World Blog by humble servant.Intoxicants: science catching up with Quran The more humans learn, the more they recognize God’s system is the truth. It’s estimated that about 300 million people worldwide have an alcohol use disorder. If you or someone you love are struggling with alcohol addiction, you’re far from alone. Stigma associated with alcohol use disorder is lessening as people become better educated about the realities of alcoholism. Alcoholism is not a disease. I've come to understand the usage of the description is a choice.It is not a moral failure.It is a choice. People from all walks of life—from the most privileged to the least privileged—can become addicted to alcohol.
Intoxicants and Gambling Prohibited*
[2:219]2x9=18+2=20-1=19 They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, "In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit." They also ask you what to give to charity: say, "The excess." GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you, that you may reflect,
Intoxicants and Gambling Prohibited
[5:90-91] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed. The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering GOD, and from observing the Contact Prayers (Salat).Will you then refrain? He idolizes what is more apt to harm him than benefit him. What a miserable lord! What a miserable companion!” (22:13)
Because of their addictive quality, drugs and intoxicants stay with a person for a long time. In order to stop taking drugs, a person must have a better substitute in life—a belief, a bond, a greater motivation to seek happiness and balance in fulfilling ways. God is the source of all happiness. When a person begins to realize this, he or she can wean away from substance abuse. In the Quran, God enjoins worshipers not to pray when intoxicated. O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying...” (4:43)
Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of peace that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God’s will … the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to God, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. Abuse versus dependency: Drug abuse is a voluntary situation where people are making bad choices about their use of the drugs for self-anesthetization, for celebration or just wanting to get a high. Chemical dependency is a brain disease caused by genetic vulnerability, drug use and environmental influences. Generally, if a drug abuser is educated about the adverse effects of drugs or they are coerced by a loved one or they are punished in some way, the drug use will decline. In dependence, people cannot stop using the drug. This is called impaired control over drug use. Both are serious drug use conditions. People Use Alcohol?
Worship God Alone To Overcome Drug Abuse
Evidently, during the time verse 4:43 was revealed, there were people who took intoxicants, probably alcohol. Yet, they were motivated to pray to God and seek His guidance. Being human, we are all susceptible to Satan’s tricks to distract us from remembering God. The sincere believers who took intoxicants gradually overcame their alcoholism to please God. How could a sincere believer pray five times a day and continue to take intoxicants?
Happiness and peace of mind is only attainable by worshiping God alone, and God relieves one from confusion, fear, grief and a sense of hopelessness.
Guaranteed Happiness Now and Forever
Anyone who works righteous, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works. (16:97)
The more one depends on drugs, the more unhappy one becomes. The drug user must learn to trust God and stop taking intoxicants. This is the most effective substance abuse program.
If anyone thinks that God cannot support him in this life and in the Hereafter, let him turn completely to (his Creator in) heaven, and sever (his dependence on anyone else). He will see that this plan eliminates anything that bothers him.
We have thus revealed clear revelations herein, then God guides whomever He wills. (22:15-16).
It’s important to remember that no matter how an individual’s alcohol use started, it continued because it appeared to solve one or more of their problems. It provided them with a sense of comfort, calm, or numbness, or it increased their ease or confidence in social situations.
Unfortunately, alcohol, which some people can use moderately with no ill effects, can become an immediate or eventual problem for others. Nearly everyone will try alcohol at some point. The problem comes when simple experimentation turns into dependency.
What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?
Common signs of alcoholism include the following:
Unusual mood changes or temper outbursts
Decline in performance in school or work
Changes in eating habits
Changes in sleeping habits
Verbally or physically aggressive behavior
Secretive or defensive behavior
Any of these signs alone could be part of the normal ups and downs of life, but if a number of these signs are present, they’re likely to indicate an issue that needs addressing.
Signs that anyone else may not be able to observe, but the individual themselves should consider warning signs are:
Always drinking until intoxicated or until alcohol runs out
Drinking even when at risk of getting caught
Intending or promising to stop drinking, then drinking anyway
Drinking until they pass out or to the point of blackout
It’s vital to stay calm in the presence of these signs. It’s also important to believe that recovery is possible. Tens of thousands of people all over the world have sought and gone on to live long, happy, productive lives without alcohol. Six Stages Of Alcohol Use
STAGE 1
Experimenting and Binge Drinking
The first stage of alcoholism is characterized by general experimentation with alcohol. Often times, this occurs during a person’s teen years or early adulthood. Because these drinkers are new to alcohol and are unsure of their own limits, binge drinking is common. While these individuals may not be daily drinkers, they do consume large amounts of alcohol at once.
In order to be considered a binge drinker, men must consume 5 drinks every 2 hours while women must consume 4. However, many binge drinkers will exceed this amount substantially. While binge drinking may seem harmless, this is far from the truth. In fact, binge drinking can lead to serious health concerns such as alcohol poisoning, comas, and even death. Additionally, drinking in large amounts can lead to alcohol dependency or addiction – making it the first stage of alcoholism.
STAGE 2
Increased Tolerance to Alcohol
Once an individual begins to drink more frequently, they have entered the second stage of alcoholism. During this stage, drinkers are typically still drinking solely in social settings. However, they need to consume more alcohol in order to produce the same effect they experienced in the beginning.
Examples of regular alcohol use include drinking during a celebratory event or pairing a glass of wine with a meal. On the other hand, moderate drinkers will drink in order to relieve their negative emotions or “blow off steam”. In order to be in the second stage of alcoholism, an individual will have become a moderate drinker. Often times, people will develop a slight psychological dependence during this stage of alcoholism.
STAGE 3
Problem Drinking
The third stage of alcoholism is characterized by a person experiencing problems as a direct result of their drinking. “Problem drinker” is a term commonly used in today’s society to describe a person whose drinking has caused them emotional, physical, social, or financial issues. Similarly, this also describes the third stage of alcoholism.
The social signs of problem drinking include, but are not limited to:
Relationship issues
Sudden change in friends or social scenes
Decrease in social activity due to erratic behavior
An issue conversing with strangers
Problem drinkers may experience heightened depression, anxiety, or disturbances in sleeping patterns. Additionally, an individual may feel ill due to their drinking, however, enjoy the effects produced too much to stop. Often times, drinkers at this stage of alcoholism are more likely to experience legal issues because of their alcohol use.
STAGE 4
Physical Dependence
Commonly, people believe the misconception of alcohol dependency and alcohol addiction is one and the same. However, alcohol dependence can occur before addiction is developed. The fourth stage of alcoholism is characterized by an individual experiencing a dependence on alcohol. Alcohol dependence is defined as the point at which a person has no control over their alcohol intake.
In addition, people suffering from alcohol dependence acquire tolerance. As a result, the individual will have to consume a larger quantity of alcohol to experience the desired effect. Similarly, when a person increases their alcohol intake, they also increase the risk of damage to their body. Also, one of the main characteristics of alcohol dependence is withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when a person becomes sober from alcohol after a long period of drinking.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
Body tremors
Nausea unrelated to a hangover
Sweating
Extreme irritability
Increased or racing heartbeat
Issues sleeping or insomnia
STAGE 5
Addiction or Alcoholism
The fifth and most troublesome stage of alcoholism occurs once a person is mentally and physically addicted. During this stage, individuals feel a need to drink rather than just a want. Individuals in this stage of alcoholism will never go very long without having a drink in order to avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, it is common for them to abuse other substances in combination with alcohol.
Often times, alcoholics develop chronic health conditions as a result of their drinking. These conditions include heart disease, liver damage, brain damage, malnutrition, and mental disorders. Unfortunately, individuals who are addicted to alcohol are at an increased risk of suicide due to severe depression and anxiety. Additional psychological effects include dementia and paranoia.
STAGE 6
Recovery
Once stabilized, the goal is to transition from detox, to treatment, to maintenance (practicing sober living by changing your life), to transcendence—the final step in the path to recovery.
Integrates faith based and evidenced based substance use disorder treatment approaches.
Our outpatient programs provide a community for those seeking flexible treatment options as well as those who may want additional support in their ongoing recovery.Alcohol Use and Your Health
Drinking too much can harm your health. Excessive alcohol use led to more than 140,000 deaths and 3.6 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year in the United States from 2015 – 2019, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 26 years.1 Further, excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 5 deaths among adults aged 20-49 years.2 The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2010 were estimated at $249 billion, or $2.05 a drink.3
What is a standard drink?
US standard drink= 12oz beer (5% ABV), 8 oz malt liquor (7% ABV),5oz wine (12% ABV),1.5oz 80-proof (40% ABV) distilled spirit
In the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14.0 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in
12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).
8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).
5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).
1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).4
What is excessive drinking?
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21.
Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consuming
For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion.
For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.
Heavy drinking is defined as consuming
For women, 8 or more drinks per week.
For men, 15 or more drinks per week.
Most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.5
What is moderate drinking?
Drinking in Moderation: 1 drink or less in a day for women; 2 drinks or less in a day for men; or non drinking
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.4 The Guidelines also do not recommend that individuals who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason and that if adults of legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for health than drinking more.4
There are some people who should not drink any alcohol, including those who are:
Younger than age 21.
Pregnant or may be pregnant.
Driving, planning to drive, or participating in other activities requiring skill, coordination, and alertness.
Taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
Suffering from certain medical conditions.
Recovering from alcoholism or are unable to control the amount they drink.4
By adhering to the Dietary Guidelines, you can reduce the risk of harm to yourself or others.
Short-Term Health Risks
Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:
Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.
Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.
Long-Term Health Risks
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.
By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
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