Alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder is prevalent in many states, including Oregon. Research shows that alcohol is associated with far more substance abuse disorders than opioids. With medical attention, thankfully, you can control your alcohol addiction.
Our goal in alcohol rehab is for you to control your dependence so you can move forward toward sobriety and create a good and happy life. But to move forward we first need to understand what alcohol addiction is all about.
Alcohol Fast Facts
In 2017, the Oregon Substance Abuse Disorder Research Committee reported that:
Substance use disorder is one of the largest public health challenges afflicting the state.
One out of 10 adults as well as one out of every 15 youths in Oregon struggles with drug or alcohol use disorder. This costs the state about $6 billion a year in healthcare and other services.
Two out of three Oregonians have a friend or family member struggling with substance abuse disorder.
Only 11 percent of adult Oregonians with substance use disorder received treatment. This is worse than the national average of 14 percent.
Substance abuse disorder causes more deaths than traffic accidents, trauma, and firearms.
About 38 million adults in the United States drink too much but only one in six has talked about it to a health professional. For men, binge drinking is 5 or more drinks consumed on one occasion whereas for women it is four or more drinks.
According to the Oregon Health Authority:
In 2017, almost two million Oregonians or 40 per 100,000 population died from alcohol-related causes, including chronic diseases, acute poisoning, injury, and perinatal causes.
There is a 34% increase in the overall rate of alcohol‐related deaths since 2001.
Street Names and Other Names for Alcohol
Alcohol is the most widely used addictive substance in the United States. Those who are addicted to it, especially teenagers, often cover up their alcohol abuse from loved ones and people in authority. In attempts to keep it secret, they use street names or slang terms for alcohol.
You need to be aware of all these terms so you can determine if a loved one is hiding their alcohol abuse from you. Your loved one needs treatment as soon as possible and you can help make this happen if you know the truth.
Also, since so many people drink alcohol, children have easy access to it. By knowing the different names for alcohol, you can find out if your kids are drinking alcohol.
Here are the common and slang names for alcohol:
12 oz. curl
Ale
aperitif
Aqua vitae
Ardent spirits
Barley-bree
Barley-broo
Beer
Belt
Booze
Bottle
Bracer
Brandy
Brew
Brewage
Brewski
Chaser
Chug
Cocktail
Cold one
Digestif
Draft
Drink
Dutch Courage
Firewater
Gargle
Giggle juice
Gin
Goof
Grog
Hard stuff
Hooch
Home brew
Inebriant
Intoxicant
Jogh Barleycorn
Joy juice
Jack
Juice
Kool Aid
Liquid bread
Liquid courage
Liquor
Load
Lush
Malt liquor
Mao-tai
Mead
Mescal
Microbrew
Mixed drink
Moonshine
Mouthwash
Mum
Nappy
Nectar of the Gods
Nip
Nightcap
Oats soda
Peg
Poison
Pop
Potable
Redneck wine
Refreshment
Rum
Sake
Sauce
Schnapps
Shine
Shooter
Shot
Slug
Snifter
Snort
Spirits
Stimulant
Strong drink
Suds
Swish
Tequila
Tipple
Tot
Tummy buster
Vino
Vodka
Whet
Whisky
Wine
Here are the common terms and slang names related to drinking:
Beer bong
Binge
Black out
Chugging
Crunked
Everclear
Hand grenade
Hose monster
Jag
Jello shots
Pre-game
Proof
Spree
Trash can punch
Watermelon
These are the common and slang terms for being drunk:
Beery
Besotted
Blind
Blind-drunk
Blotto
Bombed
Boozed
Boozy
Canned
Cockeyed
Crapulent
Crocked
Drunk-as-a-lord
Drunk-as-a-skunk
Drunken
Flushed
Gassed
Having a jag on
High
Higher than a kite
Inebriated
In-one’s-cups
Intoxicated
Lit-up
Loaded
Looped
Maudlin
Mellow
Muddled
Out cold
Pickled
Pixilated
Plastered
Plowed
polluted
Potted
Ripped
Schnockered
Seeing double
Sewed-up
Stewed
Smashed
Sloshed
Sodden
Soused
Sottish
Sozzled
Squiffy
Stewed
Stinking
Stinko
Stoned
Tanked
Three-sheets-to-the-wind
Tight
Tipsy
Trashed
Under the influence
Under-the-table
Wasted
Wired
There are probably many more code names for alcohol out there. Many groups or cliques have their own special names.
Are You at Risk for Alcohol Abuse?
A number of factors affect your risk of alcohol abuse. Check if the following situations apply to you.
Are you drinking to relieve stress, anxiety, or loneliness?
Were you underage when you started drinking?
Do you have a family history of alcohol abuse or addiction?
Do you have a mental health issue, such as depression?
Do you smoke heavily or take illegal drugs?
Do you binge drink?
Excessive alcohol drinking can damage your brain and body. It can also hasten the development of physical dependence. When your body becomes dependent on alcohol, you would need to drink more the next time you drink to experience the same effects.
How Do You Know If You Have an Alcohol Addiction?
Check for these signs. The more signs that you see, the more likely that you are already suffering from alcohol abuse disorder.
Do you have an uncontrollable urge to drink?
Do you have a lack of control over how much you drink?
Do you feel upset or have negative thoughts when you’re not drinking?
Do you drink in risky situations?
Does your drinking prevent you from fulfilling your obligations?
Do you continue to drink even though it causes problems in your life?
Have you stopped working or studying because of your drinking?
Do you avoid having to deal or think about issues by drinking?
How Will Alcohol Addiction Affect You?
Alcohol addiction has serious effects on your physical and mental health. Short-term effects include memory loss, hangover, and blackouts. Long-term ones include stomach problems, heart problems, cancer, brain damage, permanent memory loss, pancreatitis, high blood pressure, and cirrhosis.
It also causes problems with your relationships, studies, and work.
How Do You Treat Alcohol Addiction?
Detox is the first step. You need to flush alcohol from your body. You will be supervised by a medical team and given medications if necessary to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
Therapy and counseling help you identify and address the motivations and behaviors that lead to alcohol abuse. It helps you find your motivations to stay sober.
Self-help groups support long-term recovery by encouraging abstinence.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be suffering from alcohol addiction, you need to get help immediately. Contact Recovery Blvd Treatment Center today and speak with one of our trusted advisors. You may call us at 503-897-1916 or visit our Portland drug and alcohol rehab center at 1316 SE 12th Avenue Portland, OR 97214.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-is-alcohol-abuse
https://www.drugs.com/cg/at-risk-alcohol-use.html
https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/street-names-drugs
https://www.addictioncenter.com/rehabs/oregon/portland
https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/PH/ABOUT/Documents/indicators/alcoholdeaths.pdf
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/DiseasesConditions/InjuryFatalityData/Documents/oregon-drug-overdose-report.pdf
https://stateofreform.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SUDs-in-Oregon-Prevention-Treatment-and-Recovery3.pdf