For the past several months, the daily economic news has been grim. We hear about more job losses, foreclosures, home sales down, food prices soar, the stock market goes up and down. These are extraordinarily difficult times for everyone, and in some way everyone is affected by the situation. The never-ending stress taps into your energy and saps your strength; it tests your faith and leaves you confused. Families without the added stressors of alcohol or drugs will pull together; they will make some sacrifices as they grumble and complain, but in the end these families will more than likely survive the current economy.   

What about the alcoholic? More importantly, what about the children living with an alcoholic? Research has confirmed that alcoholics lack coping skills. When faced with problems, the alcoholic will turn to the bottle. Most of us have seen the destructive dysfunction that results from alcohol or drug abuse. What happens when the alcoholic faces a job loss or pay cut, or loses the important health insurance? These situations exceed the “normal” stress of life and will most likely find the alcoholic turning to the bottle more often and in larger quantities.  

The National Runaway Switchboard has reported that there has been an alarming increase in calls over the past year. The callers have been increasingly younger. These victims have reported abuse and neglect with alcohol a common denominator in many cases. With the increased stress from the economy, there has been an increase in alcohol and drug abuse. With increased alcohol and drug abuse, we have seen more violent outbursts. The sad result has been child abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, the weak economy has also reduced the funding for shelters and self-help organizations.  

As we all know, eventually there will be more jobs and stocks will go up. We can all go eat lobster and see a movie. The economy will bounce back and up! In the interim, we need to ask ourselves a question: what about the children living in alcoholic homes during these tough times? Will their self-esteem ever be restored? What are the permanent lasting affects on these future leaders? We all need to be aware of the far reaching affects of a “bad” economy. Recent research indicated that children of alcoholics not only risk becoming an alcoholic but are more likely to abuse drugs.  

We must pay attention to friends and family members that may need some extra help, and possibly intervention, during this tough time. Teachers, church leaders and adults that come in contact with children, stay watchful and pay attention to children that may be living in an alcoholic home. The turmoil in an alcoholic home can create guilt, shame and confusion for the children. These children try desperately to keep this ugly family secret, yet more than anything they need a trusted adult that will listen to them. Encouragement and support will begin their journey on the road to recovery.  

We are all in this together, and we need to help each other. If we turn our backs on these children in need, the economy will recover but a huge segment of our society will not.  

Question by ghost: Who is the Catholic Priest that is in all the Alcoholics Anonymous videos, and books?
I was made to watch the same Catholic Priest in rehab, and out patient classes for months. He has been dead for 10-15 years but he is in a lot of video’s, warning about the dangers of alcohol abuse. He tends to crack jokes every so often. Some of the jokes are good, some aren’t.

Oh, and if you know who he is could you give me a little history on him?

Thanks

I can’t remember his name. They called him Father something?
No I don’t believe it was Father Ed Dowling. I thought his name was Father Thomas, but I can’t find anything on a Father Thomas.
Right, Father Martin!

Best answer:

Answer by Eric (Rockin’ Rick)
Who cares, 12 stepping is complete bull anyway.
AA is a cult.

Father Ed Dowling?

What do you think? Answer below!

Isaiah House has helped hundreds in the last decade
Isaiah House is the only state-accredited, Christ-centered recovery program for drug and alcohol abuse, according to Andy Ayers, an executive assistant for the men's program and also the LaPalmes' son-in-law. “Our mission is to provide the best …
Read more on Central Kentucky News

Once promising athlete working to overcome field of broken dreams
Editor's note: The Advocate-Messenger recently visited the Isaiah House, a Christian recovery program for men and women struggling with drug addictions and alcoholism. This is the first installment of a four-part series. All people interviewed agreed …
Read more on Central Kentucky News

You are here
Christians in Recovery: Faith-based support group meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Rye Hill Baptist Church, 11512 Old U.S. 71 South; 646-1044. Course in Miracles: Support group meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal … Drug and …
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Question by dancingwiththestars: what do you think of nicole kidman’marriage?
MUSIC NEWS

© AP
Keith Urban
Keith Urban Checks Into Rehab
Oct 20, 3:30 PM EST

The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Keith Urban has checked himself into a rehabilitation treatment center for alcohol abuse, less than four months after his marriage to actress Nicole Kidman.

The Grammy-winning country singer released a statement Friday that said he entered rehab Thursday night with his wife by his side. His publicist would not give the location of the rehab center.

“I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones that love and support me,” Urban said in the statement.

Urban, who turns 39 on Oct. 26, has publicly acknowledged a former addiction to cocaine.

“One can never let one’s guard down on recovery, and I’m afraid that I have,” the statement read.

Urban’s new CD, “Love, Pain, & the whole crazy thing,” will be released Nov. 7 as scheduled, but he will postpone all upcoming promotional appearances.

Urban will also likely cancel a scheduled appearance on the Country Music Association awards next month, the publicist said.

Kidman and Urban, who were both raised in Australia, married on June 25 in Sydney. They then moved to Nashville, where Urban records.

Urban won a Grammy this year for best male country vocalist for “You’ll Think of Me,” and was named top male vocalist for the second year in a row by the Academy of Country Music.

A Country Weekly magazine reader poll this year named him country music’s sexiest man.

Sample & download Urban’s music

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Best answer:

Answer by the robber and 40 Alibabas
congratulation, nicole

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Tanning Mom Patricia Krentcil 'enters rehab for alcohol abuse' after being …
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Why She Drinks: Women and Alcohol Abuse
A.A. was founded in 1935 by two men who believed that alcohol dependence could be tamed by regular attendance at group meetings with other recovering alcoholics. Its doctrine calls for members to tame their egos, abstain from all drinking and …
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Inpatient alcohol rehab is for severe alcoholics who for a multitude of reasons cannot abstain from drinking. It is usually only severe alcoholics who will sign themselves in for inpatient alcohol rehab. In some cases the alcoholic will have no choice because they may have been ordered to take inpatient alcohol rehab by a court of law or they may have been taken into an alcohol rehabilitation program because they have become ill from the effects of alcohol abuse.

The first part of any alcohol rehabilitation treatment is alcohol detoxification. Alcohol detoxification is the process of removing all of the toxins that have been built up in the body by alcohol abuse. These toxins are responsible for the cravings that alcoholic will get when he has not had a drink. Alcohol detoxification is a controlled way of enabling the patient to deal with the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

The next part of the alcohol rehabilitation is trying to discover why the patient is addicted to alcohol. There will be daily therapy sessions in which the alcoholic will try to understand the fundamental causes behind their addiction and the patient will also be helped to develop a plan of action which they will carry forward once they leave the inpatient alcohol rehab program. It is important that the patient stays in the program for as long as possible. This is because the patient will have far better chance of successful alcohol rehab if they have spent a long enough time in therapy. Of course inpatient alcohol rehab is only the beginning. Once the patient leaves the program they should begin to get help on the outside to deal with any problems that might arise.