For many, drinking alcohol is a way to celebrate and have fun. Generally, sipping on wine at dinner or throwing back a shot with friends isn’t a problem. However, excessive alcohol use will harm your health. Specifically, the powerful liquid will change your brain chemistry over time. As such, your body will demand more and…
At what point does drinking alcohol become dangerous? That’s the age-old question people ask when they suspect someone, perhaps themselves, has a drinking problem. As a point of reference, a person has a drinking problem when their drinking becomes destructive. Below, we discuss the signs of alcohol dependence and the onset of alcoholism. We do…
You’ve heard about the stereotypical alcoholic. This person lost a job, family, and home. In contrast, what is a functioning alcoholic? Do you recognize yourself as the individual who’s keeping a job, home, and family while struggling with chemical dependency and doesn’t even know they need an addiction treatment program? Alcohol Abuse is an Addiction…
Staff and friends celebrated the Gateway Foundation Chicago River North opening with a ribbon cutting August 23. The new Gateway Foundation River North site is located at 415 N. Dearborn St., blocks from Merchandise Mart and Illinois Center and less than a 20-minute walk from Union Station and Ogilvie transportation centers to accommodate busy schedules with Outpatient care.…
People tend to think of alcoholism as an all-or-nothing proposition. The perception is if a person can maintain a job and a life that is not falling apart, then they do not have a problem. The reality, however, is a lot less black and white: alcohol addiction is a progressive disease with many different degrees. Binge drinking…
the Dangers of alcohol use disorder can be hard to spot due to the fact that consumption of excess amounts of alcohol has been normalized in many aspects. Unlike many other substances, drinking has less of a taboo around it, and it has become a staple in many social situations. In addition, alcohol is seemingly everywhere –…
Craig’s Alcohol Success Story The trouble didn’t come all at once. Craig had a family he loved and a job he cared about. From the outside, life seemed pretty good. But too often, it didn’t feel that way to Craig. In his mind, he was stagnant. This is Craig’s alcohol success story. “My life felt…
What is binge drinking? Binge drinking is the consumption of alcohol that raises a person’s blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 or above. For men, this usually takes five or more drinks in two hours, and for women, it usually takes four or more drinks. In contrast, the recommended amount of alcohol consumption for women is no…
According to a 2017 article in The Washington Post, one in eight Americans have an alcohol use disorder and a 2017 Pew Research poll found that nearly half of U.S. adults have a close friend or family member who has a substance use disorder involving drugs. Do you know the signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction? Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol…
Expert Insight Chief Medical Officer at Gateway Foundation Dr. Roueen Rafeyan explains the dangers of alcohol consumption and the effects of alcohol the brain. The effects of alcohol on the brain, in both the short- and long-term, are profound. As a solvent, alcohol passes to the brain very quickly and can cause damage to living…