How can an alcohol awareness class or drug awareness program save a life? There is a direct correlation between preventative knowledge enhancement and decreased alcohol and drug use. Education is almost always the pathway to change when it comes to learning. The more learned we are, the better decisions we can make. Take for example the issue of smoking cigarettes. It was on January 11, 1964, when Surgeon General Luther Terry issued a landmark warning, for the first time, that smoking is a direct cause of of various types of cancer, including lung cancer. At that point in time, nearly half of all Americans smoked! In 2008 that number went down almost 30% to 21%. Why? As education about a problem went up, deaths related to the problem went down.

Now for drugs and alcohol. Alcohol is the single # 1 drug problem in the United States with over 12 million alcoholics. There is an alcohol related death in America every 30 minutes! Here are some other facts related to alcohol: 73% of all felonies, 73% of all child abuse cases, 41% of rape cases, 81% of wife battering, 72% of violent crimes, and 83% of homicides. It is truly shocking.

Education is the way to help both adults and teenagers better understand the risks associated with alcohol and drug abuse. The more educated we become, the less likely these shocking numbers will continue to go up. Fortunately, with the invention of technology, many of these preventative educational classes can be taken online. For adults there are alcohol awareness classes online and for younger persons there are minor in possession classes. These classes are well suited for court ordered or other legal requirements or simply for personal growth. Don't let a lack of understanding get in the way of making good choices. Quality distance learning is just a click away.

Here is a common scenario.  You are visiting another state for business or pleasure.  For the sake of this article, let's make it a trip to Oahu, Hawaii and you are a resident of, say, New Mexico.  On the last day of your trip, you have a few drinks to while saying goodbye to paradise and some new friends.|

Then, the unexpected happens while driving to airport in your rental car.  You are pulled over.  In your mind, you are freaking out.  You are trying to recount how many drinks you had and when.  Before you know it, you have been taken to the local police department and booked for a DUI.

Since this is a first for you, you don't really know what to do.  After getting some legal advice, you come to find out your local DMV will know what happened and you are now required to take an educational alcohol class required by the court.

Finding alcohol awareness or minor in possession classes can often be difficult and finding the time away from work, school or other life commitments can be even more difficult.  It's obvious you can't go back to Hawaii to take the class, so call the court and ask them if you can take the class online.  Most state courts are open and aware that taking a distance learning program is an excellent resource and solves may interstate problems. Just confirm with the judge, court clerk or your attorney to make sure they will accept an online class to resolve this scenario.  

Once the alcohol awareness class is complete, which is simple and convenient, you turn your certificate to the court and life moves on again.

How do you know when you drank too much?  When should you stop drinking?  The answer to those questions can vary greatly depending on who you talk to and how one defines "too much".

In the state of California, for example, you can not exceed a blood alcohol limit of .08 during a field sobriety check; otherwise you will be convicted of a DUI.  How many drinks does it take to get to a .08? Much of this depends on your age, weight and metabolism.  For some, one drink (1 ounce of hard alcohol), one glass of wine, or one beer might push you over the legal limit to drive.  Others might be able to consume more and still be within the legal limit to operate a motorized vehicle.

Regardless of the laws, knowing how much you can drink is often personal and ones relationship to alcohol can also change that answer tremendously.  Persons who have a tendency to drink too much, have a much greater chance of becoming an alcoholic later in life.  Those who know their limit intuitively tend to stop drinking before they get sick.

Here are some things to consider if you have a hard time estimating if you drink to much or too frequently:

1. Do friends complain about your drinking habits?
2. Its taking longer and longer to get buzzed.
3. You are blacking out and forgetting what you did the night before.
4. You find yourself using alcohol to cope or deal with unpleasant feelings or situations
5. You are starting to drink alone or making excuses to have a drink
6. You are sneaking in a drink without people knowing it.
7. Your thoughts are consuming about the use of alcohol and when you can drink next
8. You are starting to rationalize why its "OK" to drink to yourself and others
9. You have been in trouble with the law around the use of alcohol

Knowing how to say no, and knowing your limits is important.  If you don't know if you have a problem with alcohol, consider taking an alcohol awareness class.  If you are under 21, then taking a minor in possession class might be a great decision for gaining some education in better understanding the risks and consequences of alcohol use.  It's never too late to educate one's self on the risks of alcohol.

Alcohol and Drug Awareness in the United States has been a pressing issue for over a century.  With rates of both adult and teen alcoholism on the rise, our culture has been continuing to seek ways to gain more understanding of both the risks and consequences of alcohol and/or drug abuse.  As of 2011, there are several ways adults and adolescents can gain knowledge and become more educated on this topic.  Here are a few suggestions to improve Alcohol and Drug Awareness:

1. Take a class that is live.  Alcohol and Drug awareness courses can be located fairly easily through your local chemical dependency facility.

The advantage to a group format is that you can listen to other people experience with alcohol or drugs while you are gaining knowledge and understanding of the issues.  The downside of this experience is that classes may be offered at inconvenient times, be expensive and provide no privacy.

2. Take an online alcohol awareness class or drug education course.  Online programs should be offered by licensed and trained provider who's credentials can be verified.  Online classes are an excellent way to gain skills without having to leave school, work, family or other obligations and still have a quality learning experience.  Just like their live in person counterpart, online classes are a great way to fulfill an court, legal or other requirement.  Not only are alcohol awareness classes available online but so are minor in possession courses.  

The advantage to an online class is that they are much more affordable, easier to attend, and do require the participant to share personal information with strangers.  Online classes can also be more effective from the standpoint of requiring short quizzes and a final exam.

No matter how you choose to take an alcohol or drug awareness class, pick a format that feels most comfortable to you.  Know that taking the class might be one of the best decisions you've ever made.

Learning to control an addiction is like learning to tame a lion.  It is no easy task.  Mostly because by the time one becomes an addict they may already be in denial about it.  Here are a few suggestions to make yourself more aware of what you need to look out for in yourself and others:
1. Addicts tend to stop enjoying things that were once normal to them such as friends or activities.  Those who become addicted to alcohol or drugs tend to withdraw from what was once normal to them.  For example, a person who loved to hang out with friends who now just wants to stay home all the time, might be an indication that they have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

2. Accessive use.  Addiction is slow, but over time the addicted person will start using more and more to get drunk or high.  It usually starts with just small amounts but over time the addicted person will need more of the substance to get the same effect.

3. Poor control.  While you may want to stop or have made efforts to stop, you can't seem to do it. Addicts tend to have a really hard time quitting.  You may have made several attempts and even been successful for a few weeks or months, but then the habit kicks in again.

4. Time spent around alcohol or drugs.  Addicts have an uncanny way of making more time for their habit and make it a priority.  Are you hanging out with more using friends and not spending as much time with those you really care about or love?  Addicts ultimately end up using with anyone that will do it with them, even if they don't even like that person very much.  Addiction is so strong, we can end up doing things we never would imagined.

5. Experiencing withdrawl.  This occurs when you try and stop and you feel nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety when you don't use for an extended period of time.

6. Increased tolerance.  This happens when you need to use more to get the same effect.  Perhaps 3 beers got you buzzed, but not it takes 10. One joint is not enough.

While in patient or out patient treatment may be an option, considing an online drug and alcohol awareness class might be your first step.