The answer to the question of what is relapse prevention in addiction recovery, lies greatly in the definition of relapse. Simply put, relapse, for the recovering addict or alcoholic is commonly thought to be the act of taking that first drug or drink after maintaining a period of abstinence. Even though this is a generally accepted definition, the recovery, and drug and alcohol treatment communities generally agree that there is a relapse process that begins long before the actual first use has occurred.

It is often said in AA/NA circles that, nobody picks up while working a healthy program of recovery. The inherent meaning in that statement is that there are definitive behaviors that can be easily recognized and addressed long before it’s too late. ‘Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path’

There are several schools of thought however all would probably agree that education, awareness and action are vital to the prevention of relapse.

Education & Awareness:

learn to recognize the various early warning signs or symptoms of relapse.
identify the high risk situations or personal triggers that set in motion a series of downward spiraling events.

Action:

develop a written relapse prevention plan that acts as a sort of insurance policy to deal with the symptom and triggers inherent in each recovering individual.
build and maintain a sober support system to confront arising negative attitudes and behaviors.
seek and accept help from support system and/or Drug and Alcohol Counselor.

Symptoms of Relapse and Relapse Triggers:

1. Complacency
2. Isolation
3. Dishonesty
4. Depression
5. Argumentativeness
6. Self pity
7. Cockiness
8. Expecting too much from others
9. Letting up on daily disciplines
10. Forgetting gratitude
11. Omnipotence
12. Selfishness
13. Not attending 12 meetings
14. Obsessive and compulsive thinking and behaving
15. Boredom
16. Maintaining resentments
17. Hanging around old ‘people, places and things’
18. Keeping drugs and/or alcohol in the house
19. Grandiosity
20. Major or sudden life changes
21. Exhaustion

There are 3 things that are important to note concerning the education and prevention of relapse from drug and/or alcohol abstinence.

1. The first is that every individual has a set of relapse factors and triggers that are unique to them and should be dealt with accordingly

2. The second is that because drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases of denial, it is absolutely necessary to have a sober support system that is ready, willing and able confront any symptoms of relapse.

3. The third is the addict/alcoholic must have a relapse prevention plan in place to deal with the possible relapse. This plan could include a list of people and places to turn to for help as well as a list of action items to initiate.

There is a popular misconception that relapse is a neccesay part of addiction recovery. I disagree that it is inevitable. But, with the stakes so high, itcertainly makes sense to err on the side of caution and be aware the danger exists and make plans for it.

Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 97 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life. Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading residential treatment center. Visit our growing community at:

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Northern Virginia is growing in population rapidly and as more people move into the area, a question that is asked more and more frequently is - what is the quality of my drinking water?

Individuals and families are naturally concerned with their health and drinking water is an important element of maintaining good health.

Unfortunately, the quality of the water in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. is very poor and is getting worse. Contaminants, bacteria, minerals and chemicals in tap water are masked with heavy doses of chlorine and tap water, in addition to being unhealthy, tastes and smells terrible.

Regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not eliminate contamination but merely sets maximum levels of contaminants that can enter the human body. and cause long term damage.

What is the Story With Tap Water?

Tap water is municipal water that is usually pumped from a nearby river and then processed to meet EPA guidelines. The processing is usually done through a waster treatment plant with heavy amounts of chlorine added to kill remaining bacteria that processing does not catch. It is important to note that EPA guidelines are just that - they establish minimum amounts of allowed contamination that may eventually be harmful to both adults and children.

In Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. the drinking water is pumped mainly out of the Potomac River and at least one waste treatment plant.

Contaminants that may be present in this source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic waste water discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Contaminants also include pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.

In addition contaminants may include organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities also affect local tap water.

What is the source of water in Washington D.C.?

The water in the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and Rock Creek flows into the District from outside jurisdictions. For example, the Potomac River begins in West Virginia, while the Anacostia River begins in Maryland. The quality of water in the District is thus affected by activities throughout the watershed.

Storm water runoff from commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural sites, point source pollutants from wastewater treatment plants and industrial discharges, and combined sewer overflows from as far away as West Virginia and Pennsylvania all contribute to the quality of water in the District and Northern Virginia.

What About Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO’s)

CSO’s frequently occur when natural events like flooding overcome the capacity of waste treatment plants and raw sewage is pumped back into the water source like the Potomac River.

During periods of significant rainfall, the capacity of a combined sewer may be exceeded. When this occurs, regulators are designed to let the excess flow, which is a mixture of storm water and sanitary wastes, to be discharged directly to the Anacostia River, Rock Creek, the Potomac River, or tributary waters. This excess flow is called Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). Release of this excess flow is necessary to prevent flooding in homes, basements, businesses, and streets but it adds bacteria and contaminants as potential threats to tap water.

Since a portion of the tap water comes from sewerage treatment plants CSO’s can adversely affect the quality of our receiving waters in a number of ways:

CSO’s contain material which contributes to high bacteria levels in the receiving waters. Organic material in CSO’s can contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels, which can contribute to a potential for fish stress or fish kills, especially in summer months; and, debris in CSO’s such as plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups (otherwise known as “floatables”) contribute to poor aesthetics.

How Safe For Drinking is Well Water?

Well water, a popular alternative to tap water particularly in Northern Virginia is subject to the same ground water contaminants, chemical discharge waste and organic waste as tap water but is not subject to any regulation whatsoever.

In addition to emitting foul sulphur odors and sediment from the water Northern Virginia well water contains significant amounts of iron in the rock in some areas, particularly the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, resulting in iron “staining.” Sulfide in ground water is also found in parts of the Valley and Ridge where coal or natural gas is present produces an obnoxious odor.

Ground water that is a source of well water also can be contaminated by human activities. Bacteria from septic systems, and nitrate from both septic systems and fertilizer applications, are among the most common contaminants. Since well water is not subject to regulation, the potability and suitability for drinking, of a private well is the responsibility of the homeowner and many private wells are contaminated.

Treating Drinking Water From Wells

The Sate of Virginia strongly recommends treatment of well water with chlorine to kill bacteria in well water and, in an effort to overcome the obnoxious smell and taste of chlorine, de chlorination. Again, this process is not controlled by any state or Federal agency.

Two general kinds of water treatment are disinfecting and conditioning. To ensure that the supply is free of harmful bacteria, water is disinfected. Objectionable tastes, odors, and matter are removed by conditioning.

Well Water Disinfection Methods

Drinking water is most commonly tested for coliform bacteria, which live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Coliform bacteria in a well are usually the result of a faulty septic system or contaminated surface water entering the well or water delivery system.

Materials and tools used in well construction are frequently contaminated withbacteria that live in the soil and these can be introduced into the water system while constructing the well, installing components of the piping system, or servicing any part of the water supply system. The State of Virginia strongly recommends that the water system be disinfected following construction and after all repairs.

Chlorination is used to disinfect private supplies because it destroys bacteria within a reasonable contact time and provides residual protection. However,ordinary levels of chlorination are not always effective in destroying Giardia cysts, which cause a severe gastrointestinal illness. Super-high levels of chlorination,boiling and filtering are the only effective methods to destroy or remove these cysts.

High chlorine concentrations can have objectionable tastes and odors, and even low chlorine concentrations react with some organic compounds to produce strong, unpleasant tastes and odors.

To eliminate these offensive tastes and to remove excessive amounts of chlorine, the water is then dechlorinated. Activated carbon filters are the most common devices used to dechlorinate water, remove objectionable chlorine tastes, and reduce corrosion of plumbing systems.

In addition to removing taste and odor problems, reports have shown that granular activated carbon absorption is the best method currently available to remove specific organic chemicals (including some pesticide residues), and as a method for radon removal.

How Safe is Tap and Well Water for Drinking?

Municipalities, well owners and even the EPA claim that tap and well water in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. is perfectly safe for drinking but one must wonder. Consider the source of tap water in light of sewage treatment, heavy chlorine additive and waste discharge in the Potomac River and one starts to wonder. Also consider that well water is subject to most of the contaminants of tap water but is unregulated as well.

Is Drinking Bottled Water an Alternative to Tap or Well?

The popularity of bottled water has grown tremendously as Americans seek healthy lifestyles and better tasting water. But not all bottled water is healthier than the tap or well alternative.

Up to 25% of all bottled water on the market is tap water repacked in plastic bottles and bottled water that is not purified often contains minerals and other contaminants that may be harmful to your health. These contaminants are not only unhealthy and affect the taste of the water but limit storage life for emergency supplies of drinking water.

Purified water however, using a distillation and oxygenation process, provides the water drinker the safest and best tasting alternative to contaminated tap and well water in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. Distillation removes the water from the contaminants in a process that insures purity and oxygenation adds a light refreshing taste to the remaining purified water.

Consider the long term health of you and your family and build a healthy lifestyle on pure drinking water.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to

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Today, thousands of Christian sects exist. Each of them have their own doctrines that contradicts that of the others. However, all these sects except the Church of Christ uphold the teaching that Christ is God.

Is it true that the Church of Christ taught its members a different God from the god of todays Christian sects? This question has been answered by Apostle Paul, a minister of the Church of Christ on his letter to the Corinthians:

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:6, NKJV)

According to Apostle Paul, for them (members of the Church of Christ) there is only one God. Who is their God? The one God referred to by Apostle Paul is the Father. If for the Church of Christ the Father is the only God and the God of today’s Christian sects is Christ, therefore it is clear that the God of the Church of Christ is really different to the god of today’s Christian sects.

Why is it that the Church of Christ uphold the teaching that the Father is the only God? Do they formulated their own doctrines on God? Christ answers:

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:1,3, ibid)

Christ said on His prayer that they (members of the Church of Christ) may know that the Father as the only true God. In other words, it is Christ who taught His members on His Church that only the Father is the true God. To make it clear, let’s ask the Bible: What does it mean, when saying that the Father is the only true God? In the book of Isaiah, God aswered:

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, (Isaiah 45:5, ibid)

According to Him, there is no God besides Him. So, when Christ said that the Father is the only true God, means only the Father is God and there is no other God besides Him. Is there another God like Him? God said, there is none like Him:

9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, (Isaiah 46:9, ibid)

Now, it is already clear that the Father is the only true God and there is no God besides Him nor there will be like Him. Therefore, the teaching of most of the Christian sects today that Christ is also God like the Father is not true based on the Bible, and it also contradicts the truth revealed by the Bible.

However, there are some of these Christian sects believe that Christ is also the Father, and the Father and Christ is the same, or that Christ is the result when the Father became flesh. Is this true according to the truth written on the Bible? Is the Father the Christ Himself? Christ answers:

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them,’I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” (John 20:17, ibid)

Christ Himself said, that the Father is His Father who is the Father of the members of His Church. The Father is His God who is the God of the members of His Church too. In other words, the teaching that the Father and Christ is the same and one, as in, Christ is the Father Himself or that Christ is the result when the Father became flesh, is a false doctrine or not Biblical.

But not only that. There are other Christian sects also believe that Christ is also God who exist on the Christian time only not in the old testament time. Is this teaching true based on the Bible? God Himself answer this question:

10 ” You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,

” And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. (Isaiah 43:10, ibid)

God’s answer is clear, that there was no God before Him nor shall there be after Him. So the teaching that Christ is the God who exist in the new testament time only not in the old testament time, is false and not biblical.

Now, did they know this truth that only the Father is the true God? Apostle Paul answer:

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; … (I Corinthians 8:7, ibid)

According to Apostle Paul, not everyone knows the truth about God. Who know this truth? In the verse 6, Apostle said this:

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:6, ibid)

Only the members of the Church of Christ know the truth.

Is Christ your God or is your God a Trinity, or do you believe in many Gods? Well, that is because you are not members of the Church of Christ. If you are only one of the members of Christ’s Church, then you will uphold the teaching of Christ that only the Father is the true God and no God besides Him, nor there is another God like Him, nor there will be after Him. Only the Church of Christ know this truth.

Sustines E. Laplana (SELaplana: ). Writing articles is his passion. And writing religious articles is his love, so that everyone will learn the truth taught by the Bible.

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Why do you write articles for distribution online? If it is just so you can be an “author,” you can skip this article. If it is to generate traffic to your website, you need to be writing for the reader. Here are some ways to do that.

1. Write articles on topics that interest you. This may seem contrary to the idea of writing for the reader, but it isn’t. It is safe to assume that you are not the only one interested in a given topic. Writing about your own interests keeps you motivated, and you’ll usually do a better job. You also normally will have more knowledge to share in an area of interest than in an area you just chose because it is popular.

2. Write a title that catches the reader’s attention. There are many ways to do this, and this is a topic worthy of it’s own article. The short lesson? Use words like “how to,” “easy ways to,” ten ways to,” “secrets,” and “try this.” Titles that are questions can be effective too.

3. Make your writing easy on the eyes. Don’t have sentences that go on and on endlessly, with more words than are necessary to make the point and without enough commas to break them up into digestible parts, and with no good reason to be that long, and which easily could have been cut into two or more shorter, easier-to-read sentences that would have been more relaxing to read - in other words, avoid sentences like this one. Oh, and have concise paragraphs of two to six sentences.

4. You should, of course, try to write articles that are truly useful, interesting or entertaining. If you can do all three in one article, that’s great. At the very least, though, try to include something in your article that will be new to the average reader. Second best is describing things they already know, but in new ways. You often have to cover the same points as similar articles, but do more than that as well.

5. Keep the language simple. After scrutinizing many articles, I consider the evidence to be incontrovertible that pretentiousness in the elucidation of your information makes the loss of the reader ineluctable. In other words, use too many big words and you’ll scare away many readers. You can say what you like using simple words like the ones in this sentence. No reader will stop reading a good article because the language is too simple.

6. Write a resource box that make it easy for the reader to see where he can go for more information. A list of your dozen degrees and awards will not impress him or be helpful. Say one or two things about yourself, then have a clear link, and a description of what the reader will find at your web site.

This is a short lesson on how to write articles for readers. You should also use the right keywords, so readers can find the article, and write an article description that makes them want to read it. If you also want your articles used by others, you have to write articles not only for readers, but for newsletter and web site owners. That, however, is a topic for another article.

Copyright Steve Gillman. He lost money on his websites until he discovered the power of articles. Six months later he was making a good living online. To learn how you can do the same, and how to write for readers AND webmasters, get your free online writing course at: .

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There are people who think of the world as a dreary place simply because they do not find their existence charming enough to render them contented. There are those who wish that they have more than what they possess. There are those who are sick and tired of working hard yet end up having nothing better. There are those who curse the humdrum existence of having 9-5 jobs that do not give them personal and professional growth. Still these are others who want to earn money without sweating it out too much.

These are the ultimate reasons why more and more people are succumbing to affiliate marketing, one of the many money-making systems that are conceived as a result of the popularity the internet has been generating since it came into being. Since the internet is one of the media with which to view the world and interact with people without getting up from one’s seat, it has become one of the most important channels with which to sell a merchant’s products and wares.

This is the reason why affiliate marketing thrives as a result of the internet’s popularity. The products and wares which the internet markets get the necessary exposure needed to sell well. This is where the fact that affiliate marketing is a lucrative business comes in. What is intended to be sold is sold because the internet is the best place to sell all these merchandise without the merchant giving too much of an effort to sell them per se.

How does affiliate marketing generate money? The way affiliate marketing works is so simple one would have difficulty believing how such a scheme is able to generate cash. In affiliate marketing, one is introduced to a system where an affiliate, the one who owns the website, agrees to display and advertise other websites that belong, in turn, to a merchant.

The merchant is the one who hopes to generate sales through the affiliate’s promotion of his website. Once these links are clicked on by other people and a purchase is made, the merchant pays the affiliate a commission. It is by simply promoting other websites through his own that an affiliate is able to earn money for himself in the easiest manner possible.

The principle involved in affiliate marketing can be compared to the type of species interaction in ecology called mutualism where interaction between two species allows both of them to derive benefit from the situation without harming each other. The result is a relationship that allows them to coexist in harmony in the community where they both move. Affiliate marketing allows affiliates to get paid in recognition of what they were able to contribute to the process. Merchants, in turn, are able to have their products advertised and ultimately sold through the efforts provided by the affiliate.

The reason why products advertised by affiliates through their websites generate a lot of sales is because the number of people using the internet is growing every minute. Each and every merchandise advertised through this medium gets all the attention that it could possibly need to be able to convince someone that it is worth the try. This is the ultimate reason why there is money in affiliate marketing. The more links a website promotes, the more chance sales will be generated. The more sales generated, the happier the merchant, and the happier the merchant, the better it is for the affiliate both professionally and financially.

Those who have indulged in affiliate marketing have reached goals and dreams which they were not able to realize under ordinary circumstances. There are even those who have skyrocketed to the top simply because they have dedicated all their time and effort to perfecting their knowledge about this business without even a bit of hesitation. One can be sure of the fact that there is money in affiliate marketing. He only has to cope with the fact that it is impossible to generate riches in this business overnight.

Well, not really. All he has to do is to learn everything that he possibly could about the industry which he is in. If he is able to master everything concerning the tricks of the trade, then everything will follow suit.

—————————————

This article may be reprinted providing it is published in it’s entirety, including the author’s bio and link to the URL below.

John J Farina is a successful affiliate marketer. He provides expert reviews on which affiliate programs to join and which ones to avoid like the plague. He shows people how to actually generate substantial income on-line using very simple, easily modeled systems. An example of such a system that you can study and duplicate is at:

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It all happened to us. Quench a growing thirst by satisfying the prevailing need to refresh our bodies. A night out in a bar on a hot summer evening, who wouldn’t give in to the little pleasures of quietly sipping a delightful Pina Colada, carefully prepared by a talented bartender? It’s so delicious, why not have another one? The alcohol is barely noticeable, so what could be the harm? You give in to temptation one more time, and take a third one. The effects of alcohol rapidly begin to show themselves, but this doesn’t stop you from taking one last Pina Colada, you know, just for the ride back home. That’s all you remember of your night the next day. A throbbing headache awakes you in the morning, a horrid breath, all of this accompanied by the familiar sensation of queasiness.

It’s no secret, alcohol is a common beverage served in social gatherings, parties, homes and even in religious celebrations. Therefore, it is anything but surprising that the general perception on the dangers of alcohol is underestimated and anything but worrisome for some. Alcohol is generally thought of as being a beverage that “relaxes the atmosphere.” Furthermore, brand names and alcoholic percentage come into play as to the pricing of such beverages. Overall, finding alcohol to drink is easy, relatively inexpensive, but most importantly, it’s legal.

Alcohol, a Real Drug

Categorically, we are quick to be judgemental about those who are addicted to drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, etc.). Nevertheless, we don’t stop there. Many don’t truly grasp and understand the reasons that may push someone towards substance abuse, and are unable to realize the difficulty the drug addict faces in quitting. However, when someone becomes an alcoholic, we tend to tolerate and accept this fact with much more ease. Yet, alcohol is a drug. Few actually believe it, but it is.

To fully grasp the hazards of alcohol, it will be compared to the widely known drug Marijuana. We already know that alcohol is legal. Everyone 18 years and older in Quebec may freely buy any desired quantity. The age limit in other provinces varies according to provincial legislature. In the United States of America, it takes 21 years of age to legally possess any alcoholic beverage. Marijuana is illegal nationwide to consume and cultivate, and perpetrators are severely punished for this offence by the police forces. As a drug, Marijuana does pose health risks to individuals, hence it is downright correct for it to be illegal. Many teenagers have already consumed Marijuana, since they particularly enjoy the “highs” it gives them. Predictably, they equally enjoy drinking alcohol and partying over weekends.

“It’s liquid courage, I can pick up women, I can get in fights and feel no pain,” reported a former alcoholic.

Below is a table demonstrating the known effects of alcohol and Marijuana on the human body:

##Alcohol##

Status: Legal

Side effects:

-Slower reflexes

-Fewer inhibitions

-Increased confidence

-Reduced coordination

-Slurred speech

-Intense moods

-Confusion

-Blurred vision

-Poor muscle control

-Nausea-Vomiting

-Possibly coma or death

Depending on volume of alcohol consumed

##Marijuana##

Status: Illegal

Side effects:

-Memory and learning problems

-Distorted perception

-Difficulty thinking and solving problems

-Bloodshot eyes

-Dry mouth and throat

-Faster heartbeat and pulse rate

By looking at the side effects of both drugs, Marijuana appears to be a mild drug when compared to alcohol. Even though the side effects of alcohol vary according to the amount of alcohol ingested, we rarely limit ourselves to a single glass. Age, sex, body build and metabolism are also factors influencing the effects of alcohol on an individual.

Alcohol in our Society

Nevertheless, the outreach of alcohol extends far beyond the boundaries of our bodies. Since it is legal, millions of alcoholic beverages are served daily across North America in local pubs, bars and clubs. Not only does this alcohol consumption lead to decreased inhibitions, it also paves the road for sexual harassment issues and undesired sexual acts, which may undoubtedly lead to the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Violent acts and numerous assaults are repeatedly being reported to the police, and in many cases, both victim and culprit were under the influence of alcohol.

“Forty percent of people convicted of violent victimizations (sexual assault, robbery, homicide, aggravated assault, and simple assault) and 25 percent of victims had been drinking at the time of the event.”
source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998

“Alcohol is closely linked with violence. About 40 percent of all crimes (violent and non-violent) are committed under the influence of alcohol.”
source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998

Individuals may also feel confident and unflustered by the thought of driving home drunk. Drinking and driving is a serious issue in North America, destroying families, ruining friendships and generating exorbitant financial problems. The news channels always seem to have new footage to demonstrate the horrid scenes resulting from a fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver. Not only does the drunk driver put his own life in peril, he is equally an impending threat to all of those travelling at that very moment. Statistics for alcohol-related crashes are alarmingly high, truly worrisome and necessitate our immediate attention.

“Approximately 1.4 million drivers were arrested in 2003 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 135 licensed drivers in the United States of America.”
Source: NHTSA, 2005

“About three in ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.”
Source: NHTSA, 2001

On the other hand, non-profit organizations, drug rehabilitation and prevention centers and numerous other volunteers are continually seeking to educate and spread awareness among the population on the effects of alcohol. Be it by advertising campaigns, through drug prevention conferences or simply by conversation, these organizations wish to reduce and ultimately, eliminate the threat alcohol poses to our daily lives.

A former alcoholic explained, “Alcohol is the most widely accepted way in the world to kill yourself, kill perfect strangers, family members and children. You think it gives you a new life, but it only ends life.”

Unfortunately, much of their efforts are countered by the alcohol industry itself. Quite obviously, alcohol is a thriving industry generating huge profits for brewing companies. Their advertising capabilities are much more developed, due to their large budgets and influence. Therefore, the number of alcohol-related advertisements (beer, wine, liquor, etc.) greatly outnumbers those for awareness. Furthermore, alcohol is currently portrayed in music videos, sporting events (through sponsorships) and on objects of any kind. This only increases the visibility of alcohol-based products, hence reaching out towards a younger audience, which is rarely of drinking age.

“Recent advertising expenditures in the United States for beer, wine, and liquor combined ($1.9 billion) totalled over 10 times the amount spent on milk ads ($137.7 million).
Source: TNS Media Intelligence/CMR, 2004 and Agricultural Marketing Service, 2002

“Each year, college students spend approximately $5.5 billion on alcohol- more than they spend on soft drinks, milk, juice, tea, coffee and books combined.”
Source: Drug Strategies, 1999

“Young people view approximately 20,000 commercials each year, of which nearly 2,000 are for beer and wine.”
Source: Strasburger & Donnerstein, 1999

Alcohol Addiction, a.k.a Alcoholic

Alcohol dependence is a growing issue in our modern society. Contrarily to a drug addict, an alcoholic doesn’t face the same type of pressure from his entourage. It is much easier to dissimulate an alcohol addiction than a cocain addiction. By attending social events, the alcoholic doesn’t feel the need to hide his addiction, since everyone around him/her is also drinking. Also, due to the predominant idea that an alcohol addiction isn’t all that bad, because alcohol is legal, the alcoholic doesn’t feel such an urging need to recognize his addiction and solve this problem.

The beverage alcohol (scientifically known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol) is produced by fermenting or distilling various fruits, vegetables, or grains. Ethyl alcohol itself is a clear and colourless liquid. All of the alcoholic beverages get their distinctive colours from the diluents, additives, and by-products of fermentation.

There are two main types of alcoholic dependence: psychological and physical. Nevertheless, a long-term drug abuse still poses serious health risks, such as severe liver damage and a noticeable increase for heart disease and failure. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may result if a pregnant woman drinks alcohol throughout her pregnancy. The child is born with facial abnormalities and may experience growth retardation.

A psychological dependence on alcohol mainly refers to a craving for alcohol’s psychological effects, without necessarily requiring amounts for a serious alcoholic intoxication. It is also possible for such an addiction to occur to individuals consuming alcohol only during certain circumstances, such as prior, during and after a social occasion. For psychologically dependent drinkers, the lack of alcohol tends to make them anxious and, in some cases, panicky. This particular type of dependence isn’t as damaging and harmful as physical dependence, since the individual is relying on the alcohol to help him/her reduce their inhibitions and increase their confidence.

A former addict declared, “I am so much of a coward, that I need a drink before ANYTHING.”

Physical dependence occurs mainly in heavy drinkers. They are prime targets for this type of addiction, since they continually resort to excessive drinking to “escape” from a problem. Over time, their bodies have developed a tolerance to the presence of alcohol in the bloodstream. So, if they suddenly decide to quit cold turkey, they will suffer from withdrawal symptoms ranging from jumpiness, sweating, sleeplessness, convulsions, poor appetite, hallucinations, and sometimes even death.

Both types of dependencies foster violence and/or deterioration of personal relationships. Young minds can suffer dearly from alcohol abuse, since it will interfere with their schooling, career goals, and may eventually lead to unemployment.

Solving the Problem

Being afflicted with any type of addiction is never easy. Even if initially it was a personal choice to try the addictive substance, few actually wished or even thought of becoming addicted. It is most difficult for alcoholics to quit on their own, for like all of the other drugs, there are unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting. The discomfort and disquieting feeling experienced while quitting is of little encouragement for a drug addict. Yet, there are other possibilities.

No one has to go through this determining step of his or her life alone. Drug rehabilitation centers are there to support and help the individual accomplish his goal: overcome his/her addiction. Choosing the right drug detoxification treatment is of capital importance, so as to give the individual the best tools and opportunities to completely eliminate his/her addiction from his/her life.

Among the many types of drug rehabilitations programs available, Narconon offers a unique, 100% natural, biophysical drug treatment program. Without using any substitute drugs, Narconon’s program is specifically targeted at eliminating drug residues from the body. By diminishing the withdrawal symptoms to their lowest levels, the individual gradually regains his composure and awareness of his surroundings. Both the physical and psychological aspects of drug addiction are addressed in the Narconon program, so that the individual may go on to live a drug-free lifestyle after completion of the program.

Hopefully, alcohol will play a less important role in our lives as the years go by, awareness among the population will significantly increase, and drunk driving will no longer be a pressing issue. By recognizing the direct and indirect impacts alcohol has on our lives, we can more easily understand how many lives are shattered due to substance abuse. Eventually, we will all look past this false barrier of security, and see alcohol for what it really is.

References:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
) He lives in Quebec, Canada.

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Many women complain that their white gold jewelry is turning yellow. They don’t understand why this is happening and they’re confused.

I am the author of a platinum brochure that helps clear up some of the confusion. In it, I delve into the history of platinum as well as answer some of the most popular questions concerning platinum vs. gold. For example:

Q: What is the difference between white gold and platinum?

A: There is a tremendous difference between the two metals and it has to do primarily with purity. White gold is a fabricated color. In order to obtain the ‘white’ look of white gold, pure gold is diluted with white metal(s), such as nickel. However, this resulting metal is still not a true ‘white’ and must be plated in platinum to achieve the look of platinum. Over time, this plating wears away and a yellowish tint emerges. This yellowish hue is not tarnish; it is the true color of white gold. To restore the white and bright finish, the metal must again be plated. Platinum, on the other hand, is 99% pure and will always remain naturally ‘white.’

Here’s another question that often comes up.

Q: Why does platinum cost more than white gold?

A: The market value for platinum per ounce is much higher than gold. One reason is that platinum is much more rare than gold. In fact, it is 60 times rarer. It takes ten tons of ore and eight weeks to produce just one once of platinum. But it’s worth it.

There is an additional factor to the price disparity. While platinum requires less ongoing maintenance than that of silver or gold, platinum does require very special attention when fabricating a quality piece of jewelry. Today, there are few jewelers who can work well with platinum. It requires special tools, special techniques and highly trained individuals.

Platinum is the metal of kings. It’s pure and it’s dense. Did you know that a six inch cube weighs an incredible 165 pounds? I’ve always advised my customers to purchase platinum when they could afford it.

Gerard Bianco was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He has been designing and creating jewelry for over 40 years. He owns and displays his creations at Porte 4 Fine Jewelry in Portland, Maine. (

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The human mind craves for something extraordinary, something different, and something that is capable of removing the monotony of life. This urge gives rise to inventiveness, thus man creates. Imagine how tedious this world would seem if people wore the same clothes everyday, the same jewels on every occasion and so on. New things pulsate, and then only man survives.

This world has known dress designers and appreciated their creativity. Likewise, it has watched jewelry makers design the most elegant pieces of jewels the world has ever known.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Gold is what women love and beads is children’s ornamental force. Whether it comes to going out to the beach or attending wedding ceremony jewelry is the top most priority of women. Individuals have designed clothes on their own since centuries, while jewels have been the craftsmen’s job, with some exceptions of course. Jewelry making in factories and industries is common. Their designs are undoubtedly fine-looking yet they signal a droning affect. They work professionally and the designs are too typical because they are usually the replicas of what already is in the market.

Men and women stepping into the fashion line are now creating their own jewelry pieces. Any new trend that steps as an infant grows into an old being in a matter of days in the fashion industry. Girls and boys like amateur artists or musicians begin by taking a few broken beads, pieces of strings, using a few tools and end up creating fine jewelry designs. For young jewelry designers it is a tough competition in the market, their designs have to swim through oceans to reach the shore. It seems as though every person is more comfortable with making his own jewelry in his own line. In order to make something the only thing required is the desire to create. And mind has the power to create.

This trend probably drifted in the societies due to the increasing prices of jewels. A drastic change in the people’s choice can be yet another reason. Women are more social and work along with men, their dresses therefore have to be light and comfortable and the jewelry preference too has to be something compact, light weight and fashionable. An individual can have fun while being creative, what more, you can design something that you have always wanted and at a very economical, reasonable price.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for

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I don’t know if you already heard about the one new man created in Christ Himself from two. Actually, I heard of it for the first time when I attended a Bible Exposition held in Cebu City by the Church of Christ (Filipino: Iglesia Ni Cristo). I never heard about it during my days in the Roman Catholic Church eventhough I actively performed my duties as the Sacristan Mayor of the Parish of San Agustin, Diocese of Surigao Del Sur. And this teaching is not just a teaching of the Ministers of the Church of Christ but it is the teaching of the Apostles as written on the Holy Bible.

However, in sharing this truth to you, I need to ask the Bible and let the Bible answer our questions because it is the Bible know this truth much.

To begin with, let us ask the Bible: Did the Apostle really teach that Christ created in Himself a one new man? Apostle Paul answer:

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (Ephesians 2:15, NKJV)

According to him, a one new man was created in Christ Himself from the two. What is this ONE NEW MAN and what are the two referred to by Apostle Paul which composed the one new man? In Colossians 1:18, Apostle Paul’s answer is recorded:

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18, ibid)

The answer is: The two which are created into one new man are Christ and His Church and the one new man is Christ as head and the Church as Christ’s body.

So, it is already clear that Christ really created a one new man. But what is the purpose of Christ, why he created this? Apostle Paul answered it already on the first verse that we used.

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (Ephesians 2:15, NKJV)

According to him, it was done “to abolish the enmity, that is the law of commandment contained in ordinances and thus making peace”.

What is the law that Apostle Paul referred to in which when the one new man was created peace does exist? The answer is recorded in Deuteronomy 25:16.

16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deuteronomy 24:16, ibid)

The law states that anyone who committed sin will be put to death for their own sin. Is this the reason why Christ died for the sin of others? Absolutely Yes!

But wait! We already know that Christ died for the others but he never committed any sin, does it mean something contradiction?

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 ” Who committed no sin,

Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;[c] (I Peter 2:21-22, ibid)

It is true that Christ committed no sin, as stated on the verse above and that all of us (men) are sinners.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned- (Romans 5:12, ibid)

And that the wages of sin is death.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, ibid)

Since, all of us sinned, therefore each of us will be put to death because of our sin. In other words, no one will be saved on the day of judgment.

But God loved us, that is why He gave His Son to us to give us a chance to be saved on His wrath on the day of judgment.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, ibid)

And to save us, Christ created the one new man, as He the head and His Church as His body. In front of God, Christ and His Church is already one new man. For this reason Christ was made to be sin.

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21, ibid)

And it is now righteous for Christ to die for His Church.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:25, ibid)

Because His Church is already His body and that it is His obligation to be the savior of it.

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. (Ephesians 5:23, ibid)

If Christ died for all men inside His Church, then who will die for the sins of others who are outside His Church? Christ answered it.

24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24, ibid)

According to Him, they will die for their own sins.

Beside the truth that His Church is His body and He is the savior of it, why is it that Christ has no power to save those men outside His Church? Apostle Paul answered?

13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (I Corinthians 5:13, ibid)

According to Apostle Paul, outside God judges. And we already know from the truth revealed above what will be the judgment of God, that is, “each of them will die for their own sins”.

Therefore, it is not true that Christ died for the sin of all men on earth because the truth is Christ died for the sin of all men in His Church only. It is also not true that Christ will save men who are not part or members of His Church, because the truth is, Christ will save only His Church.

We should not forget the one new man created by Christ in Himself, and we should strive to become part of that one new man. Take note: Only the ONE NEW MAN is the one who will be saved on the day of judgment.

Sustines E. Laplana (SELaplana: ). Writing articles is his passion. And writing religious articles is his love, so that everyone will learn the truth taught by the Bible.

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One of my early childhood memories is the description my mother’s best friend and my father’s cousin revealed regarding my father’s reaction when I was born. Sharing a very close relationship with my father and him being among the kindest and toughest people I have encountered (a unique combination I must admit) I was shocked to hear that the day his first child was born he felt that his life has changed forever. In fact, my father is not the only man that experienced post-birth stress. Millions of fathers have experienced the feeling my father had when my mother’s best friend entered the room to announce that he was the proud father of a healthy daughter. At the moment the exciting news were revealed my father turned towards the window of the clinic were my mother has just given birth to me and replied with a calm voice “Now nothing will ever be the same.”

Stress can be caused from a variety of factors and most frequently these have to do with work-related issues and family or economic problems. But carrying your first child back home from the hospital and realizing that you are now responsible for another human being’s life, can be a tremendous shock men are not always capable of handling.

My father, like million other soon-to-be-parents, felt that his life-the life he has been experiencing up until that moment-was about to change dramatically and he was the only one of the responsible parties for this newborn baby that kept him awake during the night because of the crying. But, as days and months passed by, my father changed his views and saw that having a baby in the house was an amazing experience he now wants me to have at some point in my life.

Although he claims that he immediately realized the burden he had to carry for the rest of his life, he does not remember being stressed or annoyed. Even when his cousin teases him for his not so exciting reaction that day, he still supports that the only reason he was not jumping up and down from joy was the fact that he was awake all night waiting for my mother to deliver their baby into this world.

After having discussed with friends how it feels to ’suddenly’ become a father, since many of my friends that are couples are about to get married or have already given birth to their first child, I realized that becoming a parent is as stressful for a man as it is for a woman. Although the experience is totally different, men are extremely sensitive to such life-changing news, not because they will loose their freedom or peace, but mainly because they feel responsible probably for the first time in their lives. While women are usually ‘trained’ to take care of others, men-especially in my home country-possess a certain independence which they do not wish to loose for the sake of anybody. Thus, deciding to become a parent and be the ‘responsible’ or ‘wise’ member of the family, is usually a huge shock that takes men by surprise and leaves them breathless when they gaze their child’s eyes for the first time.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for

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