Alcohol Help

College women may be drinking to excess to impress their male counterparts on campuses across the country, but a new study suggests most college men are not looking for a woman to match them drink for drink.

A survey of 3,616 college students at two American universities found an overwhelming majority of women overestimated the amount of alcohol a typical guy would like his female friends, dates or girlfriends to drink.

"Although traditionally, men drink more than women, research has shown that women have steadily been drinking more and more over the last several decades," said the study’s lead author, Joseph LaBrie, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University. "Our research suggests women believe men find excessive drinking sexually attractive and appealing, but it appears this is a giant misperception."

For this article, the researchers invited the participating students, ages 18 to 25, to complete an online survey during the 2007 fall semester. The students were at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles or the University of Washington. The women answered several questions to determine, on average, how many drinks they thought a typical college man would like his female friends to drink at a typical event, as well as the maximum number of drinks they thought the men would like their female friends to drink. They then had to say, on average, how many drinks they thought a woman would have to consume for a guy to consider being friends with her, consider dating her or consider her sexually attractive. The men were asked their actual preferences.

The researchers also asked the women to estimate how much they drank in any given week or month, and how much alcohol they thought the average woman at their university drank in any given week.

The results showed 71 percent of women overestimated the men’s actual preference of drinks at any given event. The women overestimated by an average of one-and-a-half drinks. When the researchers looked at the different subgroups, 26 percent of women said that men would most likely want to be friends with a woman who drinks five or more drinks and 16 percent said that men would be most sexually attracted to a woman who drank that much alcohol. Both estimates were nearly double what the men actually preferred. They also found the women who overestimated the men’s preferences were more likely to engage in excessive drinking.

"There is a great, and risky, disconnect here between the sexes," said LaBrie. "While not all women may be drinking simply to get a guy’s attention, this may help explain why more women are drinking at dangerous levels. We believe universities and other public health organizations could use this information to help curb binge drinking among young women."

LaBrie is doing a follow-up study that looks at what men think women want them to drink to see if this perception has a similar effect on increased risky drinking.

American Psychological Association

Research clearly shows that, for many people, every year, rehab works. It improves their mental and physical health, helps them to address relationship problems and restores their commitment to living an active, fulfilling life.

Underpinning an effective drug and alcohol treatment experience are the time, skills and dedication of the treatment staff employed by a rehab clinic to work with clients on overcoming their problems. These people should be well-trained, closely supervised, confident in their approach and empathic towards clients, because that’s what gets the best outcomes, says Sue Allchurch, research director at Linwood Group.

"People who seek help from a rehab clinic are embarking on one of the most challenging but potentially rewarding journeys of their lives," she says. "It stands to reason that they will need experienced help, support and encouragement every step of the way."

At Linwood Manor Group, all therapeutic staff are members of the Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) as well as working towards accreditation by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and work within a strict code of ethics and standards.

So what should a person in rehab expect from the therapeutic staff that treat them? Here are seven traits of an effective therapeutic team member:

1. Respect

Every client is unique and a good therapist will respect your beliefs and expectations about treatment and take them into account wherever possible, unless they run contrary to your chances of recovery.

2. Understanding

The length of treatment, setting, approach and range of issues addressed should be tailored to your individual needs, based on a thorough assessment process. The therapeutic staff of a good rehab clinic will spend time on getting to know you and understanding your needs.

3. Encouragement and reinforcement of self-worth

Many people’s attempts to overcome their alcohol dependency fail because they do not have the motivation they need to make and maintain the changes that are required. Similarly, many clients have little confidence in their ability to change. Treatment staff should work with you to build motivation and self-confidence in order to improve your chances of success.

4. Determination

Most people who have developed alcohol dependency have done so because they have a range of unhelpful attitudes and beliefs, which, if left unaddressed, will undermine their chances of recovery. Treatment staff will seek to uncover and address these beliefs in a non-aggressive way and help you work towards more constructive ways of thinking.

5. Pragmatism

Practical skills training for avoiding and coping with situations that might otherwise lead to a relapse can substantially improve long-term outcomes for clients. Therapeutic staff will work with you on a programme of change that will help you prepare for ‘real life’ once you leave the rehab clinic.

6. Patience

People with alcohol dependency problems have often become very good at lying to themselves and to others. Therapeutic staff will sometimes need to challenge manipulative and/or inappropriate behaviour and avoid colluding with lies, but should do so in a non-threatening manner.

7. Good contacts

Rehab treatment should be followed by a programme of aftercare. Without such follow-up, treatment is likely to prove of limited value. Therapeutic staff will be able to help you identify and contact likely sources of help and support after you’ve left rehab.

Linwood Manor

New research has shown for the first time that the portrayal of alcohol in films and TV advertisements has an immediate effect on the amount of alcohol that people drink.

The research, published online today (Wednesday 4 March) in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, found that people who watched films and commercials in which alcohol drinking featured prominently immediately reached for a bottle of beer or wine and drank an average of 1.5 bottles more than people who watched films and commercials in which alcohol played a less prominent role.

Commenting on the study, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said:

“This research clearly demonstrates the suggestive powers of alcohol advertising and promotion. Unfortunately, alcohol advertising and promotion on film and television usually presents drinking as a positive social ritual, while leaving out the potential harm that drinking can cause. Binge-drinking in particular may be glamourised.

“It is time to revisit the decision to allow alcohol advertising during the daytime when young children may unwittingly be exposed to alcohol adverts. In our view a watershed ban is the only way to give parents the peace of mind of knowing that their children can be kept safe from the influence of advertising.”

Alcohol Concern

A local health department has launched a unique campaign to encourage women who use alcohol and drugs to seek prenatal care and get the resources they need to have a healthy baby.

Studies show women who use alcohol and other drugs often do not seek prenatal care because they are afraid they will automatically be reported to authorities. Recognizing that prenatal care is vital to the health of the baby and mother, the Contra Costa Health Services Bridges to Care project has created a toolkit to provide guidance to health care providers. The project aims to make prenatal care an environment where pregnant women who use alcohol and drugs feel safe seeking care and where they will be able to get help to stop or reduce their alcohol and drug use, said Sarah Roberts, coordinator for Bridges to Care which is run by CCHS’ Family Maternal and Child Health Programs (FMCH) and funded with a grant from the March of Dimes.

"We conducted focus groups and interviews with women who use alcohol and drugs and found that the number one reason for delaying entry to prenatal care was fear of being reported and losing their child," Roberts said. "We also found that health care providers were uncertain about reporting requirements. This tool kit provides clear guidance to health care providers on when they need to report a woman to CFS and even more importantly how to get a woman the resources she needs so she can have a healthier baby."

The toolkit includes updated Children and Family Services (CFS) reporting guidelines and resources to help pregnant women who use alcohol and drugs stop or reduce their use, such as treatment programs for pregnant women.

Roberts said the toolkit, which was created with the help of CFS, CCHS’ Alcohol and Other Drug Services and prenatal care and labor and delivery providers, is now being distributed to health care providers who serve pregnant women and trainings are being conducted on how to use the toolkit.

This training is important for health care providers, said Michelle Bushong, Perinatal Clinical Nurse Educator with CCHS’ Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez.

"As health care professionals, we want healthy outcomes for pregnant women. We want them to have a healthy baby and most of all we want to keep mother and child together. Information in the toolkit helps us work effectively with at risk mothers so all this can take place," Bushong said.

A second phase of the project includes a community-awareness campaign, designed with input from the women themselves, to encourage women who use alcohol and drugs during pregnancy to seek prenatal care, Roberts said.

"Our community-awareness campaign will inform women who use alcohol and drugs on where they can get help and what steps they can take to improve their health, the health of their babies, and increase their chances of taking their babies home at the time of delivery," Roberts said. "We want mothers to know that help is available and that they are not alone."

Contra Costa Health Services

Did you give up alcohol in January, following the excesses of the festive season? Or perhaps you are abstaining for Lent?

Either way, alcohol treatment specialists recommend a break from alcohol from time to time. Not only is it a good way to feel fitter, more alert and shed some excess pounds – it’s also an excellent opportunity to reassess your relationship with alcohol.

Even for moderate drinkers, tolerance to alcohol builds up quickly. Regular drinking leads to increased tolerance, meaning that you need more alcohol to have the same effect. Time ‘on the wagon’ can help reset tolerance levels, so that you drink less before you feel you’ve had enough and lowering the risk of developing alcohol dependency.

But more importantly still, stopping shouldn’t be hard, says Sue Allchurch, research director at alcohol dependency treatment specialist Linwood Group. "If you resolve to take a month-long break from alcohol and find yourself slipping after a few weeks – or worse still, a few days – then alarm bells should be ringing," she says. "Feeling that you ‘need’ to drink is a clear sign that you may be slipping into dependency."

Although it may seem to you that drinking is ‘just a habit’, you are making a choice to have a drink each and every time. A period of abstinence offers the chance to explore your beliefs about alcohol and the way that these are expressed in your habits and behaviour.

Perhaps you have a drink as a ‘reward’ after a long day at work or looking after children. Maybe a drink provides the courage you need to face social events with confidence. Or perhaps you simply feel that a party isn’t a party without that glass of Merlot in your hand.

Either way, these attitudes demonstrate an unhealthy reliance on alcohol that can quickly create a serious problem. "Everyone feels the need to escape from stress, shyness and feeling down from time to time. But, for some people, alcohol provides an escape from emotional pain and difficult feelings so effectively that it quickly becomes a crutch," says Allchurch. "In order to cut down or stop drinking, you have to accept not only that problems must be dealt with sober, but that drinking to escape them only makes matters worse."

If stopping drinking – whether temporarily or permanently – is a struggle for you, it’s probably time to seek help and advice from qualified experts. Appropriate alcohol dependency help can help you address the difficulties that alcohol is causing in your life and work towards a positive lifestyle change.

Linwood Manor

Finding an Alcohol Treatment Center

The search for an alcohol treatment center can, to say the least be a daunting one. The alcohol rehab market is long on options and short on guidance, so that a prospective alcohol treatment patient can be almost literally overwhelmed by the choices available to him. In the end, the alcohol treatment center that’s right for you is the one which gives you what you need, when you need it; the right alcohol rehabilitation facility will and must recognize you as an individual, with individual problems and individual needs.

Some luxury alcohol rehab programs claim to deliver universal alcohol rehab solutions: alcohol rehab treatment that works with comparable success for every alcohol rehab patient. Such claims, of course, are grounded in the notion that all alcohol rehab candidates are essentially the same, and that what works for one alcohol rehab patient should work for every alcohol rehab patient. Unfortunately, such thinking is profoundly flawed…and is, as you might expect, deeply inimical to the success of any alcohol rehab process.

The rub, then, is that the alcohol rehab center that’s right for you is the one that evaluates you as an individual before constructing any kind of alcohol treatment plan. Alcohol rehab that works is alcohol rehab that’s specially-tailored to meet individual needs; anything less, in the end, won’t and can’t ever cut it. In choosing an alcohol rehab center, it’s your job to defend your own best interests, and ensure that the care you get is the care you need. With so much on the line, you can’t afford to leave your alcohol rehab fate in anyone else’s hands.

Sober Living and Alcoholic Recovery

Remember that alcoholic recovery does not end the day a patient leaves a private alcohol rehab center. On the contrary, alcoholic recovery is and can only be an ongoing process, a journey that an alcoholic will continue long after he’s checked out of primary alcohol treatment. With that in mind, it’s fair to say that sober living programs are instrumental in any kind of holistic alcohol rehab process, especially insofar as they help recovering alcoholics develop the life skills and self-esteem necessary for long-term functional sobriety.

The nature of alcoholism is such that alcoholism is never really cured, even by the most effective alcohol rehab program in the world. On the contrary, alcoholics are never entirely free from the psychological vestiges of the disease, and even recovered alcohol addicts will continue to experience alcoholic cravings long after they’ve checked out of alcohol rehab centers. What that means, for alcohol rehab patients, is that a successful alcohol rehab program is and can only be one that appreciates the importance of long-term healing, and lasting sobriety.

Sober living programs can serve as important adjuncts to primary alcohol rehab by affording recovering alcoholics a measure of independence within a supportive and nurturing environment. In sober living facilities, Malibu alcohol rehab patients can test the waters of the real world without plunging all the way into them, thus taking an important step away from the cloistered security of primary alcohol rehab centers. The goal, of course, is to help Malibu alcohol rehab center patients develop the emotional and psychological robustness they’ll need to confront and thrive amidst the rigors of fully independent sobriety. Again, nothing less could ever qualify as meaningful alcoholic recovery.

But such long-term visions are best left for another day. Now, in this moment, you know what matters: You know that you can’t beat alcohol addiction by yourself, and that you’ve got to get help from a professional alcohol rehab center. Remember, the future is in your hands: The success or failure of your rehab program can only ever be up to you.

Sunset Malibu

West Midlands health chiefs have warned the region needs to reconsider its attitude to alcohol after a survey concluded most people think the area has a drink problem.

The warning came at the close of the successful Big Drink Debate, which engaged with people from across the region to talk about alcohol, its effects, people’s attitude to it and its impact on society.

The three month campaign has thrown up various issues, with the most alarming being that the West Midlands is perceived to have a drink problem. Other problems cited were the impact drink has on anti-social behaviour, people’s health and the cost to business.

More than 7,500 people responded to the survey across the region, which detailed the opinions on alcohol consumption, and information about the drinking habits, of the West Midlands.

Among the other findings were that 89 per cent of respondents believe anti-social behaviour is one of the main problems in society today caused by drinking. The cost to the NHS was mentioned by 65 per cent, domestic abuse by 62 per cent, while young people drinking was a concern for 71 per cent.

Dr Jammi Rao, Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, said: "The Big Drink Debate has been an incredibly valuable exercise, giving us an important insight into how the people of the West Midlands are affected by alcohol, how often they drink, what they think are the main impacts on society from people drinking too much and what measures can be taken to improve the situation.

"Alcohol touches so many people’s lives across the region, whether it is a friend or family member who drinks too much, or anti-social behaviour from others. The clearer the picture we can build up about these habits, the better our response will be and the more people we can help."

The data will now be analysed and submitted to various government departments in order for them to develop a more informed approach.

Please note: These facts are specific to the West Midlands Government region as opposed to the West Midlands Conurbation area.

* 1 in 4 people in England have an alcohol use disorder.

* 6% of men and 2% women have an alcohol dependency.

* Between 1960 and 2002 consumption in England doubled.

* Deaths from liver cirrhosis in the UK trebled between 1970 and 1998 and are still rising. The rates for West Midlands men and women are higher than the England average.

* The West Midlands has the third highest alcohol related death rate (17.1 per 100,000 for men and 8.1 per 100,000 for women).

* In 2005 nearly 2700 people in the West Midlands died from medical conditions attributable to alcohol.

* The West Midlands region has one of the highest Alcohol Related Hospital Admissions Rates in England. This amounted to 89,000 people in 2006-7 being admitted to hospital with an alcohol related condition.

* Data for 2006/07 shows that 2,129 young people under the age of 18 in the West Midlands were admitted to hospital because of drinking too much alcohol.

* For every 1,000 people living in the West Midlands, in the last year there were 10 crimes, including 7.3 violent crimes, attributable to alcohol. This amounts to 54,683 crimes attributable to alcohol; of this 39,190 are violent and 763 are of a sexual nature. Incidents of domestic violence are included in the headline figure but often go unreported.

Department of Health

Additional study suggests drinking alcohol in early adulthood may increase reflux esophagitis risk

Bethesda, MD (March 1, 2009) – Although the relationship between alcohol and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is well established, studies investigating the association between alcohol intake and reflux esophagitis (RE), Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have reported inconsistent findings. Furthermore, little is known regarding the effect of alcohol on BE, especially related to alcohol types.

Two recent studies published in Gastroenterology further our understanding of these illnesses. Gastroenterology is the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

Education Status Is Significantly Inversely Associated with BE Risk

A new diagnosis of BE is associated with alcohol types, and the effects are modified by the presence of vitamin supplement use, according to a new study in Gastroenterology. The observed associations are independent of demographic and life-style factors that are related to choice of alcoholic beverages, including vitamin supplement use. In addition, higher education level is inversely related to the risk.

People with BE have a 30 to 125 fold increased risk of developing EAC compared to the general population. The incidence of EAC has increased by more than 500 percent in the last three decades, more rapidly than any other malignancy in the U.S. The rate of increase is most predominant among Caucasian males, suggesting that environmental or lifestyle factors may play important roles in the change in incidence.

"The identification of risk factors for BE may provide information on early events in the carcinogenic pathway for EAC that could lead to effective intervention strategies," said Ai Kubo, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente and lead author of the study.

This study is the first community or population-based study in the U.S. to evaluate alcohol and socio-demographic factors as risk factors for BE. Using a case-control study within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California membership, patients with a new diagnosis of BE (n=320) between 2002 and 2005 were matched to persons with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; n=316) and to population controls (n=317). Information was collected using validated questionnaires during direct in-person interviews; analyses used multivariate unconditional logistic regression.

Total alcohol use was not significantly associated with the risk of BE, although stratification by beverage type showed an inverse association for wine drinkers compared to nondrinkers (seven+ drinks wine/week versus none: OR=0.44, 95 percent CI (0.20-0.99); multivariate analysis). Among population controls, those who preferred wine were more likely to have college degrees and regularly take vitamin supplements than those who preferred beer or liquor. Adjustment for these factors or GERD symptoms did not eliminate the inverse association between wine consumption and BE. Education status was significantly inversely associated with the risk of BE.

"Future studies examining the interaction between vitamin supplement and alcohol types and how socioeconomic status may affect GERD and BE are needed," added Dr. Kubo.

Total Alcohol Consumption at 21 Is Significantly Associated with RE

Alcohol consumption in early adulthood may lead to the development of reflux esophagitis (RE), according to a new study in Gastroenterology. However, more recent alcohol consumption does not appear to confer any increased risk of RE, BE or EAC. In fact, wine consumption may reduce the risk of these esophageal disorders.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms are common in Western societies with 10 to 20 percent of adults experiencing at least weekly symptoms. GER is the main predisposing risk factor for erosive RE, BE and EAC; alcohol may increase GER by causing relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Using data collected as part of an all-Ireland case-control study, the FINBAR (Factors INfluencing the Barrett’s Adenocarcinoma Relationship) study, information relating to alcohol consumption (at age 21 and five years before the interview date) was collected from 230 RE, 224 BE and 227 EAC patients and 260 frequency-matched population controls. Logistic regression analyses were used to compare alcohol consumption in the three case groups to controls with adjustment for potential confounders. The FINBAR study is one of the largest case-control studies to date to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and RE, BE and EAC using the same control group.

Population controls reporting GER symptoms were less likely than controls without symptoms to drink alcohol five years before the interview date (OR 0.44, 95 percent CI 0.20-0.99). No associations were observed between total alcohol consumption five years before the interview date and RE, BE or EAC (ORs, 95 percent CI: 1.26, 0.78-2.05, 0.72, 0.43-1.21 and 0.75, 0.46-1.22, respectively). Wine was inversely associated with RE (OR 0.45, 95 percent CI 0.27-0.75). Total alcohol consumption at age 21 was significantly associated with RE (OR 2.24, 95 percent CI 1.35-3.74), but not with BE or EAC (ORs, 95 percent CI: 1.06, 0.63-1.79 and 1.27, 0.77-2.10, respectively).

These preliminary findings warrant further research. Future studies should consider the influence of reflux symptoms and the temporality of the association carefully when interpreting the association between alcohol and RE, BE and EAC.

American Gastroenterological Association