ng,
ces
When· an coholic most
likely to see help for his or her
drinking? According to local
experts, until the pain out­
weights e pleasure of drink­
ing., and Icoholism is
recognized as the prim ry
problem.·
alco olics don't real­
ize the· re ·0DShq> with al­
cohol is the problem," explains
Tom Lucking. Executive Direc-
tor Gateway Recovery Ser-
vices. eir disease progresses
because they are allowed to
hold onto the idea that if only
they could solve their other
problems - whether about
or . money, health or f mily
- the alco 01 problem will go
aw y."
Unfortunately, this belie!
al 0 contributes to the
alcoholic' "hitting bo tom" -
often ch racterized by a loss of
family, friends, job, and health
to the powerful grip of this dis­
ease.
Alcoholism is char c erized
by denial. "The alcoholic simply
canno recognize that he or she
is hooked," says Luc ing, and
often d pends on family, friends
or n emplower to point out the
problem.
'orne signs th t alcoholism
may be present include:
- Increasing usc.
- Forgetting or denying in-
cidents during a drinking
episod .
- In bility to keep promises
to top drinking.
- Lying about or hiding
drinking.
- Personality changes while
drinking.
- Associating with other
heavy drinkers.
- Run-ins with the law.
- Problems at work or
school. _
- Refusal to discu con­
cerns bout hislher drinking.
- Continuing to use alcohol
in spite the fact th t it is causing
� problems in any rea of his or
her life.
"Alcoholism doesn t go
way," ays Lucking. Many die
before they realize they have the
disease. Fortunately, there are
choice available to alcoholics
and their familie .
Intervention is quite an ef­
fective method of guiding the
alcoho . c in 0 treatment, espe­
ciaUywben . OI'her�·
causing him more pain than
p easure.·
He es tha a t Dumber
of boo S 0 alcoholi are
vailable at Ii rarie and
book tore , and elf-help
group uch AI- and
ee offer upport to those
affected by the disease.
.. - . ..-._ --
,
And some treatment
facilities such as Gatoway
recovery Services offer free in­
formation sessions for those
wanting to learn more about al­
coholism, chemical ddpenden­
cy, and intervention. For more
information call (616) 382-9820.
Dear Mart' : Media now
say that chronic eroid use can
cause ome personality chan­
ges, toward aggression and
violence.
. Dear DI lope: I 10 e my
busMDel. but hi DO I
a 11. I've d p t-
a my d,
n .,. ready to caD • I
June P., Sacramento, Calif.
Dear June: Wait. Don't file
for divorce - yet. Chances are,
your next husband will snore
much or more. By age 60, more
than 40 percent of women
ore, and 60 percent of men.
T� good news is that fimily
docto now can recommend
programs that will moderate or
even eliminate snoriDg. It could
ndlo ·0
Fla.
Dear Manny: ot tall.
More than just shaving their
faces, American men today
spend $1.3 billion a year on
beauty aids, such skin mois­
turizers, body creams, and anti- .
wrinkle compounds. According
to the publication, Beau y
Products Marketing, men today
comprise 30-50 percent of the
patrons of beauty salons. ey
want everything from facial
mud packs to manicures.
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Ceroid drug
up
pe on' mind?
I,
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,
. ,
I.
ti