Should being drunk in public from alcohol intoxication be a crime?

What Is Legal Alcohol Intoxication?

Legal alcohol intoxication is a definition that varies across cities, states and countries.  In fact, there is no common way that legal jurisdictions define what it means to be intoxicated by alcohol in public.  This makes it hard to define what it actually MEANS to be intoxicated by alcohol in public.

What’s more, doctors even have problems diagnosing intoxication, because specific blood alcohol content or alcohol consumption in and of themselves do not define intoxication.  Instead, medical definitions of alcohol intoxication are linked to displays of impairment, as are legal definitions.

As a result, alcohol intoxication is rarely legally defined using scientific terms that are precise (except for blood alcohol levels that define use of a motor vehicle).  This makes intoxication in public very subjective to define.  In other words, law enforcement officers can and do base their decisions on whether a person is drunk or not on the BEHAVIORS associated with intoxication.  This is how laws can become subject to interpretation in the hands of the police.

Docile Vs. Disruptive Drunks

People who are drunk in public can be either docile or cause disruption.  In disruptive cases, drunk people disturb the peace by being loud, causing fights, destruction of property, etc.  And in these cases, it seems pretty clear that disruptive drunks break social code by comitting anti-social acts.  But what about the docile drunks?  Is the mere POTENTIAL for disorderly conduct and the ASSUMPTION that drunks in public will disturb the peace enough to arrest and charge someone for intoxication?

Is Drunkenness Itself a Crime?

Laws exist to protect the public.  But docile drunks seem to do harm to no one but themselves.  So should we really punish people who are harming themselves?

Laws about Being Drunk Enforce Moral Judgments

The degree to which a society can accept another person’s personal choice is the degree to which that society shows tolerance.  When being drunk in public becomes a crime, simply for the sheer moral judgment that drunkenness (not the behavior associated with intoxication) is not acceptable, a society declares that it does not respect personal choice and that it will control the behavior of its people through governance. 

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

Depression Can Be a Threshold for Transformation

‘Depression can be a threshold for transformation.’ Robert Hunt explores the illness and shares his insight and expertise on how to turn your life around.

Depression is a mental illness that has a bad rap. It comes with a stigma and, for many, depression feels like a life sentence of pain. Most who experience depression don’t even realize they are depressed until it turns into having thoughts of suicide and death. And, even if someone recognizes that they are feeling depressed, he or she is often shy about admitting it or getting help because of the stigma that mental illness carries.

However, experiencing depression can serve as a gateway for change. It can be a turning point for a new life. First, from a clinical perspective, depression is treatable(!), meaning that this illness can turn around. Depression doesn’t have to weigh someone down for the rest of his or her life. With psychotherapy, the right medication, and other lifestyle changes, such as exercise, depression can lift and life can be joyful.

Perhaps it’s best to begin by reviewing the symptoms of depression to help identify what depression feels like. Depression is a persistent experience of feeling down, despondent, or low. In order to be diagnosed with depression, there are clear behavioral criteria that a person must exhibit. Some of these include:

·         A depressed mood

·         Irritability

·         Guilt

·         Loss of interest in activities

·         Social withdrawal

·         Suicidal thoughts

·         Poor concentration

·         Poor memory

·         Indecision

·         Slow thinking

·         Loss of motivation

·         Sleep disturbance – insomnia / hypersomnia

·         Appetite disturbance – weight loss/gain

·         Fatigue

·         Headaches

·          

Someone doesn’t have to have all of these symptoms but having some of these consistently can indicate depression. Yet, even if you uncover that you’re depressed, if you didn’t already know it, depression doesn’t have to be a curse upon your life. It can be the very means for turning your life around.

This change might begin by diving into yourself. Often, depression is a way of being cut off from who you are, which is frequently a result of having had a destructive life. For instance, the difficult experiences of an abusive childhood, a life of addiction, growing up among strong criticism, living with intense guilt, and/or experiencing abandonment early in life can be situations that destroy the spark of life within. These situations and others can create thought patterns and beliefs like “I’m at fault”, “I’m not loveable”, “I’m not worth being loved”, or “My life isn’t worth anything”.

Of course, none of these statements are true for anyone! Although it might feel true temporarily because of the circumstances you endured, there is always a greater truth to be found. For this reason, uncovering who you are beneath the challenging circumstances, beyond the thought patterns, can be an essential part of healing depression. For instance, discovering what you’re passionate about, tapping into your strengths, and diving into your creativity can help turn depression into discovering joy. Essentially, finding out who you are and discovering your particular uniqueness can help brush away the debris of depression so that your inner light shines.

In fact, some clinicians feel that the presence of mental illnesses is indicative of our time. The prevalence of depression and anxiety are so common and the rates of occurrence are only increasing. Some experts say that it is Western culture itself, which is focused more on productivity than on personal relationships.

Depression might be the result of a collective disconnect that is pervasive throughout society. Today, men and women tend to have less sunshine and more computer light, less time with family and more time with strangers and co-workers, less real foods and more processed foods because they are too busy to make a meal. There seems to be a relationship between the growing urbanization of the world and the increase in mental illnesses. Perhaps it is the inaccessible beaches and parks that are common to cities. Perhaps it is the distance from nature, from others, and from oneself. Many individuals today are focused on their individual lives, lost in their smart phones, and shifting their attention from one piece of technology to another. There’s no real connection that is satisfying and psychologically nourishing.

It’s important to point this out too in order to say that if you are experiencing depression, you’re not alone. And, depression doesn’t only arise from your particular life; it’s a part of the collective experience we as human beings share. Knowing this alone can be empowering and perhaps provide the encouragement to reach into yourself and find the power that is waiting to be utilized.

If you’re feeling inspired to turn your life around, you should know that there are some traditional ways that depression is treated, which you may want to explore in addition to diving into yourself. For instance, the use of medication combined with psychotherapy has been incredibly successful for many individuals. Certain anti-depressants, known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRI’s, can increase levels of serotonin and ease depressive symptoms. Other forms of anti-depressants can also be useful.

However, sometimes medication alone act as a band-aid. Anti-depressants can help lift the symptoms of depression but not address the underlying issues that need healing. For this reason, psychotherapy is useful. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a tool to identify negative and distorted thinking patterns that might contribute to a depressed mood. This successful form of therapy emphasizes the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and more importantly, it attempts to change harmful thoughts for life-affirming ones. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a form of therapy that helps treat depression by exploring in detail the nature of one’s relationships. IPT is based upon the idea that regardless of genetics, depression develops within the context of relationships. Other forms of therapy that might be useful are Psychoanalysis and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression.  Mindfulness is the practice of becoming intimately aware of one’s inner and outer experience, which can also help with restoring the relationship with oneself.

Healing depression takes time. It’s not going to lift overnight. In fact, there might be some steps backwards even though you’re climbing upward and onward. For many people, healing from depression is more than just healing from an illness; it’s healing your life. It’s walking through the darkness in order to find the light, and making that kind of journey is none other than a heroic one.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

What’s The Connection Between Addiction And Mood Disorders?

Mental health disorders are far more common among addicts than they are among the general population, and mood disorders specifically very commonly co-occur with substance abuse. Depression and bipolar disorder are frequently accompanied by heavy drinking, abuse of painkillers or sedatives, and/or use of a combination of different substances. When this occurs, the effect can be significantly impaired mental health symptoms due to the combined effects of substance abuse and the mental health disorder.

A co-occurring mood disorder with alcoholism or drug addiction can make treatment a challenge. So what can you do if you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of the need for dual diagnosis treatment? The most effective way to address both issues and stop the untreated disorder from sabotaging progress in the treatment of the other disorder is to enroll in a dual diagnosis rehab program that provides comprehensive care for both disorders simultaneously.

Self-Medication

Many patients first experience symptoms of a mood disorder and attempt to use drugs and alcohol to “medicate” those symptoms. Because the symptoms of depression or the anger or mood swings associated with bipolar disorder are uncomfortable, patients may attempt to drink to change their mood or in an attempt simply to feel better.

In the same way, some patients may turn to prescription drugs like opiate painkillers or benzodiazepines, but ultimately find that nothing helps them deal with their symptoms effectively or for the long-term. Many, in fact, instead find that drug use only worsens the symptoms, but rather than turn to a more effective solution, the pull of substance abuse can create an even deeper hole of isolation and despair.

Substance Abuse as the Primary Disorder

For some patients, drinking and drug use may have appeared before the symptoms of their mood disorder began to manifest. Diagnosable signs of these disorders don’t usually begin until the early adult years, but prior to diagnosis, many patients begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Though it can begin as a social experiment, patients may develop a substance abuse problem that accentuates the issues stemming from their mood disorder. Unfortunately, the following problems can result when the two disorders are co-occurring:

·         Worsened mental health symptoms

·         Intensified cravings for drugs and alcohol

·         Increased periods of depression

·         Increased difficulty during detox

Treatment for Addiction and Mood Disorders

The natural inclination of many patients is to attempt to isolate and treat either the mood disorder or the substance abuse problem, depending upon which one appears to be most intrusive in their day-to-day lives. Though this may seem easier than taking on a comprehensive treatment program that addresses both issues, it ultimately only creates more work and longer time spent in treatment. A treatment program that attempts to isolate the issues attached to just the substance abuse disorder, (addiction and depression for example), won’t be as effective as one that recognizes that the symptoms caused by the mood disorder are intense triggers.

Many patients will relapse because they are not getting help in addressing those symptoms in a healthier fashion. Similarly, those who attempt to treat the mood disorder while continuing to drink or use drugs will find that little progress will be made in managing their mental health symptoms because their substance use continually offsets the value of therapy and/or medication. This is why the need for dual diagnosis and specifically designed programs for its treatment exist. Mood disorders are best treated simultaneously with substance abuse issues.

Questions about Mood and Substance Use Disorders

At Shafa Home, we offer a comprehensive and personalized treatment program for patients who are struggling with a mood disorder and substance abuse. Your journey into recovery from both disorders can begin today. Get in touch with our resident counselors now.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

Lonely, addicted, depressed – Who cares?

Life can be overwhelming. Look around your community and see that depression, suicide, and addictions are on the increase. Clearly people are hurting and feel alone with their pain. But who cares? Maybe you feel there’s nothing you can do that would make a difference. Admittedly you may not be able to change the earth, but you may be able to change how someone feels about themselves and their world.

No matter how small your gesture, it can make a difference to someone. A smile costs nothing but it may just brighten someone’s day. A sympathetic ear can help someone feel that they are not alone with their problem. An offer of help may give someone an extra boost to achieve their dream. It’s not important how you show you care, as long as you do. For when you do, you initiate a chain of kindness that is passed on to others and it is this collective caring that creates change.

Sometimes though it isn’t the lack of care or love that is the concern, it is the ability to receive it that is difficult. If you’ve experienced rejection you can be left with a lack of trust which forms a barrier to accepting any level affection. I went through many years convincing myself I didn’t want anyone to love for me out of pure fear that I would attach to their love only to have it ripped away from me. And even believing that someone would want to care was improbable. How could anyone care about me when my own mother had physically abandoned me and mentally killed me off in her mind? Yet I did need someone to care. I needed it desperately. Yet whilst I was too terrified to take the risk to reach out, it was impossible for anyone to reach in. The combination of depression and alcoholism constructed an emotional barricade that was impenetrable.

Unfortunately my mental fortress served only to trap me further in my own cycle of despair by restricting me to living each day based only on my experiences of rejection and abuse. Worse, it prevented any chance of allowing healing or restoration. There was only one way that I was going to ever be able to be helped and that was for the walls to come down. Of course this was an inevitability that I hadn’t the courage to face, and so it was my mental breakdown that resulted in the collapse of my barriers. As they came crushing down, my vulnerability was exposed and I waited for the end of my life to come.

But it didn’t. Because someone cared. Professionals stepped in and there were friends who stood by me. They cared for me when I didn’t care. They loved me when I was at my most unlovable. They believed in me when I was unable to believe in myself. Over time I learnt how to renew my boundaries in a positive way. Life stopped being simply a battle against the bad, and became a home for the good.

Most importantly I found a faith founded in unconditional love. God cared. He loved me and done all along. When I was willing to receive the love that had been waiting for me, I was then able to heal.  And as I handed over my past, present and future into the security of His hands, so I found the refuge I had longed for. Today I am safe in His care.  We all need someone to care for us. But that love needs to be rooted in truth. And it needs to be given freely. A word of warning – if someone is showing you that they care only to want something from you in return, then it isn’t genuine. Steer clear.

Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for females, nasha mukti, psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like gambling, internet etc.

‘Who cares?’ 

I do. I care.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)