More about labels

In fact, you're out of order if you didn't drink beer as a Marine. That's when I got started and never knew a Marine that didn't. But you're forgiven and may I praise you for it. Except how could you do the stupid things we did unless you did something? I remember one time a car-load of us were coming back to Camp LeJeune from town, and we saw a bear cub running along the tree line, I made like I was going to jump out of the moving car to wrestle it and the guys held me back back because they thought I was serious! In Nam I used to "cool" my beer in the river. How stupid! But hey, they were for sale, our camp was close by and the weapons were at hand. Sorry to hear about your dad, BUT you just proved that it's not necessarily an inherited trait. Mine drank from childhood for many years and then dropped it as if it was nothing. I think this is a fascinating subject and when I get back I hope to get all into it.

Gotcha again.

I said I never developed a taste for it, never said I never drank it!

TRICKY! Veeery tricky!

A true addiction will cause physiological changes in the body if it doesn't receive it, be it drugs, alcohol, the junk in tobacco, whatever.

The brain pretty much controls whatever we do, so in that sense I suppose it is the brain that craves it, but it most definitely is a physical need.

A non-drinking alcoholic simply means that he is not drinking right now. If he were to have that one drink, the physical craving would start up again poste-haste (and I use the editorial 'he'). Not drinking doesn't change the fact that he is indeed an alcoholic.

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Jarhead! What do you mean HE? --just kidding. Did you ever get to see the movie, "The Days of Wine and Roses"? It's a classic. I can't remember those old actors, but it's great about this subject and the effects of drinking, etc... (don't you just love that mental chick?)

M'lady, you're so right inyour assessment. Were you medical? I have to tell you my heroes when I was active were the CB's and the Corpsmen. Those were true heroes and they were probably the best the Navy ever produced.

Oh, I'm fully aware that if you are an alcoholic, you are one for life. But, once the alcoholic's body is completely free of alcohol, they stop their shaking and DT's. It's the withdrawling from the alcohol that causes those symptoms.

Alcohol remains in the body for 30 days, did you know that? I used to work with a group called C.O.D.E. (Committee on Drug Education). I learned ALL the facts about alcohol.

Even when the alcoholic has not had any alcohol for over 30 days, their brain is still craving it and, yes, one drink can send them right back into their tailspin.

It's exactly the same with any other drug. Withdrawal is the hardest part. Once you get through that, the body actually doesn't need it to function, even though the brain is still craving it.

I believe you about the 30 days thing. I once met with a Navy psychologist that had been involved with a major study at Bethesda where they said that the effects of alcohol on the brain last up to three weeks or more, the depression, etc.
That was probably 15 yrs ago, so goodness knows what they may know about now.

Mech, if you're referring to me being in the medical field, no. As you recall, corpsmen were Navy. I just know a bit about life through my own experiences.

I graduated cumlaude from the school of hard knocks, doncha know.

(would you believe that myLot wouldn't let me type the word kum?)