{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 23: Alcoholism costs and treatments discussed with Dr. Luis Giuffra","description":"\r\n\r\nIn honor of April being Alcohol Awareness month, you will hear a frank discussion of the toll that alcoholism and addiction take on many lives, in the form of monetary and emotional costs to our society and our loved ones. My guest for this journey is Dr. Luis Giuffra, who holds both an M.D. and a Ph.D., and who has been a practicing psychiatrist and mental health educator for more than three decades. He is also the founder and current medical director for Clayton Behavioral Center, an outpatient psychiatric clinic that specializes in mental health and addiction treatment in Missouri. Dr. Giuffra is also a professor of clinical psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. \r\n \r\nYou'll hear about the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse in America and some sobering statistics regarding the scope of the problem. We talk about ways to determine if alcohol is becoming a problem. This includes signs to look for, as well as the difference between a low-risk and a high-risk drinkers and the importance of behavior and consequences in determining the extent of the problem. \r\n \r\nDr. Giuffra explains the physical reasons why many alcoholics are in denial and how friends and family members can know whether it's time for an intervention. You'll hear why some alcoholics need to hit "rock bottom" before they can change their behavior.  \r\n \r\nNext, we discuss children and alcoholism and why the younger they start, the more likely they are to have a lifelong problem. Dr. Giuffra offers up more staggering statistics to support not giving alcohol to minors. \r\n \r\nThe conversation isn’t all bad news, however, as Dr. Giuffra explains that it is possible to get better, if the alcoholic lets the brain heal through extended sobriety. He explains the biological effects of alcoholism and treatment options available. That leads to a lot of information about Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), including how it started and why it's effective. \r\nDr. Giuffra offers some sage advice regarding how those who have a loved one with an alcohol problem can help them alleviate that problem. \r\nTo read more about this episode or check out other guests and topics, visit surivivinghealthcarepodcast.com\r\n ","author_name":"Surviving Healthcare","author_url":"http:\/\/survivinghealthcare.libsyn.com\/webpage","html":"