Do YOU drink too much? Answers these 10 questions and find out

Do YOU drink too much? Give honest answers to these 10 questions and find out if it’s time to cut down or seek help

  • More than half a million people are thought to be alcohol dependent in the UK
  • It can lead to a higher risk of serious illnesses including cancer and liver damage

Coming to the realisation that you have a drinking problem can sometimes be the hardest part of dealing with the blight of alcohol misuse.

It is thought that more than half a million people in the UK are alcohol dependent, meaning they have a strong and often uncontrollable desire to drink.

This can wreak havoc on the lives of their loved ones, as well as leading to increased risk of cancers, pancreatitis, strokes, heart disease, and liver and kidney damage in drinkers themselves.

But there are concerns that some people dealing with alcoholism are ‘slipping through the net’ due to health workers not recording their drinking habits properly.

Alcoholism can lead to a higher risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and liver damage

Revealed: Efforts to stay sober during Dry January frequently hit the rocks because socialising make it harder to abstain, research shows – READ MORE HERE

 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said that thousands of people every year could be missing out on help and support to curb problem drinking, or a potential referral on specialist services.

It has called on health bodies to ensure people’s drinking habits are correctly recorded to help improve people who need support are offered it.

Logging information properly will also mean that patients are not repeatedly asked about their drinking habits, Nice suggested.

Health professionals should use a validated questionnaire to ensure the information on how much and how often people drink is appropriately logged, according to Nice’s new draft quality standard, which sets out improvements for care of adults with alcohol problems.

Nice said that a ‘large number of people who are dependent on alcohol are not receiving treatment’.

A 2018 study on the GP records of 1.8 million adults across the UK found that half had no information on alcohol consumption data and under 10 per cent had a screening test score.

According to figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, there were an estimated 602,391 adults with alcohol dependency in England in need of specialist treatment in 2018 to 2019.

There were 107,428 people in treatment for alcohol in 2020 to 2021, it added.

Among the tools used to identify potential alcoholism is AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) – a quiz that has been used since 1989 to help screen people for potential alcoholism or other disorders involving drink.

Backed by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a quick and relatively simple way of judging how much alcohol you consume and whether you might need help with a potential drinking problem.

We have recreated the self-assessment below so you can see how you would score:

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Monthly or less (1 point)

c) 2-4 times per month (2 points)

d) 2-3 times per week (3 points)

e) 4+ times per week (4 points)

How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day when you are drinking? 

a) 0-2 (zero points)

b) 3-4 (1 point)

c) 5-6 (2 points)

d) 7-9 (3 points)

e) 10+ (4 points)

How often have you had six or more units if female, or eight or more if male, on a single occasion in the last year?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

How often during the last year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

a) Never (zero points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

Have you or somebody else been injured as a result of your drinking?

a) No (zero points)

b) Yes, but not in the last year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the last year (4 points) 

Has a relative or friend, doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested that you cut down?

a) No (zero points)

b) Yes, but not in the last year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the last year (4 points) 

What your score means?

0-7 points: You are within the sensible drinking range and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.

Over 8: Indicate harmful or hazardous drinking.

8-15: Medium level of risk. Drinking at your current level puts you at risk of developing problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider cutting down.

16-19: Higher risk of complications from alcohol. Cutting back on your own may be difficult at this level, as you may be dependent, so you may need professional help from your GP and/or a counsellor.

20 and over: Possible dependence. Your drinking is already causing you problems, and you could very well be dependent. You should definitely consider stopping gradually or at least reduce your drinking. You should seek professional help to ascertain the level of your dependence and the safest way to withdraw from alcohol.

Severe dependence may need medically assisted withdrawal, or detox, in a hospital or a specialist clinic. This is due to the likelihood of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the first 48 hours needing specialist treatment.

How you can seek help if you are having issues with alcohol

A good place to start is with a GP. Try to be accurate and honest about how much you drink and any problems it may be causing you.

If you have become dependent on alcohol, you will have found it difficult to fully control your drinking in some way.

So you’ll probably need some help either to cut down and control your drinking or stop completely, and also some plans to maintain the improvement after that.

The GP may suggest different types of assessment and support options available to you, such as from local community alcohol services.

You can also ask about any free local support groups and other alcohol counselling that may suit you.

Find alcohol addiction support services in your area

If you have become physically dependent and need to stop drinking completely, stopping overnight could be harmful.

You should get advice about this and about any medicine you may need to do this safely.

Useful contacts for alcohol problems 

  • Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm). 
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its ’12 step’ programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups. 
  • Al-Anon Family Groups offer support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers, whether they’re still drinking or not. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and can be attended by 12 to 17-year-olds who are affected by another person’s drinking, usually a parent. 
  • We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse. 
  • Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol. Adfam operates an online message board and local support groups. 
  • The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) provides a free, confidential telephone and email helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned about their welfare. Call 0800 358 3456 for the Nacoa helpline. 
  • SMART Recovery groups help people decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery. Caring for an alcoholic? Find out where you can get support on the Carers Trust website.

Source: NHS

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