Q: Someone who has an "alcohol problem" may not have crossed the threshold into full alcoholism. An alcohol problem can be addressed and overcome by someone on his own, but alcoholism is a disease that cannot be cured. This requires outside intervention to control. Alcoholics usually show these signs:  Problems at work and school, such as showing up late or not showing up at all due to hangovers. Frequent blackouts after heavy drinking. Legal problems due to drinking, such as arrests for being drunk in public or drunk driving. Inability to leave a glass of alcohol half full or to be around alcohol without drinking it. Planning schedules around drinking and hangovers that follow. Relationships that have been harmed due to the person's alcohol use. Craving alcohol first thing in the morning and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Once you've decided to talk to the person about his or her drinking habits, practice exactly what you'll say. Keep it brief, non-judgemental, and detailed. This will keep the other person from zoning off if you talk too long and keep him from feeling as though you're emotionally ganging up on him.  Try to remember a few key sentences that are important to you. For example, you could say, "I love you and I'm worried that you're hurting your health by binging on the weekends. I'll support you in getting the help you need."  It may also help to have a group of trusted friends to help you talk to your loved one. Be careful that they do not feel ganged up on, however. If you've noticed some signs of alcoholism, have a talk with the person and tell him that you're worried. Explain that his behavior is affecting other people and that it's time to stop drinking for his own good and the good of the family. Tell him about the problems that his drinking is causing.  Pick a time to talk when the person hasn't been drinking. Speaking in the morning is usually best. It's alright to talk if the person is feeling hungover. Bring up the fact that the person is harming his body by making it sick day in and day out. Be prepared for denial. Alcoholics typically deny there is much if any problem with his or her alcohol intake. He or she is unlikely to acknowledge the issue, or take it seriously until he or she is ready. While you should keep attempting to bring truth and reality to the person, be prepared for the fact this is unlikely to be the day. When you're talking to the person about his drinking habits, don't start by accusing or judging the person. Avoid constantly nagging about the drinking problem, since this could just make it worse. Arguing will make it harder for the person to open up to you about the reasons for drinking.  Be warned this will likely trigger a personal attack or personal criticism. Part of an alcoholic's defense against fully recognizing what negative effects his or her behaviors are having is often by making other people the reason he or she drinks. As a result, commonly any comment that there is a problem will be countered that the "problem" is the issue (such as work or spouse), not the person. Try listening honestly and be reasonable. This, of course, is much easier said than done. But it is hard to get angry at someone who is being pleasant, accepting, and honest.    You do not have to accept blame or abuse. Healthy boundaries are important in dealing with an alcoholic, as often this is lacking with a person dealing with alcohol issues. Even if there are problems that have contributed to alcohol issues (relationship issues, for instance), 'you did not cause the alcoholism'. Nor is it acceptable to act in an cruel, manipulative, irresponsible, or otherwise abusive way.  You have every right to walk away or otherwise disengage from an alcoholic acting in such a manner. This is not "being mean" or "abandoning" the person. If the alcoholic does not have to face that such behavior has a negative effect on his or her life, he or she is likely to keep drinking. When you're talking about his drinking, be sure to ask if there are problems or things that stress him, leading him to drink. You should also find out if the person has a good support system. If not, you may want to suggest getting group help.  The person may not want to discuss the issue that leads to the drinking or might deny there's even a problem.  Understand, however, that alcohol use fundamentally changes a person, often to the point it is hard to know what is due to drinking, and what is the real person inside. Alcohol can cause irrational behavior, poor decision-making, and muddy thinking. This can still continue even when an alcoholic is not currently swigging a drink. Asking an alcoholic "why did you do that?" may not yield useful answers. The "answer" may simply be "because of the alcoholism." It is OK if you still do not understand. You may not be able to, and you may not be in the best position to do so. Just loving a person a lot does not mean you can fix them. For example: A 14 year old may not be able to understand the world the way a 41 year old can. A person who has not been in combat cannot fully comprehend what it is like to see a comrade die in battle. Alcoholism is a complex disease, and one of the difficulties is the paradoxical nature of it; "forcing or or trying to shame the person into sobriety is unlikely to work." In fact, it may actually lead the person to drink more.  You need to understand that you cannot stop the person from drinking. But you can suggest and assist the person in finding help.  This does not, however, mean you help the person get alcohol, or condone him or her using it.
A: Look for signs of alcoholism. Practice what you'll say. Talk to the person. Avoid argument, judgement, or nagging. Try to understand the person. Do not try to force the person to stop drinking.

Q: Before you bring your batteries in, make sure to call the facility for information on their hours, which types of batteries they take, and whether or not they charge a fee. This will help you save time and energy! Always be careful when you’re preparing to recycle old batteries. In case of any leaked acid or leftover charge, always handle them with latex gloves and avoid touching the ends, where the terminals are located. The batteries may still have a bit of charge left, so it’s important to separate the terminals, where the charge comes out of. To do this, you can either place each battery in a separate plastic bag or place a piece of clear tape over the terminal, or the small bump, on the top of the battery.  If 2 battery ends touch, the tape will help prevent sparking and lower fire risk.  Do not use opaque tape on the battery ends. Do not bag or tape any single-use alkaline batteries. Join a mail-in program and place a bucket or bin in the office mail-room. Have all of the employees tape and collect their dry-cell batteries in the bin, then mail them off once the container is full. If your office hasn’t signed up for a mail-in program, you can find some options at https://www.batterysolutions.com/store/. The fee for a mail-in program is usually a flat rate of around $60 per load, which lets you send in a large amount of batteries. Prices may vary depending on the type of battery you’re sending in.
A:
Call ahead and confirm the details with the recycling location. Wear gloves and don’t touch the ends when handling old batteries. Bag or tape the tops of non-alkaline batteries before recycling. Set up a battery mail-in program in your office.