Do I Drink Too Much?
Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug - and a dangerous one at that. So why are so many of us drinking over the recommended limits? Why does alcohol have such a powerful grip on us? How much of our relationship with this drug is written in our genes?
What are the real dangers of our children drinking too young? Addiction expert John Marsden, who likes a drink, makes a professional and personal exploration of our relationship with alcohol.
He undergoes physical and neurological examinations to determine its impact, and finds out why some people will find it much harder than others to resist alcohol.
Even at the age of 14 there may be a way of determining which healthy children will turn into addicts.
John experiments with a designer drug being developed that hopes to replicate all the benefits of alcohol without the dangers. Could this drug replace alcohol in the future?
I had a girlfriend who is is an alcoholic, Ive known her for 13 years and back then she used to drink wine but a whole bottle in one sitting, nowadays is more like a litre of rum a day, It is a terrible thing, i've witnessed it all, The withdrawals, the cold sweats, The internal bleeding, passing out, urinating on herself, Hiding bottles all over the place, keeping water bottles full of liquor in her purse, No matter what we did, vacations or having a nice time out, she always thought of alcohol and always found a way to get it. I tried everything, rehab/detox, nothing worked. She couldnt work or do much of anything but drink everyday, it took over her life. To see someone you love fall that far down is devastating. after 8 months of this i had to end it, It is so hard to deal with someone of that calibre and try to balance your own life, alcohol is just like any other addicting drug, so dangerous and it will ruin your life, I dont even drink any type of alcohol because of my experience. It is horrible.
My first visit to this website and I want to thank you for your comments all but one of which I agree. It is that the "non-addict will never understand the addict". I am not an addict but, I would like to think that I do understand the addict. I have and do to this day love each one: from my co-workers, church members, friends,neighbors and relatives. I dont pretend to fully understand the addict or anyone else for that matter. I believe you can only understand as much as a person is willing or able to reveal. And, with the addict that is not a great deal. Their defense mechanism is on high alert 24/7/365 even long after they are sober. And, with good reason I may add. Whoever, addict or not wants to expose anything more than apsolutely necessary to such an unforgiving, hypocritical, stereo-typing etc...society? Untill we live in a trusting, forgiving and loving world we will ALL always have our secrets. And, untill that day will anyone truly be STRONG enough to reveal all to even one other human being?
One question: What does "Nobody ever died from giving up slowly!" mean?
I used to drink more than I do now, this is a very interesting documentary. I had never realized all the effects alcohol has on the human body. Really good film that I would suggest to anyone to watch.
Trust me, booze is the soul mate to the alcoholic. Your whole day...week…
year........LIFE! ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in your life is centered and
and balanced around the poisonous liquid. There wasn't a day that went by
when I was drinking that whiskey didn't get my full loyalty. (even at work)
I've been sober for 3yrs now and can say I have no need for it anymore..
....but! I know me..I have an extremely addictive behavior and there's always
something to take it's place. Addicts can relate to what I'm saying. There
isn't a AA on this planet that can implant sobriety. You either wake up one
day and and say enough...wake up in jail and be forced to sweat out the DTs
or you don't.
PS. always remember just because an alcoholic has
refrained from booze it doesn't always meen their
sober......there's always something else to take it's
place. So be careful!
The fact that most of us came here to watch it and even question it? seriosuly everyone check out AA on the web - it's amazing what is the guidelines are now for being considered an alcoholic I didn't think i had a problem till i read and watched the video on aa - btw I am a 30 year old professional female - i binged drink every single weekend of my life , but it has now cost me regret , bad encounters and I am better then this
Was really enjoying this - then scene 5- 6 cuts out If i would of read below I would of known this - gutted
ok
The only reason most people go to AA is because the stinking court system makes them. Group therepy doesn't help the physical addiction to booze.
I LUV THIS SITE ITS SOOOOOOOO INSITEFUL!!!! <3
it's not the full movie. it's not complete.
If alcohol is costing you more than money then Alcoholics Anonomous can offer a way out.
Some people can have a few drinks but some people cannot. Alcohol is like a allergy. Maybe you can have 3 beers today and stop but there is a bender right around the corner. This is coming from a recovering alcoholic. Will power for an alcoholic is not enough to stop. This concept is hard for a non-alcoholic to grasp. God bless. If you think you may have a problem please reach out for help. A better life is also right around the corner.
By far the worst of all the drugs that I have ever tried & that is most of them.
Boo!! I drink one beer everyday.. at least. I'm already a college graduate. I have a great life and great friends, and two wonderful dogs. no kids yet, but I really don't think my drinking habits will have such a GREAT impact on my future years.
I love beer too!! I'm actually drinking one right now... while watching the doc XD Anything in excess is BAD, but when you can control yourself by saying "that's enough for me", then you can do whatever you want.
i love beer
To everyone in this thread, hope you are having a great 2011, just popped back to say hello, to those that have quit, bravo, to those that are struggling, hope you make it.
xxxx
Wine has been my best friend, worth enemy since my teens. A paradox I’ve been fighting for years. One of the very odd things about my drinking habit is that I am actually allergic to it. The more I drink the more I sneeze.
One thing is for certain, I do show signs of dependency. The preparation to that glass of wine, turned bottle is the aim most days, between excitement and regret. -Am I an alcoholic? Yes and know - Yes because like a junky I constantly deceit the true dependency I have to the rewards. Know because although I am dependent I am also manageable.
The older you get the more vulnerable you become. I would like to drink less.
Durin watchin this doc i was intreaged by the whole programe and relate to most of what was said!I myself have bean fighting my deamons since 14 to 15 years old and now at 24 with 2 kids am still into most drugs mostly drink!! I stopped drinking with graet difficalt for 10 to 12 month but started getting a herion habit then i knew i was going to loss everything so went to a doctor n that done shit sent me to rehab which is not the place to be!!! at this moment in time i love my life at full but am struggling to stop the addictive personallity !! i will try more help n addiction programs as b4 !! thnx for the documentry xx
i so much want to be normal for myself 1st my kids 2nd ??
@Randy:
However appealing your theory seems, It has some mayor flaws. First of all it would take considerably longer time then a couple of thousand years for evolution to make any difference like that. Second, as alcohol makes you dehydrated, drinking it against thirst it pointless, u also need clean water to even be able to make beer AND last, our livers are not strong and do not handle alcohol well. It differs from person to person and a lot of factors but there is nothing physically healthy about drinking alcohol so what ever. The only healthy aspects of drinking whine are the anti-oxidants in it and has NOTHING to do with the alcohol.
Getting pissed might be mentally and socially healthy and probably helps keeping us sane at times, but its hardly any good for our bodies.
interesting doc. you tards on this comment thread are a bunch of self-righteous, overly opinionated slops with some sort of entitlement to a hegemonic position on the behaviors and justified prejudices of others. survival is first. disappointing discourse here. get it together, fools.
SimonTheSorcerer,
You are interesting:)
Has anyone watched "Making A Killing: The Untold Story of Psychotropic Drugging"?That was a real eye opener also!I have a lot to think about.I love Documentaries!Like logic said...knowledge,we need knowledge.It's our most important weapon.
Logic,
"I gave up smoking and now I have cross addicted to alcohol. I don’t have one or two *insert addictive substance or process of choice*. One becomes two become four becomes eight. My brain is imbalanced and requires constant emotional stimulation. If I don’t get it one way , I will get it in another! It’s amazing that many of us addicts live a relatively normal life; we work, are intelligent people, have a family… We just know how to hide it well due to a lifetime of being in a depressed state when not partaking in our mood altering activity of choice."
You have it all so down Pat and say it in a way I understand all too much.great insight to say the least.I said my previous rude blurb because I thought you were just repeating over and over in your comments......then I actually read everything.You certainly have a handle on what it's like to be an alcoholic.I was wondering..how can you have a drink without smoking?That would drive me nuts!Again my apologies.I think I've killed a few brain cells in drinking career.
@JS
You are so right!It is a passionate subject.I have so much to say that I don't know where to begin or end.I appreciate your honesty.The strange things I often say to myself are"If I quit drinking,who will I be?"What will I do to fill my "drinking"time?How can I still have the same friends if they are still drinking?Can I handle all the things that I'll have to finally admit to(the things we don't like to think about).It seems like so much freakin work!Much easier just to stay on my liquid path.I'm so glad to have watched this DOC and found this comment forum.It feels good to let it all out.And here,trust isn't an issue.
All The Love,
Kelly D
P.s I have been sober five and a half years. (I am a female).
I completely understand what people have had to say about not being able stop once they start, and I didn't get sober in isolation - I went to others for the benefit of their experience and had to take actions my head fought, but that my body and then my head benefitted from.
I wish anyone with the compulsion to drink, and the obsession with drinking the very best of luck and hope you can get the release needed and support of others.