More Serious Ailments?
Dateline: 06/18/97
Just last week, CNN
reviewed an article in the Journal of American Medical
Association which said, "It's smoking that kills alcoholics." Another
article we discovered this week warned recovering folks against
drinking too much coffee, because caffeine can "mimic alcohol's negative
physiological and psychological effects."
Whoa, there Buddy, you can talk all you want about sobriety and
recovery, but don't be saying anything about my coffee and cigarettes!
I can't be worrying myself with those minor issues, I have to concentrate
on more important matters like staying sober... says so right in the
Big Book!
Yep, it sure does. From Chapter Nine of the book,
Alcoholics Anonymous:
Of course our friend was wrong — dead wrong. He had to painfully admit that and mend his spiritual fences. Though he is now
a most effective member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he still smokes and drinks coffee, but neither his wife nor anyone else
stands in judgment. She sees she was wrong to make a burning issue out of such a matter when his more serious ailments were
being rapidly cured.
The
CNN article said
Mayo Clinic researchers looked into the fates of people who got
treatment for alcoholism 10 to 20 years ago and found that more
than half of those who had since died did so from a tobacco-related
disease. Comparatively, only a third were killed by diseases linked
to alcohol, and overall, the smokers died at more than double the
rate of the general population.
Other
research has indicated there is a direct relationship between cigarette cravings
and alcohol, meaning that while the alcoholic was still drinking, he probably
developed a stronger addiction to nicotine than most folks.
Now there are also indications that caffeine carries its own dangers to
the alcoholic, recovering or otherwise. One thing is certain: caffeine
is an addictive substance.
A
study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that even
people who consume moderate amounts of caffeine daily (about two and
one-half cups of caffeinated coffee, or 235
milligrams of caffeine) suffer withdrawal effects, such as headaches,
low energy and depression. More severe
withdrawal symptoms afflict heavy caffeine users.
But most importantly, caffeine can become a substitute substance
for the recovering alcoholic, standing in the way of complete physical,
emotional and spiritual recovery.
What??? Wait a minute, there ain't an A.A. meeting on Earth that
doesn't have a coffee machine in good working order and you have to
go out of the way to find non-smoking meetings in most places. You
can't be serious! Staying sober is important; smoking cigarettes and
drinking coffee is no big deal!
The consumption of coffee and cigarettes surely does not cause the
problems that the consumption of alcohol can cause in the life of an
alcoholic, but there is growing evidence that caffeine and nicotine
may be more dangerous to his physical health than alcohol ever was.
But forget about the health consideration for a moment. What about the
spiritual implications of continuing to allow a substance to remain in
control of your life? An addiction is an addiction, even if it is legal and socially
acceptable.
Can we really say that we have had a "spiritual awakening" and have been
"restored to sanity" by a Higher Power when we still have an active addiction
in our lives?
It's a question to ponder. Here is more information that
may be of help in making a decision:
Health Issues
Alcoholics Anonymous has always encouraged placing
the focus on staying sober above all else, but new medical evidence
seems to indicate some alcoholics may face even more serious health issues.
Here is a case in point: One of our friends is a heavy smoker and coffee drinker. There was no doubt he over- indulged. Seeing
this, and meaning to be helpful, his wife commenced to admonish him about it. He admitted he was overdosing these things, but
frankly said that he was not ready to stop. His wife is one of those persons who really feels there is something rather sinful
about these commodities, so she nagged, and her intolerance finally threw him into a fit of anger. He got drunk.
Was she wrong? Remember, the "Big Book" was written in the 1930's! Medical
science has learned much more since then about the adverse effects of
nicotine and caffeine (and many other addictive substances) on the
human body. New research seems to indicate that more alcoholics die from
smoking-related diseases than drinking-related ones.
Cravings
Researchers find a link between cigarette cravings
and alcohol consumption.
Smoking Cessation
After reading all of this, you might want to visit my
friend Christine over at the Smoking Cessation site on
The Mining Co..
Long-term alcohol abuse can bring about a myriad of other health problems.
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