Alcohol Awareness Week 3rd July - 9th July
Alcohol Use Disorder:
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences. It involves heavy or frequent alcohol drinking even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm. It can be mild, moderate or severe. Alcohol intoxication results as the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream increases. The higher the alcohol concentration the more likely to have serious effects, causing behaviour problems and mental changes.
Stages of alcohol use disorder:
RISK: Drink socially and drink to relieve stress. Developing a tolerance for drink.
EARLY ALCOHOL USE: Progressed into blackouts, drinking alone or in secret, and thinking about alcohol.
MID STAGE: Alcohol use is now out of control and causes problems within daily life (work, family, financial, physical and mental health). Organ damage can be seen on lab tests and scans.
END STAGE: Drinking is the main focus of your life. Exclusion of food, intimacy, health and happiness. Despair, complications of organ damage and death are close.
Symptoms:
unable to limit the amount. of alcohol drunk
wanting to cut own on how much you drink and being unsuccessful
cycle of drinking, getting alcohol and recovering from alcohol use
strong craving or urge to drink
developing a tolerance so you need more to feel its effect or reduced effect from the same amount
What increases the risk for alcohol use disorder?
The risk of developing AUD depends upon how much, how often and how quickly there is a consumption of alcohol. Alcohol misuse includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use.
Drinking at an early age. Genetics and family history of alcohol problems (interplay person genes and environment). Mental health conditions and history of trauma (psychiatric conditions - depression, post traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Treatment:
MEDICATION: Help to reduce and stop drinking alcohol.
BEHAVIOUR TREATMENT: Alcohol counseling or talk therapy, provided by licensed therapists are aimed at changing drinking behaviour. Brief interventions and reinforcements approaches, treatments build motivation and teach skills for coping and preventing a return to drinking.
MUTUAL-SUPPORT GROUPS: There is a chance to provide peer support for reducing drinking. There is an increasing presence online and in majority of communities. It can add a valuable layer of support in combination of medications and behavioural treatment.
Until the next Legal Thought,
Elicia Maxwell
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