

Alcohol abuse among the elderly sometimes starts with the life changes that can accompany aging. Many older Americans develop drinking problems due to depression, illness, or death of a loved one. The death of a spouse can set off a cycle of depression, poor nutrition, alcohol abuse, and abusing medications. The incentives for a younger person to seek help are often not there for an older person. They don’t have the same motivation to recover.

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly: A hidden problem

Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Sometimes, alcohol abuse among the elderly goes unnoticed because the person has been drinking moderately their whole life, and their family does not notice when their drinking suddenly increases. Forgetfulness, loss of balance, and mood swings that may indicate alcohol abuse among the elderly can be chalked up to old age or other health problems.

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly: Why it is dangerous?

Alcohol abuse among the elderly deserves particular attention because the aging process affects how the body handles alcohol. The same amount of drinks can have a greater effect as a person gets older. Also, many older Americans take prescription medications on a regular basis. Their medication can interact with the alcohol and cause dangerous, even deadly, side effects. Some medical conditions that are common among older people, such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and diabetes, can get worse with alcohol use.

Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction time leading to an increase in accidents and falls. Accidents and falls in elderly people can be particularly dangerous since their bones are often more prone to break and they don’t recover as quickly from injuries. Alcohol abuse among the elderly can also cause cancer, liver cirrhosis, and brain damage. Alcohol also affects blood sugar levels in elderly people with diabetes.

Alcohol Abuse Among The Elderly: Getting help

Doctors may be hesitant to confront an elderly person about alcohol abuse. Many of them consider it to be a sensitive issue. Elderly people are also less likely to disclose alcohol abuse to their doctor. Also, there are far fewer treatment programs for elderly people with alcoholism, so doctors may not know where to send patients for help. An elderly person may have a hard time at a traditional treatment program since many of the clients are much younger. A 75 year old alcohol abuser may have a hard time relating to a 20 year old cocaine addict.

However, if they do seek help, elderly people often do very well in treatment. The hard part is long term recovery once they are home and alone again.

Drinking to Cope

Posted on January 7, 2013 by pgh

Drinking to Cope

Many studies into drinking alcohol have indicated that multiple that do drink alcoholic beverages, do so as a means to cope with life and its stress. There are so many stresses in life too, for which drinking can be a simple solution. For instance, you can drink to cope with economic stress, job stress, marital problems, and family problems etc. Drinking to cope could mean drinking due to anxiety, fear, sadness, and anger too. Today’s society is so fast paced and there is little support and this could be why some people find themselves drinking to cope.

Do you drink to cope?

When it comes to drinking in order to cope it is not so much the alcohol that is the problem but poor coping skills within the individual. Even though this is quite apparent, a lot of people try to cope with stress by using alcohol and this is actually counterintuitive. Drinking to cope doesn’t actually deal with the problem it just masks the stress. Then people end up having to drink more and more alcohol to gain the same amount of relief from drinking. This is how drinking to cope can easily lead to alcohol abuse and then to alcoholism. Drinking to cope can lead to physical, psychological, health, and social problems. In fact drinking to cope can actually reduce an individual’s ability to cope with stress.

Drinking to cope doesn’t solve anything all it does is create more problems for the individual trying to deal with whatever is going on. Drinking to cope is the equivalent of pouring gasoline on a fire in order to put it out. This may sound extreme but it is true. Drinking to cope will only make things worse especially for the individual who is drinking to excess. An individual who hasn’t reached the point of alcohol abuse doesn’t have to totally abstain from alcohol, but they should cut back from drinking alcohol or try not drinking to cope because it is absolutely vital to their wellbeing to not drink too much. Drinking too much in order to cope with problems is when many people fall into the grips of alcoholism and once a person has reached that point, there is no coming back. Alcoholism is a lifelong issue and can be really hard to overcome for the person who has drank to the point of changing their brain chemistry.

There are multiple alternative to handling stress other than drinking to cope. For instance many people use yoga to distress. There are also tons of other holistic coping skills and therapies to help with building healthy coping skills. Drinking to cope isn’t the only option.

Here are some healthier alternative other than drinking to cope:

Individual therapy
Yoga
Massage therapy
Exercise
Meditation
Acupuncture
Breathing exercises
Long walks
Cleaning
Talking to someone

No one has to drink to cope. Drinking to cope is a choice that can be changed. The consequences of drinking to cope can be very grave and those consequences don’t have to be felt if other coping strategies can be implemented. Healthy coping skills are a tool that an individual can keep with them forever too in order to instill a permanent sense of wellbeing within them. This is much better in comparison to drinking to cope and just compounding the problems.

Sources:

http://stresscourse.tripod.com/id86.html

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/stress-and-drinking/

Another New Year’s. Another Hangover.

Posted on January 2, 2013 by pgh

Another New Year’s. Another Hangover.

New Years are the chance at a fresh start and they are a chance to implement new habits to change your life for the better. It is funny that right before we make a choice to change our lives for the better with multiple New Year’s resolutions and goals we party like the world is going to end. New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest party days of the entire year. It is a huge celebration! Unfortunately this day of partying usually leads to quite the hangover on the first day of a fresh new year. Some of us may have spent another New Year’s drinking and woken up with another hangover, so we decide to do something different with our lives. We decide to stop drinking. Multiple people including myself have done this. The New Year is a fresh start and it can be if you want it to, be a year of sobriety.

At the end of the year we always look back on what we have done with our lives in the past 365 days. For some of us in the grips of an addiction and alcoholism, we look back at the year and all we say are blurred days, blackouts, hangovers, and a whirlwind of destruction. It can cause a lot of pain to those of us who can’t stop drinking or using drugs. So, we spend one more New Year’s Eve drinking the pain away and doing the drugs that give us relief to only wake up in a new year with a new resolve to change our lives for good.

This New Year can be a new start if you want to do things differently. Whether it is to start working out or to get sober, it truly all is possible. There doesn’t have to be another New Year that comes around where you wake up wanting more than anything for your hangover to go away. You can spend the New Years to come sober and happy and with a clear and calm memory of what happened that night. I know this to be true because I relapsed at the beginning of the year 2011. I stopped drinking for good on January 4^th, 2011 and have had a sober way of life ever since and it is exponentially better than the days that dragged on while I was drinking. I woke up from New Year’s Day with a clear conscious, with a clear memory of what happened not only the night before but the entire year, and a resolve to take my life to the next level.

It can be really hard to want to start off a New Year fresh and find yourself so drunk that you cannot move the next day, with your head pounding, vomiting, and not remembering what happened. That’s why you can take this New Year and turn it into your year. This can be the last year you ever had New Year’s accompanied with another hangover. Hangovers and drinking are overrated anyways. Don’t have another New Years with another hangover.

Sources
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/prescription-drug-abuse
http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future

Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism

Posted on December 31, 2012 by pgh

Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism

There has often been a lot of controversy about housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism. The people who enter these programs are used to people giving up on them and thinking they aren’t worthy of time or energy. There are plenty of places that will house homeless people if they are willing to give up drugs and alcohol. However, there are relatively few places that will let you continue to live there if you continue to drink.

Unlike other shelters and public housing, housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism will allow alcoholics to continue to drink in their rooms. They will not be forced to choose between housing and sobriety.

Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism: Public opinion

People living in neighborhoods where these housing programs are being started often worry that they will flood the streets with alcoholics. Taxpayers often object to paying for housing that allows homeless alcoholics to continue drinking. Also, the idea of giving chronic alcoholics access to their drug of choice on the taxpayers’ dime is unacceptable to most addiction counselors. To them, it is basically giving up on a treatable disease.

Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism: Harm reduction

Much of the idea behind housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism is to cut down on simply cycling people from doorways and alleys to emergency rooms and jails. Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism actually save taxpayer money, improve community livability, and uphold people’s innate dignity. An ambulance ride and trip to the emergency room can easily cost $2,000. One night in detox is about $220. In one year, a chronic drinker can cost the taxpayer $50,000. Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism cost about $13,000 per resident annually.

The aim of housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism is to reduce alcohol’s harm to themselves and to the community at large. Drug and alcohol treatment services are available, but participation is not a requirement to stay.

Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism: Hopeless cases

Most of the people who end up in housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism have been to treatment numerous times. Sometimes there are alcoholics that can’t be treated-like those with such severe brain damage, there’s no chance of meaningful life, and those with irreversible liver damage who do not meet criteria for transplantation. However, for some who are not hopeless, avoiding the consequences of their addiction (like living on the streets) may aid them in avoiding changing their behavior. These wet houses may be the best place for hopeless cases-basically a place where they can drink until they die with a little dignity. However, it can be dangerous for someone who can recover to go to a wet house. They have no reason to quit drinking. Their meals, housing, and even their booze is paid for by tax dollars. Housing programs for people living with chronic alcoholism can rob these people of the chance to get better.