It seems that there are new studies out everyday that vacillate between confirming and denying health benefits related to moderate amounts of alcohol consumption. Often the research that supports a glass or two a day do so because of the supposed heart health benefits. However, in addition to scientific evidence linking alcohol to

stomach, liver, and colon cancers, a review of research published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism serves as a reminder that women need to be careful with the amount of alcohol they consume on a regular basis – it may have a negative impact on their chances for developing breast cancer.

The statistics currently show that roughly one in eight women will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer at some point in their lives. With an average of one drink a day, that chance increases by a modest 5 percent. Once the average climbs to three alcoholic beverages in a day, the women’s risk skyrockets by 50 percent. The researchers presently attribute 50,000 cases of breast cancer to repeated heavy alcohol consumption.

How Does Alcohol Lead to the Development of Breast Cancer?

In the female population, alcohol is linked with increased levels of estrogen circulating throughout the body. Particular types of breast cancers have receptors on their cells that respond positively to the presence of estrogen. The more of this hormone that is available, the faster the cancer can grow.

Doctors Advise Women to Err on the Side of Caution When it Comes to Alcohol

Physicians have developed guidelines for women’s overall wellness. They tell individuals who don’t drink alcohol that there is no compelling evidence to start now. However, for those people who enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage, doctors emphasize that moderation is key. Medical professionals advise female patients that one alcoholic beverage a day is the limit before they start seeing a dramatic rise in the risk of cancers.

These guidelines are just for the general population. Women with a family history of breast cancer should be even more conservative in their consumption of alcohol.

What is One Drink?

Everyone’s idea of what constitutes “one drink” varies widely. In some establishments, you may receive mixed drinks in a glass that holds the equivalent of four or five alcoholic beverages. In order to get everyone on the same page, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism report the following definitions for a standard size

drink:

· 5 ounce glass of wine

· 1.5 ounce of 80-proof distilled spirits

· 12 ounce bottle of wine cooler or beer

What do you think of the standard guidelines for women’s alcohol consumption? Do you think the average woman stays within these boundaries or are most women you know drinking more than this?

After drug rehab, most patients go home on a “pink cloud.” They’re excited about their future in sobriety and are full of ideas of how to make it happen. As the days and weeks pass, though, that feeling can wear off – as feelings will – and be replaced with depression, boredom or cravings, all of which are precursors for relapse. How do you stave off these negative feelings? Working harder on your recovery. Here’s how:

1. Attend regular meetings. Twelve-step meetings are scheduled every day and multiple times a day in some areas. If you have a home meeting, then add a few meetings to your schedule to meet new people, hear something you may not have heard before, and find the inspiration you need to stay on track.

2. Enroll in an outpatient treatment program. A stint in an outpatient program or an outpatient support service can help you stay focused on recovery.

3. Build a support network. Friends and family members as well as others in recovery can provide you with verbal support when you feel tempted to use.

4. Find new healthy sober activities. Distracting yourself by doing something new or rededicating yourself to an old hobby can help take your mind off cravings.

5. Develop goals. Long-term plans can remind you of the big picture and put in perspective what you have to lose if you relapse.

6. Follow through. Long-term plans are best accomplished when broken up into short-term, attainable goals. Create a plan and do the first thing on it that you need to accomplish in order to make your goals into a reality.

7. Track your progress. Seeing how far you’ve come can be an encouragement to continue. It’s why we mark sobriety by months and by years. It’s a big deal. And when you see how far you’ve come, you are less likely to go back to square one by relapsing.

8. Check in. If you still don’t feel that you can handle the pressures of day-to-day life and remain sober, check in with a therapist or drug addiction treatment counselor. Some people have co-occurring mental health issues that make remaining sober that much more difficult. Getting treatment for these issues can help you to do better in your recovery as well as increase your quality of life.

Contact us today if you would like to learn more about how you can fight drug addiction and move toward a life of sobriety that you can be proud of.

How does painkiller addiction start? Many painkiller addicts cite chronic pain as the underlying issue. Brought to the doctor’s office by debilitating and ongoing pain, they walked out with a painkiller prescription. Over time, their dosage increased until they had developed a tolerance to the drug – and a fear of ever trying to stop taking the medication.

Unfortunately, many patients increase their issue with chronic pain without realizing it. A handful of bad habits can mean heightened pain and a further dependence on painkillers.

The good news is that chronic pain doesn’t mean a life sentence in terms of painkiller addiction. There are ways to mitigate your pain as you lower your dosage and move towards becoming completely drug-free by addressing the bad habits that are worsening your experience with pain. Here are four helpful tips:

• Quit smoking. Smoking makes almost everything worse and chronic pain is no exception. In fact, studies show that those who smoke and have chronic pain also have a more difficult time at home, on the job, and with their mental health, sleep habits and quality of life. Quitting smoking can improve your life on all fronts.

• Get better sleep. It can be hard to sleep with chronic pain and some non-addictive sleep medications may help, but other methods like turning everything off an hour before bed, avoiding eating large meals three hours before sleep time, no lights and white noise, can all help you to relax enough to allow your body to fall asleep and stay asleep, which will in turn help you mitigate pain.

• Lose weight. Losing weight is like smoking; it affects every area of your life. Getting rid of extra pounds will give you more energy, put less stress on your joints and muscles, and can be enough to significantly lower the intensity of your aches and pains.

• Lower stress. More stress makes everything more difficult to deal with emotionally, including physical pain. Taking yoga classes, cutting back on stressful aspects of your life, and getting involved in healthy relationships and friendships can help you to feel better all around.

Overcome bad habits like these and not only will you lower your pain response, you’ll help yourself live longer too. Getting healthier also increases mood, which in turn can better help you to cope with pain in a more functional manner.

However, if painkiller addiction is a chronic problem for you and one you simply can’t get under control, you’re not alone. Call us at The Orchid today to learn about our painkiller addiction treatment programs and how we can help you be drug-free.

Spirituality is a big part of drug and alcohol addiction recovery, in part because it has so little to do with active addiction. The new way of looking at life can make recovery so much different from active addiction that patients can honestly start fresh and build a new life for themselves.

When patients in recovery take the time to explore their spiritual feelings and inclinations, many find a new reason to live beyond the material, a kind of high that exists well beyond the benefits provided by the instant gratification of drugs and alcohol. A new definition of joy and happiness – even contentedness – becomes the norm and makes day-to-day experience less black and white. Rather than create their own brand of spirituality, many turn toward established religions like Christianity for guidance. Can Christianity cure drug and alcohol addiction?

Christianity in Recovery

Though there is no cure for drug and alcohol addiction, there are a number of therapies and treatment approaches that have been proven successful for those in recovery. Everyone is different and not everyone responds to a treatment model that includes or emphasizes Christian tenets – in fact, many patients may be turned off completed by the religious and moral issues raised by a Christian focus in recovery. However, there are a number of people who credit their continued and long-term sobriety to the Christian focus of the program. By “finding God,” they found a purpose for their lives that made sense to them, a purpose that did not include drug and alcohol abuse. Simply avoiding relapse in order to protect their health the feelings of those who love them was not enough; God’s will gave them the purpose and strength they needed to walk away.

Additionally, the focus on service to others, giving up control to God, and allowing God to work through others and events in your life gives many the freedom to let go of outcome and avoid overwhelming feelings of frustration, anger, self righteousness, pride and other emotions that can be triggers for relapse.

12-Steps and Christianity

The 12-step program (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, et cetera) is heavily focused on the spiritual aspect of recovery. Giving up control of addiction to a Higher Power almost immediately is a stutter step for some and the easiest step of all for others. Though many 12-step groups turn down the focus on religion, others embrace it. In fact, a number of 12-step meetings are held in churches.

Finding the type of 12-step treatment program and focus that works for you can be key to your success. There are a number of different options and, if you feel drawn to what Christianity can offer your recovery, there are tons of opportunities to incorporate that focus into your recovery.

Has Christianity worked for you or helped someone you care about get through addiction treatment and recovery? Share your story below!