Few things are as politically charged these days as driving under the influence has become, with little wonder. Nearly 10,000 people lose their lives in accidents involving impaired drivers annually, yet this is but one cost of alcohol abuse. This drug has destroyed many lives, a main reason that the sobriety house Asheville serves such an important purpose.

Most people have a preconceived notion of what an alcoholic looks like; the unkempt panhandler at the street corner panhandling. The reality, and the cause for concern, is that anyone one comes in contact with throughout the day could be alcohol dependent. It is not possible to identify someone with the disease by looking at them or even interacting with them.

It took many decades before the medical community even accepted alcoholism as a disease. The symptoms are extremely specific to each individual, and even finding a consistent pattern can be difficult. The medical community has settled on a definition that is in art physical and in part sociological, centering on the continuance of use following decline in health or status.

People reassure themselves with such comments as having never had a drink before 5:00 PM, and the response may well be that they nearly always have one by five minutes after 5:00 PM. Because it such a common social event, people can very easily have a problem and never be detected. It is however, a very thin line to walk, with the vulnerability of having an episode that can ruin a life always near.

The problem is insidious, and changes the chemistry in the brain permanently. One who has the disease can successfully quite drinking, but will be continuously tempted to restart. If they do begin drinking again, the result is not as if they start at the level they had when they quit, but as if they had never quit at all.

For people who are approaching dependency, it is a very difficult thing to simply stop consuming, the temptations are everywhere, and coworkers can become uncomfortable when one suddenly decides drinking is unnecessary. In truth, many are quietly asking themselves the question of whether or not they drink too much. But the commercial promotion of alcohol is a powerful and effective force.

In order to become free of the burdens and consequences of alcoholism, one must first recognize the problem and decide that sobriety is truly a desired state. No one can make someone else end their dependence on alcohol, it is a deeply personal decision. Having made this difficult choice, it is important to reach out for help, and usually association with others who have been through the process is a successful path.

For some, though they are loath to admit it, even the first step of sobering up can be a painful experience best accomplished with medical help. After the drug is completely out of the system, finding a place that is safe for recovery, with supportive associates, can be even more difficult. That is when places like the sobriety house Asheville can be absolutely critical to the recovery process, helping to prevent a relapse which would mean starting over again.