Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol is a source of pleasure, but it also causes significant individual, social and economic harm. Alcohol is an addictive drug and a major cause of illness such as liver cirrhosis, cancers, heart disease, and social problems including social exclusion, unemployment, homelessness, violence, disorder, health inequality, teenage pregnancy, and accidents.
There has been a strong trend of increased alcohol consumption in the UK since the end of the Second World War. 32% of men and 17% of women (aged between 16 and 64) drink at harmful levels. If price continues to fall, and alcohol strength and availability increases with extended opening hours and more outlets, the danger is that rapidly increasing numbers of people will be drinking above safe levels.
How much can we safely drink?
The body takes 1 hour to process 1 unit of alcohol.
A unit of alcohol is half a pint of ordinary (3.5%) strength beer or lager, a pub measure of spirits, a glass of sherry or port, or a small glass of 9% wine.
Women: 2-3 units per day, but not every day and no more than 14 units in total for the week. Men: 3-4 units per day, but not every day and no more than 14 units in total for the week.
Pregnant women should drink no more than 1-2 units once or twice a week and avoid intoxication.
How does alcohol cause harm?
Alcohol can be considered to cause harm in three ways:
Drunkenness or binge drinking is drinking to intoxication. Even if done infrequently, this can lead to a variety of problems, such as accidents, injuries, interpersonal violence, crime, risky sexual activity or alcohol poisoning.
Dependence. Many heavy drinkers develop tolerance to the physical effects of alcohol; chronic heavy drinking may not lead to evident intoxication, but can still cause physical and psychological damage and dependence.
Disease refers to the illnesses and damage to the body and mind caused by regular consumption of large quantities of alcohol over a sustained period of time. Alcohol is not only an intoxicant, but also a toxic substance, which damages a wide range of body organs and systems, affecting both physical and mental health. These effects may be acute, such as alcohol poisoning, or chronic, where long-term exposure to high levels of alcohol can lead to disease, such as liver cirrhosis, dementia, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, gastritis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and certain types of cancer, and mental health problems including anxiety, depression, deliberate self harm and suicide. intoxication.
Some tips: Before and during drinking
Drinking and Driving
In the UK, 3000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads each year in drink drive related crashes and nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. If you plan to drink, don’t risk driving.
- Book a taxi
- Use public transport
- Stay overnight
- Arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive
- Don’t be tempted to get into a car with anyone else who has been drinking
If you’ve been out drinking you may still be affected by alcohol the next day. Even though you may feel OK when you get up, you may still be unfit to drive or over the legal alcohol limit. A shower, cup of coffee, or other ways of sobering up will not help – it just takes time. Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely as your reaction times are impaired and you’re unable to judge speed and distances.
The role of dietary supplements
Vitamins – alcoholics are commonly deficient in many vitamins, especially the B group of vitamins – alcohol consumption reduces the amounts of these vitamins in the body. As B vitamins are water-soluble, they are not stored in the body and are required to be taken in from the diet regularly. Also, vitamin C, zinc, and magnesium deficiencies are commonly found in people who drink to excess. Click here to see the range of vitamins available from Pharmacy2U.
Milk Thistle is a supplement that has been shown in some studies to help improve liver function in people who have mild to moderate liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption, and may improve survival of patients with liver cirrhosis. It’s not suitable for pregnant or breast-feeding women and should be taken with the knowledge of your doctor. Click here to see the products available from Pharmacy2U containing milk thistle.
Other related products
Drinks Spike Detector Test – click here to see more information. A simple and reliable test to detect whether a drink may have been ‘spiked’.
Useful contacts and links to further information
Drinks If you need more information about how alcohol could interact with any medications you are taking, talk to your pharmacist.
How’s Your Drink - a service provided by Alcohol Concern, with information and a test to help you work out if you’re drinking too much.
Alcohol Concern - provides information and support materials to individuals and organisations.
Alcoholics Anonymous - a confidential group that can support people who wish to stop drinking.
They can also be contacted on 0845 769 7555.
Al-Anon - for families and friends of alcoholics.
All content of this web site is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, rather it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship between you and your healthcare providers. You should make sure that you carefully read all product packaging and labels prior to use. If you have, or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Please consult your doctor before taking any new product, particularly if you are already under medical care. For more information view our Terms and Conditions, Copyright Pharmacy2U Ltd 2000.
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All content of this web site is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice; rather it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship between you and your healthcare providers. You should make sure that you carefully read all product packaging and labels prior to use. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor. Please consult your doctor before taking any new product, particularly if you are already under medical care. For more information view our Terms & Conditions © Pharmacy2U Ltd 2000 - 2007.
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