The problem of drug use and abuse is not a new one, society has dealt
with drug use and abuse for centuries. From the early Egyptians use of
wine, to the Chinese’s use of marijuana for medicinal purposes dating
back to 2737 B.C., drug use has a long history. During the 19th century
scientists and chemists began to extract the active ingredients in drugs
and refine them, resulting in the creation of substances such as
morphine, laudanum, and cocaine. These newly created substances were
unregulated and widely available to the public. Drug use and abuse was
especially prevalent during and after the Civil War, as morphine was
widely was used to treat wounded soldiers. Many soldiers even had their
own kits of morphine and hypodermic needles, which they brought home
with them after the war. Away from the war, opium dens flourished. It is
estimated that during this period there were approximately 250,000
addicts in the US alone.

The “official” beginning of the war against drug use and abuse, now
popularly called “the War On Drugs” by the government and media, was
1880, when the United States, and China signed legislation banning the
import of opium into the US. In San Francisco opium dens were banned
outright. By 1875 the problem of drug use and abuse was beginning to be
recognized as a serious threat, but it wasn’t until 1906 that serious
legislation to curb drug use and abuse was introduced. The Pure Food and
Drug Act of 1906 required exact labeling of all patented drug items
containing opium and other similar narcotics. The Harrison Act of 1914
further expanded the regulation of narcotics by limiting the sale of
large amounts or “doses” of opiates and cocaine, except by a licensed
doctor or pharmacy. Soon after heroin was banned and the Supreme Court
banned the prescription of any narcotic, even by a doctor. By the 1920’s
the issue of drug use and abuse took a backseat to a newer threat:
Alcohol. The 18th amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the sale,
use, or possession of alcohol, was ratified in 1919. Use of all
narcotics and alcohol declined sharply. Drug use and abuse education in
schools also began around this time, but was abandoned shortly
thereafter. Soon after, marijuana, also considered a narcotic, was
demonized in the media to the point of satire in movies such as
“Reefer Madness” and became a target of criminalization, and was added to
the list of banned substances on August 2nd 1937 when the Marijuana Tax
Act was signed into law, making marijuana illegal on a federal level.

Drug use and abuse became prevalent, even socially acceptable to a
degree, during the social turbulence of the 1960’s. Newer narcotics like
LSD, Quaaludes, and speed, joined heroin, marijuana and cocaine as the
beast of drug use and abuse came back with a vengeance. Horror stories
of “bad trips” and fatal overdoses came to the nation’s attention as
America’s younger generation sought to free their bodies and minds. The
cycle of drug use and abuse continued into the 70’s, with a new
generation and an old drug: cocaine. The romanticization of cocaine, and
general drug use and abuse in the media, movies, and popular music, led
to a dramatic increase in the number of addicts and fatalities related
directly to it’s use.

It was during the 1980’s with the invention of the government’s new plan
to stamp out drug use and abuse, that the modern “War On Drugs” began.
Aggressive law enforcement tactics against the users and dealers of
drugs, particularly cocaine, were implemented, and heavy penalties
instituted. The use of cocaine, and other narcotics declined as a result
during the early 1980’s, but rose again sharply in the mid-80’s, and
into the 1990’s, with the invention of “crack”, an easy to make, more
powerful form of smokable cocaine. Due to the incredibly addictive
nature of this new concoction, “crack” or rock cocaine became an
epidemic rapidly, and the number of addicts or “crackheads” continued to
rise sharply. The epidemic of crack, and drug use and abuse in general
is still evident even today in 2006. The 1990’s also saw the rise of
another deadly narcotic, “meth”. Currently the “meth” epidemic is one of
the nation’s worst problems. Even with today’s drug use and abuse
education, rehab and treatment techniques, even the threat of
imprisonment, new addicts are born everyday, and the romanticizing of
drug use and abuse is still prevalent. It seems drug use and abuse and
the resulting destruction will be here for a couple thousand more years
until a way is found to cure the causes of addiction, and the need for
us to medicate ourselves from the stresses of everyday life.

Behavior Modification Therapy operates on the premise of learning theory; we repeat certain behaviors that have been reinforced over time. People who use alcohol/drugs as a way of coping in their lives develop very specific responses to situations. As a result the alcohol/drugs become a conditioned response as an attempt to adapt to the same situations. To modify these dysfunctional behaviors the therapist and individual develop a detailed understanding of what transpires leading up to problem and create alternatives that will condition healthier responses.

20 Questions that only you can answer:

To find out, ask yourself the following questions,
and answer them as honestly as you can:

1.Do you lose time from work due to your drinking?
2.Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3.Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4.Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5.Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6.Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of your drinking?
7.Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8.Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9.Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10.Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily?
11.Do you want a drink the next morning?
12.Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13.Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14.Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15.Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?
16.Do you drink alone?
17.Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your drinking?
18.Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19.Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20.Have you ever been in a hospital or institution on account of drinking?

To find out how you did, count your “YES” answers,

Are you an alcoholic?

If you answered YES to one of the questions, this is a warning that you may be an alcoholic.

If you answered YES to any two, there’s a good chance that you are an alcoholic.

If you answered YES to three or more, you are definitely an alcoholic.

Source: These test questions are used by Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Md., in deciding whether or not a patient is alcoholic.

Alcoholism and drug abuse are two of America’s greatest health, and
social concerns. The devastation, and cost in lives caused by alcoholism
and drug abuse are immeasurable. Crime, bad health, broken marriages,
loss of income, even death, are all just a few of the misfortunes that
can be credited to the diseases of alcoholism and drug abuse.

The mystery of what makes us susceptible to addiction, and the cure for
alcoholism and drug abuse has been widely argued by every faction in the
medical and scientific community - from chemists and psychiatrists to
doctors and geneticists. This is due to the fact that addiction is
considered by some to be a mental illness, or compulsive behavior, as in
the case of gambling or sexual addiction. While others believe it to be
a physical illness, resulting from escalation in use due to repeated
exposure.

Is it a genetic, or inherited trait? A chemical reaction? A
mental illness? A combination of physical and mental factors? There is
no general agreement on what exactly an addiction is, but enough is
known to know alcoholism and drug abuse are a serious health priority.

On a societal level, alcoholism and drug abuse are widely associated
with criminal and deviant behavior. Even though the use of alcohol is
accepted to a certain degree, alcoholics, and alcoholism in general are
still considered unsavory by the majority of society. Drug use, sales
and possession are another story entirely. Aside from prescription and
over the counter pharmaceuticals, possession of any narcotic is illegal.
The open use of drugs in public is socially unacceptable, and illegal in
virtually any public place in the United States, and addicts or “junkies”
are looked upon with open disdain, or pity, by most. In some countries
the possession of, sale, or trafficking of drugs is punishable by
death.

Most people in this modern age of information are aware of the risks and
consequences of addiction, and use this information to help themselves
and others avoid the trap of alcoholism and drug abuse. Groups such as
AA/NA and private treatment or “rehabs” are involved in the study and
prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse, as well as the treatment, and
rehabilitation of those suffering from the sickness of addiction.
Alcoholism and drug abuse may never be fully eradicated, but with
continued study and diligence the number of new addictions and lost
lives will continue drop.

Alcoholics have many options when it comes time to drink. Alcohol is
legal in the USA, and readily available in bars, restaurants,
supermarkets, and liquor stores, to anyone over 21 years of age in most
states. It is advertised on TV, in magazines, and public events. The
fact that drinking is considered socially acceptable, and even viewed as
a fun way to socialize, no doubt contributes to the high number of
alcoholics in the United States today.

Alcoholism is one of the most deadly diseases on the planet. In the U.S.
Alone, an estimated 7% of the population; or 13 million Americans, have
a drinking problem. Of this 7%, 8 million are considered alcoholics.
Two-thirds of the adult population of the United States consume alcohol,
and amazingly, of all the alcohol consumed, half can accounted for by
only 10% of drinkers. 3.1 million people, or approximately 1.4% of the
population received treatment for alcoholism and alcohol-related
problems in 1997.

Alcoholics also have one of the largest support groups to help them deal
with their disease, AA, or Alcoholics Anonymous. With groups meeting in
just about every major city, and several more in suburban, and rural
areas, AA tries to insure there is always a place for the alcoholic to
get help. Through the assistance of groups such as AA, and
professionally staffed detox, and rehab centers, alcoholics can find an
option that suits their needs.

Some general statistics concerning alcohol and alcoholics:

• In the USA there an estimated 8.1 million people are alcoholics.
• People over the age of 60 account for 3 of the 8+ million
  alcoholics in the country.
• The odds are 1 in 50,000 for an alcoholic to successfully quit
  using alcohol on their own.
• The majority of alcoholics seeking treatment are in the 26-34
  age group.
• Alcohol and alcoholics contribute to 100,000 deaths annually.
• Alcohol related fatalities are the third leading cause of
  preventable death in this country.
• 20% of suicide victims are alcoholic.
• Alcohol is consumed by 66% of the population.
• Of all the alcohol consumed in the USA, 50% is consumed by just
  10% of drinkers.
• An alcoholic will impact an average of 4-5 other lives while
  under the influence of the disease.
• Statistics show that people who use alcohol before the age of 15
  are four times more likely to become alcoholics, compared to
  those who start drinking at the legal age of 21.
• In 2002, a reported 2.6 million binge drinkers were reported as
  being between the ages of 12 and 17.
• 6.6 million children under the age of 18 live in households with
  at least one alcoholic parent.
• 53 % of the people in the U.S. report that one or more of their
  close relatives is an alcoholic.
• 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.

*

These are just a few of the fact and figures concerning alcohol and
alcoholics, and as you can see, they are not pretty. Alcoholism is and
has been, one of the largest health and social issues in the country,
dating back to it’s very beginnings. So, while alcohol remains legal,
socially acceptable, and widely available, there will continue to be
alcoholics, and alcoholism, and the death and destruction left in their
wake.

When it comes to alcohol abuse, no one needs to suffer alone. Cliffside Malibu would like you to know that with over 100,000 men and women failing to receive the treatment they needed last year, the number of options to get treatment has actually increased. Financial assistance is available at the State and Local levels and even the Federal Government has developed a program where vouchers can be issued. The plan is designed to ensure that Americans without private treatment coverage and struggling with alcohol addiction have access to a comprehensive continuum of effective treatment services and recovery support options. Those who are suffering from addiction are not alone as up to 300,000 additional Americans will get help through this program.

Here at Cliffside Malibu, there are plenty of resources available to those who seek help as well. Our agenda treats individuals not only as a group, but more importantly, as individuals each unto their own. Each case is different and therefor each demands a target-specific comprehensive program. With a high success rate, our goal addresses the person as a whole including their lifestyle and both the physical and mental challenges faced in the alcoholic recovery process. Patients undergo an individualized addiction treatment program, including prevention of relapse, treatment of disease and recovery education.

Cliffside Malibu integrates philosophies and practices from various medical, psychological, therapeutic and self-help professionals. No other alcohol abuse treatment center has a higher staff-to-patient ratio with 3 employees to every one client. So, for complete and permanent freedom from alcoholism, the services at Cliffside Malibu are virtually unmatched. 24 hours a day, doctors, nurses, therapists, resident advisers, massage therapists, acupuncturists, yoga instructors, fitness instructors, and even our own chefs create the most comfortable and supportive environment.

There are more services available now than ever so lose the addiction here at Cliffside and gain a productive, vibrant life in society. Don’t wait to embark on the road to recovery. Call us at 800-501-1988.