Q21.

Is it true that you do not have a drinking problem if you only drink beer, if you can hold your liquor, or if you only drink to excess on weekends?

A21.

No.  The type of alcohol and the pattern of use is of no significance. Increased tolerance may actually be a risk factor for alcohol problems.

Q22.

Are alcoholism and other chemical dependances medical diseases in the same sense as diabetes and Parkinson's disease (i.e. that they result from a bodily malfunction)?

A22.

Yes.  There is no difference between chemical dependency and other forms of medical disease.  The fact was first put forth by Dr. Benjamin Rush, the Father of American Medicine in the early 1800's, but was not adopted by the AMA until 1967.  This fact is evidence of the social resistance to accepting chemical dependency for what it is: a neurochemical imbalance in the mesolimbic system of the brain.

Q23.

I currently drink alcohol, but I am never drunk.  Can I be an alcoholic?

A23.

Yes.  The phonemenon is called tolerance and may indicate a problem, especially if you drink a large quantity of alcoholic beverages, or the amount you drink is unpredictable.

Q24.

When I have consumed 4 glasses of scotch, I feel well enough to drive my car.  Am I wrong?

A24.

Yes, one drink is enough to decrease your reactivity.

Q25.

Is drinking alcohol okay if you exercise a lot?

A25.

No.  The toxicity of alcohol in your body is not changed by activity.

Q26.

Approximately what percentage of the adult population in the United States abuses alcohol?

A26.

10% to 15%.  This figure rises to 25% to 30% when other drugs are included.

Q27.

What class of drug is alcohol?

A27.

Alcohol is a depressant, having similar effects as Valium and other sleep medications.

Q28.

What is the economic cost to society from substance and alcohol abuse?

A28.

In 1997, a government study estimated the cost to society to be $150 billion per annum, enough for every man, woman, and child in the country to receive a $700 tax-rebate if the cost was eliminated.

Q29.

During which trimester of pregnancy can a woman drink alcohol without risk to the fetus?

A29.

At no time during pregnancy can a woman drink alcohol safely; the only difference is what impact the alcohol will have on the developing fetus.

Q30.

In the United States, approximately how many people have problems with substance abuse?

A30.

A 1997 government survey found that up to 27 million people will have problems with alcohol and drug abuse in their life time making it the number one public health issue in the United States.