Understanding and Helping People with an Alcohol Problem
Whilst alcohol abuse can have an impact upon a person’s physical health, it may also impact upon their psychological and emotional health. It can also have a significant impact upon their daily life. The effects of alcohol abuse will vary from person to person, so we cannot predict every impact it will have. Let’s consider some general impacts:
Possible Short Term Effects of Alcohol Consumption
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Diarrhea
- Breathing difficulties
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Impaired judgement
- Unconsciousness
- Decreased perception
- Decreased coordination
- Distorted vision
- Distorted hearing
- Anaemia
- Blackouts/memory lapses
- Coma
Possible Long Term Effects of Alcohol Consumption
Frequent excessive alcohol use and binge drinking can lead to other health problems such as:
- Alcohol poisoning
- High blood pressure
- Liver damage
- Injuries from car accidents, burns, falling, drowning
- Intentional injuries, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, firearm injuries
- Injuries at work
- Reduced productivity at work
- Sexual problems
- Permanent brain damage
- Vitamin B1 deficiency, which can lead to amnesia, apathy and disorientation
- Gastritis
- Malnutrition
- Ulcers
- Cancer in the mouth and throat
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your Bloodstream?
The National Health Service in the UK states that:
- 1 large glass of wine (250ml) will take three hours for your body to break down the alcohol.
- If you drink a pint of beer, the body will take two hours to break it down.
The time it takes for your body to break down alcohol will depend on your:
- Gender
- Weight
- Age
- Your metabolism
- How much food you have eaten
- Strength and amount of alcohol consumed
- If you are taking any medication, and what type.
- The general health of your liver
So the more alcohol a person consumes, the longer it will take for their body to remove the alcohol from their system.
A first step for anyone who is suffering from alcohol related problems is to contact their general practitioner or doctor. They can give help and advice and also recommend specialist addiction services.
The treatment for alcohol will depend on how much the person is drinking, whether their drinking is harmful, hazardous or dependent and whether the person wants to give up drinking altogether or cut down.
Drinking Diary
The first step in any treatment is to start with a drinking diary.
- The person will be asked to make a note of:
- All alcohol drinks they have consumed
- How many units they consumed
- When they drank them
- Where they were
This gives the person a good idea of how much they are drinking, the units they are drinking, but also the situations in which they are drinking. A person may not realise that they are drinking so much in certain situations; for example, a person may go to the pub and only drink moderate amounts, then go home and drink a lot more. If that was the case, they might reduce the alcohol they have at home or try to stop buying alcohol at all for the home setting. Or a person might realise they are drinking a lot straight after work, so they might try to change that, perhaps by drinking soft drinks, or not going out for drinks every night, or doing something else straight after work, or working later to avoid the drinking routine or changing their job altogether. By looking at when and how the person is drinking, they can see patterns and habits in their behaviour and the first step to changing that is to recognise it.
Hazardous Drinking
If a person is involved in hazardous drinking, they may need a brief intervention at first. This is a short counselling session, usually following an alcohol related injury or accident. The session usually lasts 10 – 15 minutes and looks at the risk involved in the person’s pattern of drinking, advice on how to reduce the amount they drink, services and support available and also any emotional issues involved in the drinking. The person will also be encouraged to keep a drinking diary.
Higher Risk or Harmful Drinking
If a person is drinking harmful amounts of alcohol, they will have to decide if they want to reduce the amount or stop altogether. In the UK, harmful drinking is more than 14 units a week. Binge drinking is also very harmful. Stopping drinking altogether (abstinence) will have greater health benefits, but this may not be realistic as an initial goal, so the person might try to moderate their drinking (cut down). In some cases, the counsellor will recommend abstinence if:
- The person has liver disease, cirrhosis or liver damage
- The person has other medical problems such as heart disease
- They are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- They are taking medication which can react badly with alcohol, such as anti-psychotics.
- The person has previously tried moderation and it has not worked.
The person may then be offered further counselling sessions, whether they choose abstinence or moderation, so that they can review their progress and decide if they need more advice or treatment.
Dependent Drinking
This is where the person feels they are unable to function without alcohol. Again they will need to choose between moderation and abstinence, but abstinence is recommended if their dependence is severe.
Detoxification
The person will usually be recommended to spend some time without drinking alcohol to allow their body to recover from the effects and strain on the body.
Where and how the person attempts detoxification will depend on their level of alcohol use. In mild cases, they can detox at home. The symptoms should be mild.
If the person has a higher level of consumption (20 or more units a day) or have previously had withdrawal symptoms, they may be able to detox at home, but may have medication to help them. Chlordiazepoxide is a tranquilizer that can help with this. If the person has severe dependency, they may need to go to a clinic or hospital to detox, due to the severity of their withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms are usually the worst for the first 48 hours, but gradually improve. It can take 3 – 7 days. The person may experience disturbed sleep (this can last up to a month, but then return to normal). During detox the person is encouraged to:
- Drink plenty of fluids such as water, squash and fruit juices (around 3 litres a day).
- Avoid caffeinated drinks as these can make anxiety and sleep problems worse.
- Eat regular meals.
- Avoid driving.
- Avoid operating heavy machinery.
- Listen to music, read, go for a walk, take a bath or use other methods to reduce the stress experienced during detox.
During detox, the person will usually have regular contact with a nurse or health care professional or specialist service.
Detox does not end alcohol addiction, but it is a useful start.
