Alcohol Awareness Classes
Not all alcohol awareness classes are the same.  Depending on the design of the class and who offers the program, course curriculum can vary greatly.  Also, alcohol awareness or minor in possession classes might include different content depending on the intent of the program requirement.  For example, if you are taking a class for a court or legal requirement you likely want to find a program that is designed to meet those obligations vs. a general class that may or may not include all the content required by the court.

What do Alcohol Awareness Class do?
Taking an alcohol awareness class is not going to teach you how to stop drinking.  Yes, I said it, you are not going to stop an addiction simply by taking an educational class.  Learning to stop an addiction is not like having surgery, by which we remove an organ, and the problem is solved.  Ending an addiction may be a long journey for some (a shorter one for others), and takes time.  What alcohol awareness classes do is help educate the individual so that he/she has a better understanding of the risks, consequences and pitfalls to alcohol use.  Alcohol and drug addiction is serious business and becoming more aware is usually the first step.

Should Teens be Educated the Same as Adults?
Early intervention is key.  Studies show that the earlier kids are educated about the risks of alcohol and drug use, the lower the rates are of teen addiction.  As it relates to the courts, most courts will require minors to a "Minor in Possession class" class and usually a duration of either 8, 16, or 24 hours also referred to as a Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 class.   Programs for teens are an excellent way to help educate youth regardless of whether or not they have already been involved in an incident.  It's never too late to better understand the pitfalls of alcohol or drug addiction.

Where to Get Help for a Court Ordered Alcohol Awareness Class?
Many local courts will provide a list of local providers; however, many do not.  Alcohol and Drug Awareness Education is not the same as in-patient treatment.  Instead, alcohol awareness classes are educational in nature and in many cases can be taken online.  The advantages to taking an online class for your court requirement is that you can take the program anytime, from any location in the country.  You are also anonymous, so there is no confessing in front of a large group of people.  The educational content is usually the same as a live class, but much more affordable and easier to access.  Help can also be found by simply doing a Google search for "Alcohol Awareness Classes".

Whether you want or need to take an alcohol awareness class, drug education program or minor in possession class, participants should expect to gain skills in a variety of areas. Our programs are ideal for court or legal requirements, college or other school related needs, employment or occupational requirments, or simply for self-improvment.

Here are some of the most common topics covered in our classes:

• Introduction of course
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Risk Factors
• Patterns of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• The cost of Abuse and Addiction
• Personal cost of Alcohol or Drug related crimes
• Understanding Alcohol, Narcotics, Stimulants, Prescriptions, Marijuana, Methamphetamine and their effect on the body and mind.
• Health Risks of Alcohol and Drug Use
• How Drugs effect the Brain, Central Nervous System and internal organs
• Risk Factors for Men and Women and children
• Understanding the laws surrounding DUI's
• Understanding the differences between Use, Abuse, Addiction, Relapse and Prevention
• Communication Skills as Prevention
• Skills in Stress Management
• Stages of change and sustaining change
• Resources for finding help

Visit our website at Alcohol Drug Class and see what we have to offer.  Our courses are 100% online and can be accessed from any location in the U.S. with a computer and Internet access.  Corporate risk management programs are also available.

Why Take an 8 Hour Alcohol Awareness Class?
The 8 hour, level 1 drug and alcohol awareness class is one of the most popular programs requested.  This is due to several reasons.  Most first time offenders are required this length class as opposed to longer length programs such as an 16 hour, level two alcohol awareness class, or a 24 hour level 3 alcohol awareness program.  The 8 hour / session class is also very comprehensive and usually a good place to start for those that are not familiar with alcohol or drug education programs.  The course gives a good overview of the risks and consequences of alcohol and/or drug addiction.

Who Takes Longer Drug/Alcohol Awareness Classes?
Longer programs, such as the 16 hour (level 2) or 24 hour (level) programs are typically taken where there is either a more severe offense requiring such a class to be taken or the person simply wants a more expansive and comprehensive program.  The sixteen and twenty four hour classes require much more time and engagement in the program and are also a bit more difficult then the standard 8 hour course.

Not All Courses are for Legal Reasons!
Classes can be taken for a variety of reasons and not everyone taking an alcohol or drug education class is doing because they are required to for legal reasons.  Many college university's request that all students take these classes as part of an overall risk prevention strategy before starting their freshman year.  Because early prevention is key to reducing alcohol and drug abuse, an 8 hour educational class on alcohol awareness is often a smart, proactive choice on the part of the college administration.

Another reason people elect to take these classes is simply for personal growth or self-improvement.  Getting help for an addiction can often be challenging.  The beauty of an online class is that you don't have to confess your life to a group of strangers while still taking in a high quality learning experience.

Finding an Alcohol Awareness Class?
It's typically not difficult to find an alcohol awareness class, minor in possession (MIP, MIC) class or other drug education program.  These courses are commonly offered by most in/out patient treatment facilities.  They are also offered online by a select few reputable providers.  A simple Google search for "Alcohol Awareness Classes" might be a good place to start or by visiting Alcohol Drug Class

Getting alcohol and drug addiction or abuse under control is no easy task.  Mostly because by the time one becomes an addict they may already be in dential about it.  Here are a few suggestions to make yourself more aware of what you need to look out for in yourself and others:

1. Neglecting normal activities, these may include such as social or pleasurable interactions.  Those who become addicted to alcohol or drugs tend to withdrawl from what was once normal to them.

2. Accessive use.  Addiction is slow, but over time the addicted person will start using more and more to get drunk or high.

3. Poor control.  While you may want to stop or have made efforts to stop, you can't seem to do it.

4. Time spend around alcohlol or drugs.  Addicts tend to find or make more time around their habits.  Are you hanging out with more using friends and not spending as much time with those you really care about or love?

5. Experiencing withdrawl.  This occurs when you try and stop and you feel nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety when you don't use for an extended period of time.

6. Increased tolerance.  This happens when you need to use more to get the same effect.  Perhaps 3 beers got you buzzed, but not it takes 10.

While in patient or out patient treatment may be an option, considing an online drug and alcohol awareness class might be your first step.

It's important to understand the impact alcohol (and drugs) have on us in our daily lives.  Unfortunately, by the time you become a statistic, it's already too late.  In fact, by the time a statistic is even developed, it's probably too late.

Here are some interesting facts about alcohol.  In a recent study of 5th and 6th grade students, half were shown ads for beer, while the second half was not.  The students who saw the ads held the most favorable views about drinkings and vocalized that they thought they would drink more when they got old enough.  Scary isn't it?

Another staggering statistic is that there are an estimated 6.6 million children under the age of 18 who live in homes where one of the parents is an alcoholic.  Moreover, we know that children who grow up in alcoholic homes are more than 3x more likely to develop a problem with alcohol then children who grew up around parents who were not alcoholics.  Even more staggering is that 80% of high school seniors claim they have used alcohol and over 63% of them say they have been drunk.

The United States holds the record for the most cases of alcohol poisoning of any country in the world, with about 50 thousand cases each year!  At least one person dies every week from alcohol poisoning.  While it can take up to 15 years for classical cases of alcoholism to develop, those who start early can become addicted much sooner.

The key to getting alcohol (and drug) consumption under control can be done in a variety of ways.  One of the best methods is to take an alcohol awareness classes.  For those that are under 21, the taking a Minor in Possession class might be a better alternative choice.  Other options include attending AA meetings or participating in an in/out patient treatment program.

Both men and women abuse alcohol, but men lead the pack with almost 2.5 times the rate of alcoholism compared to women.  There are over 9.8 million men reported as alcoholics compared to 3.9 million women.  Not shocking, 67% of complaints at work are filed as the result of an alcohol related incident.

Don't let yourself become a statisic.  Get the help you need today by learning how to be more aware and educated about alcohol through online alcohol classes