JACKSONVILLE, FL. (November 2, 2015) – The holidays are right around the corner and many will find themselves in a seemingly constant cycle of festivities and stress. Family situations, financial pressures, and endless to-do lists coincide with situations where alcohol is flowing freely. But how does one tell where holiday cheer leaves off and substance misuse begins? And how can one identify the need for treatment?

Lakeview Health, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, serves clients from across the country and will be working to help families learn more about alcohol misuse and addiction this holiday season. Addiction is considered to be a chronic brain disease by The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), that if left untreated or even mistreated, especially at home, can lead to death. Lakeview Health has one of the most comprehensive programs in the United States and has the capacity to handle even the most acute substance misuse and addiction cases. The program also has the ability to treat co-occurring behavioral health disorders, such as anxiety and depression that often present with addiction.

Addiction Statistics in the U.S.

• Among people aged 12 or older, 20.2 million people needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem in the past year, but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility in the past year.
• More than seven million U.S. adults reported having co-occurring mental health disorders. This means that in the past year they have had any mental illness and a substance use disorder.
• By 2020, mental health and substance use disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.

“As with any disease, the ability to diagnose an issue from home is limited, but if there are visible symptoms than it is recommended that the person seek a professional for answers,” explains Dr. Philip Hemphill, Lakeview Health’s Chief Clinical Officer. “More often than not though, if you’re questioning an addictive behavior it’s likely to exist.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Alcohol Team uses the following definitions of alcohol misuse and binge drinking:

Alcohol Misuse

• For women, more than 1 drink per day on average
• For men, more than 2 drinks per day on average

Binge drinking

• For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion
• For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion

“Thankfully the stigma surrounding addiction is slowly starting to fade and this is important,” continues Dr. Hemphill. “When we stop looking at this disease as a behavioral issue it opens up the possibility of treatment to those who felt that they needed to hide in shame. They can now define themselves by their strength in recovery rather than the perception of weakness in addiction.”

Top Five Signs of Alcohol Addiction During the Holidays

1. Tolerance, or the ability to drink more alcohol before intoxication is achieved
2. Driving under the influence
3. Frequent drinking to deal with holiday stress
4. Putting your job, friendships, or marriage at risk as a result alcohol-related behavior
5. Looking forward to or frequently drinking to excess at holiday gatherings

If you believe that you or a loved one exhibit addictive behaviors we encourage you to call our confidential toll free number at 800-884-1727.

About Lakeview Health

Lakeview Health in Jacksonville is a leading provider of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Northeast Florida and a nationally recognized addiction treatment, serving clients from across the country. Since it was founded in 2001, it has helped countless individuals and families begin their journey of recovery. Lakeview’s caring and committed staff is dedicated to helping clients and their families find their “True North.”

For Additional Information Contact

Gina de Peralta Thorne, MS

Vice President of Marketing

Lakeview Health

(904) 899-4536

gthorne@lakeviewhealth.com

Annmarie Seldon

Media Relations Manager

Psynchronous Communications

(617) 488-7416

annmarie@psynchronous.com