It is wonderful to live in a nation where you are free to exercise your rights.  It is nice to have a government that establishes laws that protect the overall population.  It is nice to know that you could be born and raised in one of the worst city ghettos or country swamp land and end up living in high class urban society or suburbia.  However, with all of these freedoms come consequences for those that will ‘push the envelope’ for their own gain.

Many have learned the system that was created for good and use it for evil. Thus, America has a hard time making sure that all laws are enforced.  Many of the problems are of a domestic situation such as illegal drug use and alcohol consumption by minors (those less than twenty-one years old). Illegal drug and alcohol use are a huge problem in America for several reasons:

Latch Key Children Coming Home Daily to an Empty House
Not Strict Enough on the Mexican Boarders
Making of Fake Identification Cards
Easy Access to Legal Drugs and Abusing The Use of Them

The terminology, “Latch Key Children,” in America refers to school aged children that come home daily to an empty home instead of a home where adults are home.  The key is typically on the person of the child or left in a hidden place that only family members know about. After school hours, the child simply lets himself in to his home with no restrictions whatsoever. Sure, the legal guardian or parent may have, “laid down the law,” orally or even written it down on paper. However, nothing takes the place of hands on daily guidance.  Thus, many with up to four or more hours before their guardian is to be home has much time to complete their homework, and get themselves into unfortunate situations using liquor and/or drugs where none is the wiser … until it is too late.

Many drugs still enter the United States of America via the Mexican Boarders, such as through Texas and San Diego.  America has made it very easy not only for Mexicans to enter the country without the proper credentials by not having the necessary military in place to protect the land from intruders.  This being the case, bringing in illegal drugs to sell and use is as easy as taking a trip to the tobacco shop and buying a pack of cigarettes. 

The ring of fraudulent identification card makers make it very easy for minors to gain access to alcohol.  The average twelve year old American can easily pass for a twenty-one year old in most cases.  For whatever the reason (hormonal products in our food, etc.), preteens and teenagers have a much older appearance than they did back in the 1950’s or 60’s.   It is nothing for them to purchase their own alcohol and go home to an empty house and drink it … or worse, invite their friends over as well.

One of the latest crazes amongst our youth is abusing legal prescription drugs or household products in such a way that they can “get a high” off of the chemicals. Something as common as a can of hair spray has been inhaled to get a high, instead of on the hair to create a style.  Who is at fault?  Whoever is consistently leaving that child alone to fend for himself or herself.  Idle time with no provision is bound to lead to problems in most cases ... and it has been proven. 

These are highly unfortunate circumstances that happen daily in America from city to city … suburb to suburb and rural to rural areas. It doesn’t matter where you live.   What is missing is a human being in the home of these youths exemplifying a lifestyle that would desire their children to execute, and not just told what to do in their absence.  An idle mind gets weary of being idle and will eventually find “something” to do. More often than not, it ends up not being a good thing.  Alcohol Awareness Education is certainly a good place to start.

For every action there is a cause.  For every cause, there is a reason.  From every reason there is a thought pattern that self justifies the action.  This is typical of every alcoholic.  They either think they have the right to drink excessively or believe they have no problem with controlling it, “if they wanted to.” 

There are eight signs to look for to be made aware of this problem. As soon as you notice any of these signs in yourself, a friend or a member of your family, you should consider taking alcohol abuse awareness classes or advising the affected person to do so: 
Drinking in the morning or afternoon
Drinking alone regularly
Drinking every day
Carrying alcohol in a flask
Deny that you have been drinking when you really have been drinking
Slow physical movement
Slurred speech
Delayed reaction

While having an occasional or regular night cap is the norm for many, beginning one day with an alcoholic beverage of any kind is a tell tale sign of someone with a drinking problem.  Chances are, they had a “night cap,” the night before as well.  On the average, such a person may act out this way because of a high pressure job, or possible depression for one or more of multiple reasons (i.e. laid off from work, divorce, loss of a loved one, strong dislike for one’s surroundings, etc.).  They reason that they have the right to escape their physical reality by drinking and living a drunken stupor to lessen the pain.  Their tolerance level has excelled to the point that often times they are the only ones that know that they are legally drunk by alcohol percentage level.

Another sign would be one that would continually choose to take it beyond social drinking and desire to drink alone.  These people may opt to not drink in front of others for fear of losing control of themselves in front of others.  For them, they cannot stop after a glass or two … their tolerance level is so high that they tend to drink until they pass out. 

Take notice if someone carries an alcoholic beverage in a flask.  Chances are, they have such a need to have a drink that they do not want to get stuck without having it at hand. Thus, they may carry a flask inside their coat jacket or pocket book for the middle class, upper class, and the wealthy.  For the upper crust, others in their social sect may even deem it fashionable.   However, it does not take away the fact that it is a disease that has taken control of the person’s life.  They, too, have reasoned why it is ok to constantly carry a flask of alcohol where ever they go. 

For one that has gone out for a social evening with friends or alone, they have no problem admitting that they have had a few drinks when asked. However, an alcoholic given the same scenario may opt to become very defensive and deny drinking at all. At the very least, down play the number of drinks they actually did have. They have the need to hide their drinking because no active alcoholic wants to acknowledge to themselves (let alone others) that they have a drinking problem.  To do so would mean that they would either have to 1) deal with it and seek help, or 2) by their action of not seeking help showcase their weakness and lack of self discipline.

Because alcohol effects the body’s motor skills, it slows down physical movement,  delays response to stimuli, and causes one speech to become slurred.  This is the reason a police officer will ask a driver that has been stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol to perform simple task’s that would be very simple for a sober being:  1) walk a straight line, 2) holding their arms out and touching their nose using one forefinger at a time, and 3) repeat a simple tongue twister.  To fail one or all three would be means for arrest and taking away driving privileges.  You could prevent all this from happening by taking substance abuse classes online or at the local court hall – you can choose if you prefer to do it from the safety of your chair in front of your computer or if you would rather talk to somebody face to face.  Arizona alcohol education is one of the leading states for taking these classes, probably due to the fact that there are two major universities so close to each other.

Keeping in mind that alcoholism is a disease, it needs to be treated as such and the one infected not expected to be truthful about.  The best thing you could do is to seek professional help for such a person as soon as possible.  If is highly unlikely that he/she will ever stop drinking to get drunk on their own. Alcohol awareness classes are available also online, which makes them a lot more easier to attend and you also get a certificate of completion in end. Effective, easy to attend to at any time during the day or night – all it takes is to enroll and begin, we recommend a simply 8 hour online alcohol class.

Drug addicts have a need to hide their habit out of misplaced shame. They do not yet see it as the disease that it is.  The joke of highly priced online drug abuse and alcoholic classes are of no help. In most cases they are simply for those trying to meet a requirement given to them by the court in order to regain access to their driver’s license.  Instead of their focus being on licking the problem, taking the online course is often just a means to an end … to legally drive again.   However, sometimes there is a silver lining …

Though the initial focus is to please the court, in the midst of the teaching it may come to light of the student that they, indeed, do have a drug problem. The topics may begin to hit home changing the format of thinking of why they are taking the course.  They begin to see themselves in some of the situations given in the course … and they do not like what they see. In essence, they do not like that part of themselves and a desire to want to truly quit may be the outcome. Though the online course by itself will not make them quit, it does bring awareness that they do need help. And admitting it is the first step toward seeking a cure.  Regardless of whether you live in California or in North Carolina, these classes are available to anyone.

These online drug classes may be responsible for guiding them to offline help.  This kind of serious problem needs people helping people.  Possible empathy from others who have walked in the same shoes and have had the victory over a long span of time.  A trained specialist to help them emotionally, mentally, and physically beat the disease.  And, yet, others that are excellent at simply lending an ear … or sharing their own stories.

The first step to a final cure of drug addiction is to be made aware that you have a problem in the first place. This first step is truly the hardest step to take. Without it, the disease will win and ultimately take the life of its’ victims.  However, once the first step is taken, a life can joyously be saved.

All drug addicts know deep inside of himself that he has a problem, but refuse to admit it to himself let alone to others.  But the fact that he has a problem never leaves him for the short number of hours that he is sober.  To keep it hidden, he may opt to “check out” an online course out of curiosity … though he is really crying out for someone to please help him.

The online course brings to light some things about his habits that he knows to be true.  That glimmer may be all that is needed to want to do more than complete an online course by himself, but to seek professional help in person.  In that, the online course can be a huge help to bring awareness and wellness to someone with drug addiction.  In essence, an online drug course can be the first step to saving a life.  Those requiring classes related to alcohol, the an alcohol awareness class might also be a good fit.

Today’s society has become so liberal that there are few if any absolute right or wrongs anymore. Everything is relative to the person and circumstances.  This has become increasingly confusing for children, preteens, and teenagers.  Undefined lines as to what is good for us and what is not causes many to stumble.  Two of many areas of which confusion arises is the abuse of drugs and alcohol to the body.  Not to fret.

There are positive ways to keep your teen from going down the wrong path that leads to alcoholism and/or drug addiction.  You can discuss with your teen the consequences of substance abuse, or even better – you can enroll them into substance abuse awareness class. There are online classes available, and these classes are just as effective as the live coach classes. At the same time, they give your teen a lot more privacy and they can keep their names secret from others if they want to.

One of the main causes that lead to one or both of these substance abuse problems is stress. A stressful lifestyle needs an outlet.  Today it is common for the average teenager to take on too many task’s during one season.  He/she may be involved in athletic sports, music, drama, and high school governmental leadership programs while trying to maintain their grades to stay on the honor roll.

While having too much idle time causes problems, over doing it causes stress that must have some sort of relief.  Unfortunately, some take it by way of escape through using drugs or alcohol.
While some drugs may be used to exit the real world for a very short while, other drugs may be used to alter the physical fitness of an athlete’s body.  Both have the potential to lead to death.  Your teens will learn more about this in any substance abuse awareness class they choose to attend ( or you choose to enroll them into).

Using alcohol is typically used to relax and unwind as a form escape of one’s circumstances for a moment.  This can be masked as a form of entertainment for a while and may remain as such all of their lives with no problem. For others, it may escalate to over use and lead into poisoning one’s body from alcoholism.

So, if too much idle time can lead to problems, and business leads to need from unnatural relief, what is the answer to keeping our teenager’s drug and alcohol free?

First, keep in mind that the teenager is not an adult no matter their physical size.  They are still children in quickly developing bodies that need continual guidance.  A place to come to and know that they are accepted just as they are without conditions.  Make sure that they know that they do not have to be an over achiever to have the positive attention and respect of their parents.   If they are into too many activities at one time, help them decide which would be most beneficial for them for that season and which to pick up at a later time.

If they show no interest in anything, encourage and explore with them until he or she learns something new about themselves in regard to what they enjoy.  Show them your interest in that you support whatever direction they tend to be pulled (as long as it’s a good thing). There a correlation between underage drinking and teenage theft and shoplifting.

Most would be shocked to know that Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming allow minors to consume alcohol as long as the minor is on a private, non alcohol selling premises, with parental consent.

The main thing to remember is that teenagers need the advice and guidance of an adult whether they ask for it or not. The trick is to help guide them in such a way that they almost think it’s all their own idea. That is possible if you are truly helping them discover their own strengths and weaknesses.  Help them maintain a healthy balance between over exertion and laziness.  If they maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle, there will be no need for substance abuse.

You should also encourage them to attend drugs and alcohol awareness classes or minor in possession (MIP Classes), by telling them that there is no shame in attending such a class. After all, it is for their own good to learn about the dangers and dire consequences of substance abuse. Asking them to attend such classes online will not make you look like a bad parent – you will actually prove that you are a responsible one.

The costs of alcohol addiction and dependency in the work place are higher than most organizations realize. The factors that contribute to these high costs of alcohol abuse in a business include poor quality work, employee turnover, sick leave, accidents, damage to the company image, poor customer service, delays, wastage of resources, claims from clients and much more. A business that is afflicted by all of these cannot succeed. Losses are bound to result and if left unattended extreme alcohol abuse can actually lead to the collapse of a company. It is therefore in the best interest of the employer to get professional help in alcohol awareness for employees.

Employers do not need to wait for their human resource to get into alcohol abuse so as to engage the services of professionals who deal in alcohol awareness for employees. It should instead be an on going program that seeks to intervene before things get out of hand. Work related pressure as well as personal issues could lead one to alcohol and substance abuse at any point. The awareness classes taken before an individual has encountered a period where they are highly susceptible to going into alcoholism will help deal with the pressure. It also equips peers with the skills and knowledge in detecting a drinking problem in a colleague and effective ways of helping them deal with the situation.

The benefits of having alcohol awareness for employees far exceed the cost of engaging the professionals who conduct the sessions. Employees who are free of alcohol related problems have a fulfilling personal life which is one of the most important contributors to productivity. Personal development is the most important reason for anyone to work. If your people feel that they are progressing at a personal level, they will be highly motivated and production will increase. Motivated and productive employees will deliver higher profits and their hard work will pay for the alcohol awareness sessions several times over. You will also realize that team work, loyalty, initiative and leadership improve when alcohol is no longer an issue.

Alcohol awareness classes can be organized to fit in with the unique circumstances of individual business operations. The instructors and other professionals involved in delivering alcohol awareness for employees are normally flexible so as to accommodate your needs. Instructors can also deliver the training in a number of ways that include onsite sessions, offsite sessions and web seminars or at their facilities. This is meant to ensure that interruptions to production and other operations are kept to a minimum.

Dealing with alcohol and drug problems is no longer an option but a must for companies that appreciate their most important resource which is human resource. If a company is successful in empowering it employees, then it succeeds in every other way. Alcohol awareness classes will help you prevent alcohol problems, deal with existing cases and save those employees who were about to get trapped in alcoholism. Alcohol awareness for employees also helps your team appreciate the alcohol and drug policies in your organization. It will also equip them with the knowledge and skills to improve on these policies where necessary.