The negative ramifications of alcohol abuse on the human body are numerous. Years of heavy drinking will take a serious toll on the health of both men and women. However, research has shown that although it might seem like both sexes respond the same way to alcohol, the female anatomy is actually exposed to higher risk. Women suffer from the adverse effects of alcoholism on a greater scale compared to their male counterparts.

First of all, women become intoxicated after drinking smaller quantities of alcohol than are needed to produce intoxication in men. It has been proven that female alcoholics have death rates 50 to 100 percent higher than those of male alcoholics. Furthermore, more women alcoholics die from suicides, alcohol-related accidents, circulatory disorders, and cirrhosis of the liver after a shorter period of heavy drinking and at a lower level of daily drinking than men.

Ramifications of alcohol abuse are more pronounced on female abusers than they are on male abusers. A woman risks developing breast cancer, as well as a shortened life span. Research has been reported that breast cancer risk increases when a woman consumes 1 ounce or more of alcohol daily. They also develop depression problems and are likely to continue drinking as a way of suppressing the depression. Eventually, they will become desperate in a phase where they no longer care about the effects alcohol is having on their lives.

In some of the studies about alcoholism and the comparison of its effects to men and women, it has been proven that women are more likely to develop alcohol-induced brain damage. Impaired mental function has many consequences including the inability to make correct decisions, a reduced progressive rate and an increased likelihood of developing social problems. Furthermore, when a mother is an alcoholic she generally spends more time on a daily basis with the children. This is an extremely dangerous situation for the kids, as the alcoholic is incapable of acting as a role model, and has a high chance of harming her children if they are depending on her for commuting responsibilities.

If you find yourself or someone in your family on this unhealthy path, a good way to begin learning skills to overcome alcoholism is to take online awareness classes for self-improvement. Do the research to find a quality program designed by a professional, licensed therapist. Classes will teach about the health risks, why it is important to the alcoholic and everyone in her life for her to stop drinking, communication and stress management skills, and successful techniques to use to overcome the addiction. Research has shown that fewer women than men get treatment for themselves citing the lack of childcare as a main reason. Taking classes online solves this issue. The classes can be taken from any web-based computer in the comfort of your own home which makes them completely private and anonymous. They are available online 24/7 and you can take them at your own relaxed pace. The computer program will hold your spot so when you log back in, you won’t lose your space. Consider a 12 hour drug and Alcohol awareness class.

Zero tolerance laws relate to automatic punishments for anyone who breaks laws that relate to drugs and alcohol. This means that you are definitely going to be punished if you engage in illegal actions that relate to these substances. There are no exceptions to the rule. The bottom line being that you will incur a severe punishment without consideration to circumstances.

The purpose of zero tolerance laws is to discourage people from partaking in certain offenses or to control their behaviors around substances. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, some states actually lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18. This was a big mistake as there was a dramatic increase in fatal car accidents for teenagers during this time period. Due to these findings, in 1984 a national drinking age was set at 21. Statistics show that since then, these laws have been successful to reduce the number of fatal crashes and accidents involving people who were drinking or using drugs. It is important that people are aware of the zero tolerance law and are open to handing over their keys to a designated driver so as not to incur such penalties.

These laws are can apply to all age groups but are of particular significance to people under the age of twenty-one. Minors who engage in activities involving alcohol while driving can have their licenses revoked. There are many laws that are different in each state. In Georgia there is a zero tolerance law stating that you could lose your license if your blood alcohol content is at least 0.08. Meanwhile, people in the New York for DUI's can be punished for having a BAC of 0.02 or greater. People who have contents of 0.08 or higher will be punished in a criminal court. And in Texas part of the zero-tolerance strategy is to choose a weekend or an entire week to increase the number of officers on the road keeping an eye out for drivers who may be intoxicated. During these sweeps, hundreds of arrests are made.

Zero tolerance laws are also in place with regards to drug use. You may be forced to serve about one or two days in jail if you are in Arizona, Georgia, Iowa or Utah and you are found to have been using controlled substances before driving.

The amount of a controlled substance that you have to use before you are punished by a zero tolerance policy can vary by state. You have to have at least 5 mg/mL of substance in your urine in order to be arrested in Pennsylvania. That rule has been placed at 10 mg/mL for people in Ohio.

If you have been arrested for alcohol or drug related crimes, the court might mandate that you take a drug and alcohol awareness class as retribution for your behavior, along with fines, possible jail time and revocation of your license for a period of time. This is usually a very stressful and chaotic time, as individuals may have to miss work or school to attend court hearings and come up with a lot of cash to pay the fines. The only bright side is that alcohol and drug classes are now available to take online. They are low in cost and can be taken from any web-based computer at any time of the day or night so you do not need to miss work or school to attend a traditional classroom setting. Make sure to do your research when selecting a class and first confirm that the court will accept the online class you have chosen. Look for a class that is designed and operated by a licensed and practicing specialist in the field.

Drug abuse has become a thorn in the side of most school administrators and governments' worldwide. The rampant drug abuse at schools serves as a cause for alarm to everyone concerned to step up and take appropriate action to fight this evil vice. The war on drugs requires a lot of commitment and effort from all concerned parties to try and curtail access to drugs and create awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, schools today do not have the available funds to teach alcohol and drug awareness to students as part of the regular curriculum. One way to educate your teenagers on the negative effects of drugs is to enroll them in drug education classes online prior to the beginning of the school year.

Parents and young adults alike should be aware that one of the most widely abused drugs today is marijuana, derived from a plant known as Cannabis Sativa. The drug, just like any other drug, is addictive and has many side effects. Marijuana contains an active chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When a person smokes the drug, the chemical is absorbed into the bloodstream within a short time. The chemical is then carried to the brain and other body organs by the blood. Once in the brain, the chemical affects specific parts of the brain to bring about a feeling of "highness" to the user.

THC acts on cannabinoid receptors (cell membrane receptors) found in the brain. Cannabinoid receptors are highly concentrated in parts of the brain that control thinking, memory, problem solving, pleasure, coordination, sensory perception and time perception. When a person inhales marijuana, THC acts as a neurotransmitter which in turn causes various adverse effects in the normal functioning of the mind especially in the mental and physical activities under control of the cannabinoid receptors. Use of marijuana over a long period of time has been associated with permanent and irreversible brain damage. Heavy use of the drug results to loss of brain substance causing the brain to shrink in size.

Smoking marijuana elicits certain reactions in individuals. Marijuana smokers lack perception of speed, distance, and time. Coordination is also significantly hampered. Marijuana smokers often change their gait and their hands may also become unsteady. They also display lack of coordination between thoughts and facial expressions and may burst into uncontrollable laughter. They also suffer from illusions and hallucinations. Their short term memory is also affected in that they have difficulties in recalling events. They also suffer from short attention span, slowness in thinking, drowsiness, depression, lack of sleep, euphoria, judgment impairment, physical and mental lethargy and disturbance of sexual functions. Prolonged heavy use of the drug causes psychic changes to an individual.

Avoiding getting hooked into drug abuse in a society where it seen as being "cool" can be a pitfall-laden task. Taking online drug education classes will teach adolescents how to learn to deal with peer pressure and the stress of life’s pressures. They review and evaluate the cons of taking drugs including the health and emotional risks. Real life drug-related accidents and situations will also be discussed to enlighten kids to what drug usage can have in store. Taking classes in the relaxed, safe and open environment of your own home will spark discussions and help create an environment of good communication between parents and teenagers.

With the summer coming to an end, it's time to start thinking about the upcoming school year and what this means to your child. If they are entering middle school or high school, it’s time your child understands how important it is to abstain from drugs they may be exposed to in these environments. Very few school districts in our country have the funds to offer alcohol and drug awareness classes anymore. It is therefore up to the parents to make sure their child is getting a proper drug education in the home.

In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court authorized all public middle and high schools to test students for illegal drugs. With this sanction from the government, some school districts in Missouri will begin random drug testing for their athletes and for students whose parents opt them into the program. This motion will affect about 560 students who participate in extra-curricular activities or are connected in any way with them in one district alone.

According to the drug testing policy rules, any child testing positive faces strict measure from the school district authorities. The first positive test on drug and substance abuse automatically earns the victim a 30 day suspension from extracurricular activities. If the child tests positive on second test taken randomly after the first (and after a period of time) the penalty is raised to about 90 days exemption from extracurricular activities. These first two punishments should serve as a warning after which the victim faces a one year ban from extracurricular activities or associating in them, if they test positive for the third time. About 80% of Missouri District parents are supporting the drug test policy and about 25% of Missouri District schools have already adapted to the system. As a result, Missouri drug and alcohol classs are utilized frequently.

Despite resistance, statistics show that there is proven success with random drug tests. According to the National Center for Education and Regional Assistance "Students involved in extracurricular activities and subject to in-school drug testing reported less substance use than comparable students in high schools without drug testing."

However, many parents are concerned not only about their child’s civil rights but that testing doesn’t only lead to punishment, but to early intervention and rehabilitation. In this vain, if you feel the need to talk to your children about drug abuse but are concerned about your lack of knowledge, taking an online drug education course with them is a good way to help prevent drug use. They are easy to take privately from any web-based computer in your home and will teach the facts about the adverse effects of drug abuse on their lives both physically and mentally. They will learn about the different drugs out there and tactics to take to avoid peer pressure.

Online drug classes prevent early addiction, helps children make positive choices at an early stage and also promote a safe and healthy environment for school children. These sentiments are likewise echoed by a number of Missouri School Districts and are part of the reason why the drug test policy was implemented. Prevention is better than cure; let your child enroll for an online drugs class this summer.

During the past 20 years, the obesity rates in the United States have skyrocketed. More than 1/3 of all adults are considered obese which means that their BMI, or body mass index, is 30 or higher. This nation-wide increase in weight correlates with the increase of fast food restaurants over the last 2 decades. It has become so easy to drive through and grab a lunch or dinner at McDonalds or KFC, and our country is experiencing the health consequences. Statistics also show that about 18 million Americans suffer from alcohol addiction and as we all know, alcoholic drinks are not low in calories!

When considering weight gain or loss, one must take their level of alcohol consumption in mind. Aside from the long-term negative effects on the body's nervous system, cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal system, alcohol may also strongly contribute to weight gain. First of all, alcohol has the ability to make you lose your better judgment, so you will reach for the chips or eat the fried food you normally would not even consider. Also, many people find that after a night of heavy drinking, they are inclined to crave a high calorie, high fat breakfast the next morning.

Consumption of alcohol may also lead to obesity because of the way that the body stores fat after an alcoholic beverage is consumed. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the body will burn alcohol for fuel before it turns to fat. Therefore, more fat is stored which contributes to weight gain.

Alcohol consumption in moderate or excessive amounts has monstrous affects on total calorie intake. Alcohol contains unbelievable amounts of calories and is easy to overlook due to its liquid form. Drinking alcohol fills the body with empty calories, or calories that do not have any nutritional benefit, that can range from 90 – 120 per serving of wine, 100- 150 in beer, and as much as 400 in a margarita. A 3-ounce martini generally packs 190 calories, while a standard restaurant mojito contains 200 calories per serving. Needless to say, consuming just one glass of an alcoholic drink daily can ultimately add up to increase your total calorie intake drastically. And, having just one drink is often difficult to do, especially if in a social setting. It is crucial to keep in mind the fact that alcohol is a serious potential threat to any weight loss effort.

The negative effects of alcohol abuse including weight gain, are numerous. If you are trying to lose weight, one the best things you can start doing for your immediate health is to stop drinking alcoholic beverages. For more information and support to help you stop this habit, online alcohol classes are the way to go. They are low cost, and extremely easy to take. The classes are completely private and can be taken from your home computer any time of the day or night, so you don’t need to be tied to a strict appointment time. Simply find a class that interests you, enroll and you are on your way to learning about a healthier lifestyle.