UnStuck – Just One More Drink
I just need one more and then I’m good.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen some of the devastating affects of alcoholism in our family and especially when working with guys in the jail. One drink too many at the wrong time can ruin a life.
Alcoholism is a huge problem in the U.S. Here are a few quick stats from NCADD.
- 88,000 deaths are annually attributed to excessive alcohol use
- Alcoholism is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation
- Up to 40% of all hospital beds in the United States… are being used to treat health conditions that are related to alcohol consumption
- Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems.
Every day people are wrestling with this addiction. Often the hardest part is being willing to admit you have a problem. The good news is there a lot of different treatment options available these days and many people have made their way out of this problem. Hope is available, but you’ll have to take the first step.
Sometimes this addiction is just as damaging on the loved ones of the alcoholic. Because of their compassion they sometimes get caught enabling the addiction rather than helping the alcoholic move toward healing. But there is hope for friends and family members of problem drinkers. Al-Anon groups are available all over the country that help people establish boundaries and give them tools to be the best support they can be during this difficult time.
1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
During our series we’ve been giving away copies of the Life Recovery Bible. These bibles are a great encouragement to anyone who is working through a 12-Step program. We would encourage you to pick one up if you or a loved one is working through one of these programs.
The hidden costs of alcoholism are not small. It is estimated that alcohol-related expenses cost federal, state, and local governments $223.5 billion. Of that amount, taxpayers are footing the bill for $94.2 billion. — americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/
If any of this sounds familiar, you may want to get professional help. If you need help finding a counselor, please check out www.newlife.com or call 1-800-NEW-LIFE. Celebrate Recovery or Alcoholics Anonymous might also be a good option.
Come join us for our unStuck series on Sundays and Wednesdays in February as we work at moving forward again.