Alcohol Help

The criteria used to assess blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) and binge drinking behaviors in children and adolescents should be based on pediatric rather than adult physiology, according to a new University of Pittsburgh study in the June issue of Pediatrics.

Current standards for BACs and binge drinking in children under 18 are based on adult criteria. However, a Pitt researcher found that updating the current BAC formula to take into account differing body composition and the rates at which children and adolescents eliminate alcohol from their bodies, would redefine how many drinks constitute binge drinking for boys and girls 9 to 17 years of age.

"There is little consensus on how hazardous drinking should be defined in adults, let alone in kids," said John E. Donovan, Ph.D., author and associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Public Health. "This study, for the first time, looked at how hazardous drinking should be estimated for children and teenagers."

The definition of binge drinking is controversial, however, noted Dr. Donovan. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recently defined binge drinking as a drinking pattern that brings a person’s BAC to greater than 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL), which is a level accompanied by significant physical and mental impairment and the level currently used to define drunk driving throughout the U.S. Typically, this means five drinks for a man or four drinks for a woman within a two-hour period.

"The NIAAA definition of binge drinking was developed for adults and not for kids under 18," added Dr. Donovan. "Both children and young adolescents weigh substantially less than adults and likely would achieve considerably higher BACs with five drinks within a two-hour period or would reach a BAC greater than 0.08 g/dL with significantly fewer drinks."

Dr. Donovan examined child, adolescent and adult body compositions and alcohol elimination rates from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. He then used the updated formula to estimate BACs for more than 4,700 kids and teens ages 9 to 17 for alcohol intake levels of one to five standard drinks to determine the number of drinks at each age that led to a BAC of greater than 0.08 g/dL.

These estimations suggest that binge drinking should be defined as three or more drinks for 9- to 13-year-old children; four or more drinks for boys and three or more drinks for girls ages 14 or 15; and five or more drinks for boys and three or more drinks for girls ages 16 or 17. These results also suggest that the definition for heavy drinking should be modified as well.

"When kids and young teens use alcohol, it puts them at heightened risk for later alcohol and drug dependence, delinquency, early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as involvement in motor vehicle crashes," added Dr. Donovan. "Since considerably fewer drinks are needed to get high BAC levels in children, pediatricians and nurse practitioners who screen kids for alcohol use should intervene at much lower levels of alcohol involvement than previously thought."

Dr. Donovan’s research is funded by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Sipping wine, beer or spirits three to four times per week increases the risk of binge drinking, particularly among young men, according to a new study published in the journal Addiction. Researchers from the Université de Montréal and the University of Western Ontario analyzed the drinking habits of Canadians and found that frequent alcohol consumption can lead to binge drinking among all gender and all age groups.

The study also found that infrequent drinkers rarely exceed two servings when they do consume alcoholic beverages. "The relationship between drinking frequency and consumption per occasion might be both cultural and biological," says study coauthor Andrée Demers, a Université de Montréal sociology professor and director of the Research Group on the Social Aspects of Health and Prevention. "The Canadian drinking culture has a ‘time-out’ depiction of drinking. Alcohol is a boundary mark between week and weekend, work and leisure, and therefore between routine and time off."

The investigation established one drink as 5 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of liquor, 12 oz. of beer or cooler, 3 oz of port, sherry or vermouth. Regardless of drinking preferences, the study found that many Canadians consume alcoholic beverages on a daily basis to experience its mood-altering affects.

Drinking for a festive feeling

"Regular drinking builds up tolerance, therefore daily drinkers will need more than their usual drink or two to make a difference with everyday life and gain that festive feeling," says lead author Catherine Paradis, a Université de Montréal PhD candidate. "That fosters drinking beyond healthy limits – at least sporadically and perhaps weekly – to five drinks or more per occasion. And five units is above the recommended limits of healthy drinking."

Study data was obtained from the GENACIS Canada project, an international collaboration examining how social and cultural variations can influence the drinking habits of men and women. Close to 11,000 respondents – 5,743 women and 4,723 men – were asked to report on their alcohol consumption within the last 12 months. Participants were asked questions such as:

* "How often did you usually have any kind of drink containing alcohol?"
* "How often did you usually have five drinks or more on one occasion?"

According to health-related organizations in Canada and elsewhere, women should never consume more than four drinks per occasion and alcohol is beneficial only when consumed in small quantities. Very little is known concerning the relationship between drinking frequency and risky drinking patterns.

"There is no clear and universal understanding of what is moderate drinking – its meaning varies between cultures and within cultures according to gender, age, socio-economic status and people’s self-reported tolerance," says Professor Paradis. "Since regular drinking could increase alcohol abuse, Canadian drinking guidelines should take this aspect of the drinking pattern into account."

Study from Universite de Montreal and University of Western Ontario published in Addiction

It’s a simple truth: You can’t beat alcoholism outside of an alcohol rehab center. In fact, any alcoholic who makes the mistake of trying to get sober without professional alcohol treatment is doomed to failure, and those alcoholism victims who get better are ultimately the ones who find the strength to enroll in alcohol rehab programs. Alcoholic recovery isn’t easy, and the alcohol treatment process is bound to test even the heartiest soul…but with the right help, alcohol rehab really can work for you. In the end, nothing could ever be more important than that.

The number of alcohol rehab centers on the market leads many prospective alcohol rehab center patients to believe than every alcohol rehab center program must be more or less equivalent to the next one. Don’t make the same mistake. The truth is that some alcohol rehab centers very certainly are more qualified than others, and that your ability to choose the right alcohol rehab is nothing less than the crucial to the ultimate success or failure of your alcohol rehab center experience. If you’re going to get healed, you’ve got to get the help you need.

There is perhaps no more important asset in the alcohol rehab center search process than education. Before you can find an alcohol rehab center that’s right for you, you need to understand what your needs are as a California alcohol rehab center patient, and how different alcohol rehab center programs can or cannot meet them. Remember, no one can look out for you better than you can look out for yourself. In choosing an alcohol rehab center, you have to be the ultimate guarantor of your own best interests.

It’s in that spirit that the following text lays out a rough sketch of alcohol rehab centers and the alcohol rehab center process: why exclusive alcohol rehab center care is so important for alcoholics, how alcohol rehab center programs help alcoholics get sober, what you can do as an alcohol rehab center patient to improve your chances for long-term sobriety. The bottom line: There’s too much at stake here for you to make an uninformed alcohol rehab center decision. Don’t let another day go by without learning what you need to know.

Alcoholism is an increasingly pressing issue in the United States and around the world. The truth about alcohol addiction is that it can strike anywhere, and anybody: No one is immune to alcohol dependency, no matter how much any of us might want to believe otherwise. The rub, of course, is that alcohol rehab centers affect all of us, in one way or another, and that the alcohol rehab fight is one that we can’t help but win or lose together. If you don’t appreciate the importance of alcohol treatment, you aren’t paying very close attention.

The importance of alcohol rehab centers in the United States is suggested by a single number: eight million. Most studies estimate upwards of eight million alcoholics in the general American population, a figure which speaks pointedly to the role of alcohol rehab centers in shaping the future of the country. With so many prospective alcohol rehabilitation center patients in our midst, we’re all impacted by the success or failure of alcohol rehab center programs.

But of course alcohol rehab center treatment isn’t just about facts and figures; it’s about real human beings, and the real human pain they suffer as a result of their alcohol addictions. To be healed in an alcohol rehab center is to get a second chance in life; that alcohol rehab center patient who gets sober and stays sober rediscovers the world as he used to know it, and himself as he used to be. If you or someone you care about has succumbed to alcohol abuse, the only hope you’ve got left lies inside an inpatient alcohol treatment center. That’s just the way recovery works.

It bears noting here that no alcoholic can get help from a rehab center program if he isn’t willing to seek it out. As difficult as the decision to enter an alcohol rehab center can be, it’s one that you can’t afford not to make. The good news: Alcohol treatment really does work, and alcohol rehab center patients really do get better. Let today be the day you start finding that out for yourself.

Sunset Malibu

German adolescents are top at boozing! In the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, Martin Stolle et al. of the German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence in Hamburg report that the main change has been the increase in the number of intoxicated girls. In their article, the authors present motivating short-term interventions to counteract secondary problems.

According to the German Federal Commissioner for Narcotic Drugs, the number of adolescents admitted to hospital for alcohol poisoning has more than doubled, increasing from 9500 in 2007 to more than 23 000 in 2007. About 3800 of these patients were between 10 and 15 years old. Teenagers who start drinking alcohol regularly before the age of 15 have a 4-fold increased risk of becoming alcohol dependent.

The German Federal model project "Hart am Limit"("Close to the Limit/On the Edge") even starts in the emergency ambulance. The authors consider that it would be desirable to supplement this with a brief motivational intervention, based on the principle of motivational interviewing. Drinking motivation will be discussed in short individual sessions of maximally 60 minutes. Topics will include the negative consequences of drinking, such as accidents or violence. The objective is to make it clear to the adolescents that they bear responsibility for changing their own consumption behavior. Studies in the USA show that as few as one to four sessions can yield a lasting effect.

Deutsches Aerzteblatt International

Are the drinking habits of someone close to you giving you sleepless nights or stressful days? If so, you’re far from alone in your fears. In a recent survey conducted by pollsters YouGov as part of the Government’s ‘Know Your Limits’ campaign, two in five of those surveyed said they were concerned about how much alcohol their friends and family put away.

The survey data shows that women are more likely to worry than men about others drinking too much (46 per cent versus 36 per cent), and younger people worry more than their elders, with 45 per cent of 18-34 year olds expressing concerns, compared to only 36 per cent of those over 55.

But whether you’re young or old, male or female, there may come a time when your fears for a loved one’s health and wellbeing force you to take action and urge them in the direction of alcohol help.

This can be an extremely difficult situation to be in. After all, an alcoholic cannot be forced to seek help until they themselves are ready to do so. But that doesn’t mean you should wait for a crisis – an accident, medical emergency or violent incident – to make your move.

What’s most important it that you time the discussion carefully, says Sue Allchurch, research director at Linwood Manor Group. "In order for your concerns to have the most impact, this conversation should take place at a time when the problem drinker is sober, you are both in a calm frame of mind and in a situation where you can speak privately," she says. "Above all, you should be sympathetic and non-confrontational in tackling the issue."

If the conditions are right, she recommends the following approach:

1. Be specific. Explain your concerns to the problem drinker and provide evidence. Solid examples of the way that his or her drinking has caused problems for both of you in the recent past will make it difficult for them to dismiss your concerns lightly.

2. State the consequences. Tell the family member that, until he or she seeks alcohol help, there will be consequences to the behaviour. These might range from refusing to attend social activities in their company to ending the relationship. Explain that your intention is not to punish them, but to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the drinking – but never make any threats that you are not prepared to carry out.

3. Call for back-up if necessary. If the family member refuses to get help, or even acknowledge there’s a problem, ask a friend to talk with him or her. The intervention of more than one person, more than one time, is often necessary to persuade an alcoholic person to seek alcohol help.

4. Be ready to help. Gather information in advance about local treatment options. If the person is willing to seek help, call immediately for an appointment with a treatment program counselor. Offer to go with the family member on the first visit to a treatment program and/or AA meeting.

5. Stop all "rescue missions". It’s often the case that friends and family ‘cover up’ for the alcoholic, making excuses on their behalf in order to get them out of the scrapes in which they find themselves. If rescue missions are stopped (for example, calling their boss to say that they’re sick when they’re really hungover), the alcoholic will fully experience the harmful effects of their drinking and therefore be more motivated to tackle the problem.

6. Get support for yourself. Even if your loved one refuses to seek alcohol help, you will need help yourself. Support groups offered in most communities include Al-Anon, which holds regular meetings for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic’s life, and Alateen, for children of alcoholics.

Linwood Manor

Reacting to the NHS Information Centre’s new analysis of alcohol figures for 2007, Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2009 which shows around one in four adults in England are ‘hazardous’ drinkers, Chris Sorek, CEO of The Drinkaware Trust, says:

“Many people enjoy alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle but drinking to excess can lead to serious illness. To reduce the number of people drinking to ‘hazardous’ levels it’s crucial that consumers know how alcohol affects them and can make educated decisions about how much they’re drinking. Sticking to unit guidelines* and having two alcohol-free days a week can reduce the risks to health and wellbeing and, in some cases, reverse damage.

“With alcohol-related harm costing the NHS in England £2.7 billion per year, it’s imperative that consumers are unit-savvy. Whether it’s relaxing with a glass of wine at home or unwinding with friends in the pub, it’s a good idea for people to keep track of exactly how many units they’re drinking – this is often the first step towards responsible drinking.

“As an independent charity, Drinkaware is here to make sure people have the facts they need to enjoy alcohol without risking their health or emotional wellbeing in either the short or long term. People can find out how much they’re drinking by using tahe unit calculator on our website.“

Drinkaware

• Overall, in 2007/08 there were around 863,300 admissions related to alcohol consumption whether an alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason for hospital admission or a secondary diagnosis. This represents a 69% increase since 2002/03 when there were around 510,200 such admissions.

Commenting on today’s statistics released by the NHS Information Centre (Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2009), Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said:

“Today’s figures clearly show that alcohol misuse is one of the most serious public health problems facing the UK.

“The dramatic increase in admissions caused by alcohol consumption is a warning that unless action is taken, we face an escalating public health crisis and increasing pressure on the doctors and nurses working in our hospitals.

“The rise in deaths directly due to alcohol goes hand in hand with the increase in consumption over recent decades. As alcohol has become more affordable fuelled by the growth of irresponsible low cost sales, the population as a whole is drinking more and this is having a massive impact on the nation’s health.

“Only 1 in 18 problem drinkers is receiving proper support. It is vital that the government starts investing more in alcohol treatment to help those with a drink problem to tackle these issues before it’s too late.

Alcohol Concern

According to The Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project for England 26% of adults (aged 16-64) have an alcohol use disorder. This is equivalent to approximately 8.2 million people in England. Twenty one percent of men and nine percent of women are binge drinkers and 3.6% of adults in England are alcohol dependent; which equates to 1.1 million people.

With so many people in England misusing alcohol, how can you tell if you are drinking too much, or if it is becoming a major issue in your life? Government guidelines for safe drinking suggest that 21 units for a man and 14 units per week for a woman are safe and these should be spaced over a week and not consumed in one or two sessions. The measurement of a unit of drink is suggested as being half a pint of beer, a glass of wine or a pub measure of spirits (however, be aware that a half pint of beer can contain 3.5 units of alcohol in special beers).

For those concerned that they, or a loved one, are frequently overstepping the recommended guidelines for safe drinking, then here are the symptoms of alcoholism to look out for. Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, will begin with early signs of a problem, such as frequent intoxication, or a pattern of heavy drinking. Other early signs can include black-out drinking or a dramatic change in a person’s behaviour when they drink.

Sue Allchurch, director of Linwood Group, a leading provider of alcohol treatment facilities, comments: "As alcoholism is a progressive disease, those prone to frequent bouts of heavy drinking are likely to move to the next stage in the illness and begin to show signs of alcohol abuse. When a person’s drinking reaches this stage, they will continue drinking even if it causes them recurring problems. These will range from not being able to do their job or necessary responsibilities to getting in trouble with the Law, due to their alcohol fuelled behaviour. The next stage on from this is full blown alcoholism, or alcohol dependence."

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, when a person reaches the alcohol dependence stage, they can expect to experience at least three of the following seven alcoholism symptoms:

* Neglect of other Activities: Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use;
* Excessive Use: Alcohol is consumed in larger amounts over a longer period than intended;
* Impaired control: Ongoing, unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol consumption;
* Persistence of Use: Alcohol consumption is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely caused or exacerbated by alcohol;
* Large Amounts of Time Spent in Alcohol Related Activities: A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain, use or recover from the effects of alcohol;
* Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking;
* Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Linwood Manor