Alcohol Help

Drinkers in England drank an average eight alcoholic drinks every day during their summer holiday this year, a new survey from the Know Your Limits campaign revealed today.

With the typical summer break lasting ten days, that’s 80 alcoholic drinks over one holiday; 80 pints of beer is equivalent to 227 units, whilst 80 large glasses of white wine is 240 units. The NHS recommends women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day (around one large glass of wine) and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day (two pints of beer)[1].

More than a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) admitted to the Know Your Limits campaign that they drank three times or more than usual whilst away this summer.

Though many drinkers chop and change their drinks on a night out on holiday, beer lovers consumed an average of five pints a day. Wine drinkers lapped up four standard glasses of wine each day, while spirit drinkers admitted to having five mixer drinks, such as vodka and coke, each day. Drinkers also admitted to downing four other alcoholic drinks, such as strong cocktails or shots each day.

As a result, September is looking like the new January across England, with holidaymakers vowing to cut back on their return this month:

· one in five people (19%) surveyed in the ICM poll pledged to take two days off drinking a week;

· 16% planned to stop drinking altogether between Monday and Thursday;

· one in five people (22%) are generally going out less; and

· 12% are having a completely dry month.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

"It’s all too easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much on holiday. And it’s always hard to get back into a normal routine. But we should try to use September as the new January and make a pledge to be a little more healthy.

"Our survey showed that people across the country will be making a fresh start this September and are thinking about how they can change their drinking habits to get healthier.

"Sticking within the NHS’s recommended daily limits means you reduce your risk of serious conditions such as liver disease, cancer and stroke."

Dr. Chris Steele MBE said:

“Most of us want to let our hair down on holiday and tend to drink more, as we socialise most nights without worrying about how we’ll cope with work the next morning. But, it’s worth taking a moment on your return to think about what you’ve been drinking in terms of your health. Take advantage of feeling relaxed post-holiday and commit to take care of yourself a bit more.

“Cutting back on alcohol for September is a great place to start; if you find yourself drinking all or most days of the week, start by taking at least two days off each week. It can benefit your skin and sleep, and in years to come you’ll have limited the risk of the damage you’d be doing to your internal organs each time you drank.”

The Know Your Limits campaign has created some top tips for those holidaymakers wishing to leave their holiday boozing behind and get into the habit of drinking less:

1. Have at least two alcohol-free days each week: not drinking at all on certain days is often easier than promising yourself you won’t have quite as many in the pub. Many people find Monday and Tuesday are the easiest days of the week to cut back. As time goes by and you’ve proved you’ve got the willpower, try adding Wednesdays as well.
2. Alternate with soft drinks: there’s nothing like an exotic pineapple juice or a fizzy orange drink to remind you of your holidays, so alternate your alcoholic drinks with a soft one to help you stay in control and cut back your overall intake.
3. Clock your starting time: if you regularly begin drinking early in the afternoon, it’s likely that you’re drinking too much. If you’re at home when you reach for your first drink, limit the amount of alcohol you have in the cupboards.
4. Focus on next year’s swimsuit! For those of you who came back vowing to look better on the beach next summer, cutting back on your alcohol intake is an easy way to cut out ‘empty calories’ from your diet. You’ll also be less tempted to reach for the snacks if you’re not drinking wine in front of the TV most evenings.
5. Cut down with a friend/partner: If there is one particular person you always drink with or only ever meet in the pub, suggest that you both cut down together and find alternatives to drinking for each other. Many people find this helps their own willpower and removes unnecessary temptation.

Over ten million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits, affecting their general day to day health, but also increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers.

Department of Health

A major funding initiative by charity Drinkaware to tackle alcohol hotspots in British communities is now in full swing, with 13 grants totalling £265,000 being awarded to educational projects across the UK during the past six months.

The Drinkaware grants programme supports a diverse range of exciting and innovative education projects which aim to reduce alcohol misuse and make a tangible change in local communities. Projects range from street outreach to theatre performance and youth-led workshops. An education in sport partnership will kick off later this year. Some of the 13 grant recipients funded by Drinkaware include:

• Alcohol Focus Scotland – local community scoping work in Blackburn, including workshop programmes targeting hard to reach individuals and awareness-raising in local schools;
• London Bus Theatre – running a series of drama workshops and plays for teenagers over an 18 month period in the Basildon area, covering health, peer pressure, personal safety and antisocial behaviour, with a DVD resource for follow-up work in class;
• Bradford Youth Development Partnership – an alcohol awareness programme for under-18s, including workshops accredited by the Open College Network, giving young people the opportunity to become peer educators and access training opportunities;
• Early Break Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service – delivering alcohol awareness intervention directly to young people to influence behaviour and reduce need for the charity’s treatment services.

Drinkaware’s CEO, Chris Sorek, says: “With alcohol misuse costing the NHS around £2.7 billion a year, as well as the personal cost to individuals and communities, there is a clear role for grass-roots education in overhauling the UK’s binge drinking culture.

“Drinkaware’s mission is to change individual attitudes and behaviour towards alcohol misuse. We are committed to supporting educational projects which make a positive difference to people lives, creating a ripple effect for widespread and lasting change within society.”

Kathy Austen, Chair of London Bus Theatre, is confident that their Drinkaware-funded project will reduce alcohol misuse among young people, leading to less crime and antisocial behaviour in the Basildon area. She also hopes that more local young people will take a greater interest in acting as a result, as drama can increase respect, confidence and social skills.

Austen said: “Basildon is one of the most deprived areas of Essex. The alcohol workshops provide a fun and informative environment for young people to learn about alcohol and health issues, peer pressure and personal safety.

“This interactive method allows the pupils to grasp ownership of their own destinies and willingly accept certain behavioural choices. We have found that if you show something to someone, they usually forget it. If you involve them, they invariably understand it.”

Drinkaware funding is currently available to organisations working with under-18s and 25-44 year olds in any part of the UK. Charities, community and other voluntary organisations can apply for funding towards new and existing projects, as well as piloting new ideas that have wider potential. There are three levels of award:

• Ideas Fund, up to £2,000 – ideal for community-based projects needing support to develop an initial idea before applying for a larger award;
• Awareness Projects, up to £25,000 – for larger projects that undertake direct, hands-on work with individuals and the community;
• Big Impact Awards, up to £100,000 – designed to help larger-scale projects pack a more powerful punch or reach a wider audience.

Drinkaware Grants form part of the charity’s public education programme which aims to change British drinking culture by engaging consumers with impactful information.

Drinkaware

With the increase in college binge drinking and alcohol-related problems, it is imperative for parents to warn their young adults about the dangers of binge drinking before they return to school this fall.

Binge drinking on college campuses in the United States is on the rise, as are its consequences, such as drunk driving and alcohol-related deaths and injuries. With the new school year just around the corner, Promises Treatment Centers urges parents to talk to their children about the dangers of binge drinking, as well as be on the lookout for drinking-related issues after students head to college this fall.

According to a report from the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), drinking-related deaths among students aged 18 to 24 have increased steadily from 1,440 a year in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005. Forty-five percent of college students admitted to binge drinking in the past month, and 29 percent of students admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol.

In addition, recent studies are showing an alarming trend of women being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Nationwide, 126,000 women were arrested for DUI in 1998—a number that climbed to 162,000 in 2007. This could be due to a societal change, with women being more likely to take risks and engage in binge drinking, especially in college.

Although an increasing amount of colleges are teaming up with local police and community members to curb college drinking, more needs to be done at home to educate young people on the devastating effects of binge drinking.

Dr. David Sack, CEO of Promises Treatment Centers, addiction treatment programs in Malibu and West Los Angeles, says that parents can help prevent their children from binge drinking in college by staying involved in their children’s lives and by talking to them about the consequences of drinking heavily.

"With less parental monitoring and greater peer influence in college, the recipe could be disastrous for at-risk children," Dr. Sack said. "Despite the immediate dangers of binge drinking, such as injury, drunk driving, fatalities, and risky behaviors that can lead to STDs and unwanted pregnancy, binge drinking at younger ages can lead to alcoholism later in life."

"The younger people are when they start drinking heavily, the greater the chance that they will exhibit alcohol-dependent behavior in college, such as driving under the influence, being injured while intoxicated, or having unprotected sex after drinking. And those behaviors, if left untreated, will continue into adulthood," he explained.

Parents can also set up a foundation for healthy behavior at home. "By encouraging your child to be challenged academically during high school, as well as to participate in sports or extracurricular activities that are supervised by adults, you are setting up a strong foundation for your child’s success later in life, as well as markers that will help gauge substance abuse," he said.

"For example, if your son’s grades plummet once he enters college and he loses interest in the activities he used to excel at in high school, you should be on the lookout for problem drinking." Dr. Sack urges parents to take a proactive role during this time. "Chances are, if you suspect an issue, it is usually much worse," he said.

Another important aspect of preventing college binge drinking is developing a strong, trusting relationship with your children. A Swiss study found that out of 364 teenagers, only those who reported a later drinking age and a strong relationship with their parents had the lowest risk of developing drinking problems.

"Research has shown that teens who have a strong relationship with their parents are less likely to develop problems with alcohol," said Dr. Sack.

If you suspect your child is abusing alcohol regularly, consider getting him or her into counseling or treatment. Promises can also help concerned parents find an appropriate referral in their area.

Promises Treatment Centers has addiction treatment programs in West Los Angeles and Malibu, California. Promises is part of Elements Behavioral Health, which aims to fill the gaps in mental health treatment between inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services; in co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders; and between traditional and alternative settings to help clients that are underweight or overweight due to eating related and other issues. The goal is for full recovery and well being with permanent life change and life style improvement and not just symptom reduction. Our focus is not only on the patient, but on the health and support of the family system.

Promises Treatment Centers

An Alcohol Treatment Center in Connecticut offers several conventional and some non conventional treatment methods to help treat alcoholism and addiction.

Activities such as meditation, yoga, Qui Gong and several others are offered at an alcohol addiction treatment center located in northern Connecticut. Mountainside Treatment Center has been offering these treatment modalities along with many other traditional methods to provide the best possible chance of recovery to the suffering addict. Alcoholism addiction causes chemical changes in the mind as well as changes in the body. The lymph system becomes congested with toxic chemicals, the central nervous system which includes the brain becomes dependant on chemicals to regulate its functions. This often leaves the addict in a world darkened by denial and self hate, decreased self image and low self esteem.

Studies have shown that activities such as Qui Gong and Yoga help to speed up and improve the recovery process. In many cases these activities also accelerate the detoxification process by speeding up the body’s lymph system, releasing harmful toxins from the body. These practices also lessen anxiety levels and improve sleep patterns which in turn give balance back to the body and mind. In the last 10 years, yoga and qui gong have become increasingly more popular in the United States for their many health benefits. Some of these benefits were just listed above along with others such as increased blood flow to the brain, increased oxygen metabolism, lower blood pressure and an overall improvement in longevity and health.

The disease of addiction is extremely powerful and gripping often closing off the person’s ability to make rational decisions and get the help they need. This is why long term, residential treatment is needed for the addict and alcoholic. Intermediate and long term drug addiction treatment provides the person suffering from addiction an adequate chance to:

1) Allow sufficient time for the alcohol to leave their bodies.
2) Provide time to learn new coping mechanisms for dealing with day to day stresses.
3) Regain social and interpersonal skills
4) Give the alcoholic the required tools and life skills to become a productive member of society again.

At Mountainside we treat everyone as an individual taking into account the many factors of their lives and circumstance as we structure a treatment plan that is the best fit for each person.

Mountainside Alcohol Treatment Center has been helping people recover from alcoholism for over 12 years. It’s licensed and credentialed counselors and clinical staff includes an Advanced Nurse Practitioner who is a specialist in alcoholism treatment. The highly capable addiction treatment team is dedicated to providing compassionate and quality alcohol treatment.

Mountainside Alcohol Rehab

Commenting on information from Cancer Research UK which reveals alcohol as a significant factor in the trebling of primary liver cancer in the past 30 years, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said:

"This new research is building on a body of evidence which highlights the link between alcohol and cancer and the need for action.

"It’s well known that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver cirrhosis, but many people aren’t aware that cirrhosis can develop into cancer.

"We’re facing a public health crisis in terms of alcohol-related cancers and other health conditions because of cheap, easily available alcohol and a lack of health information to go with it.

"The UK needs to follow the evidence base for ending cut-price alcohol to drive our consumption down and reduce the rate of cancers and other diseases.

"The government can’t hope to do that unless it’s willing to get tough on the availability of low cost alcohol."

Alcohol Concern

With approximately 10 million people in England drinking above the recommended guideline levels it is no wonder that we are one of the least healthy nations in Europe. Just under a third of men (31%) and one in five women (20%) drink more than the advised weekly limits of 21 and 14 units a week respectively and some 8% of men and 2% of women drink more than the levels regarded as harmful, namely 50 and 35 units a week respectively. We are a nation desperately in need of a detox from alcohol.

The tipping point for health and wellbeing seems to come when that ‘odd drink’ becomes a necessity for calming down after the stress of the day, or revving up to go out. So how much is too much? Well, the Government’s recommended guidelines for daily alcohol consumption for adults, is: 2-3 units for a woman and up to 3-4 units for a man. And one unit is equivalent to 8g of alcohol, which is about what you get in half a pint of a weak (4%) lager, a whole pint of strong lager (5%) or cider contains three units and two small (125ml) glasses of wine (12%) are another three units. Binge drinking is also defined in Government guidelines as "drinking double the daily recommended unit guidelines".

If you, or a loved one, are regularly consuming over the recommended daily allowance of alcohol, it is time to think of improving your overall health and wellbeing by undertaking a time of alcohol detoxification. The word detoxification finds its roots in the Greek word toxikon, meaning ‘poison arrow’, with the idea behind that undertaking a period of detoxification meant ridding the body of this ‘poison arrow’. Alcohol metabolism creates some nasty bi-products in the body such as acetaldehyde, which is much more toxic than the alcohol itself and a period of persistent consumption not only depresses the central nervous system but creates toxicity in almost every part of the body.

Is there, however a right and a wrong way to detox from alcohol? Well, detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of the alcohol, while managing the symptoms of withdrawal. So, depending on how heavily you, or a loved one has been drinking will dictate whether you need professional help to manage the detox withdrawal symptoms. If you are unsure of how to go about detoxing from alcohol, get medical advice.

So what type of withdrawal symptoms can you expect? Well the symptoms are generally the opposite of the effects that were experienced when drinking and will vary depending on the amount of alcohol that has been regularly consumed, how long drinking at this level has been going on and the physical and mental state of the person undertaking the detox. Detoxification – the period of time it takes for the active toxins to leave the body – can be as little as a week or as long as a few months and should be undertaken under medical advice, or within the parameters of a professional alcohol detox programme. Sue Allchurch, research director at Linwood Group, comments: "There are two main stages to the alcohol detoxification process and we would recommend that for heavy drinkers, they seek professional help before undertaking any form of detox. The physical symptoms of the first few hours or days will include insomnia, restlessness, muscle trembling or spasms, possible nausea or vomiting and sweating. The psychological symptoms will most likely be anxiety and paranoia. These can increase to seizures, chest infections, intense pains in the stomach, hand and body tremors and hallucinations, depending on the severity of the withdrawal. The next stage in the process of withdrawal is likely to last up to six months and can include insomnia, restlessness, headaches, tiredness, muscle tremors, sexual problems, anxiety, poor concentration and depression or mood swings.

"At Linwood Group, we also realise that treating the physical withdrawal from a drug such as alcohol isn’t enough in itself. It needs to be followed by some sort of behavioural-based therapy, to address the issues that led to the excessive drinking patterns in the first place. Detox on its own, with no follow-up treatment of the underlying psychological, social, and behavioural problems associated with addiction is not a long-term solution to drinking problems. It is most useful however, and has the greatest chance of making a long-term difference, when it incorporates assessment and referral to subsequent treatment programs."

Linwood Manor

Drinkers across England are losing valuable sleep and disrupting vital brain functions without knowing that their boozing is the cause, new research for the Government’s Know Your Limits campaign has today revealed.

More than half (58%) of nearly 2,000 drinkers surveyed by YouGov did not realise that drinking above the recommended daily limits can cause sleep problems, with more men (63%) than women (53%) unaware of the link.

Almost half (45%) of those surveyed admit to experiencing tiredness the day after drinking over the recommended daily limits, but it seems many people don’t realise this could be due to alcohol interfering with their normal, restful sleep.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

"Lots of people don’t realise that drinking too much can disrupt your sleep, leave you dehydrated and unable to remember parts of your evening.

“On top of this, drinking too much can affect your longer-term health, putting you at an increased risk of liver disease, stroke and cancer.

"Our Know Your Limits campaign arms people with the facts about how many units are in their favourite drinks, to help them keep a check on how much they drink each day."

Did you know?

Alcohol can be a headache in various ways, including its impact on sleep:

· Too many loo breaks… Alcohol stops the brain from releasing an important chemical, called vasopressin, which normally regulates the amount of water in your body. This dehydrates the body and sends you running to the loo all night.

· Dehydration… Booze encourages too much water to be flushed out of your body which will dehydrate you, putting your body under strain and contributing to a headache that can stop you sleeping.

· Your brain can’t hurt… Whilst you may feel like your hangover headache is caused by your brain hurting, your brain actually can’t feel pain because it has no pain receptors. In fact, while the headache may feel as if the brain is banging against the skull, the pain is actually coming from the inner lining of the skull and the blood vessels.

Contrary to popular opinion dozing off after a couple of glasses of wine or passing out after a night of heavier drinking is not the start of a deep sleep. The Know Your Limits campaign reveals that drinking late in the evening before you go to bed is actually far more likely to prevent you getting the quality sleep your body needs. Instead, you could be upsetting your sleep patterns, encouraging dehydration, and altering the blood pressure of the brain, leaving you far from fresh the next day.

Jessica Alexander, spokesperson for the Sleep Council said:

“Although many people may feel alcohol helps them get off to sleep, it is also a major culprit for disrupting your night as it can interfere with the body’s chemical processes needed for sound sleep. Waking up deprived of the vital sleep your body needs will leave you feeling drained and, if experienced night after night, can seriously affect your health and wellbeing.”

The so-called ‘drinker’s false dawn’ is caused by the way alcohol disrupts the crucial ‘REM’ stage, which is essential for a deep, satisfying night’s sleep. Alcohol stops you reaching this stage early in the night, meaning your body has to catch-up later in the night. REM sleep is also believed to be important for the creation of memories, which is one reason why heavy drinkers can sometimes wake up unable to remember parts of their evening.

The NHS recommends women do not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day (a large 250ml glass of 12% wine is 3 units) and men do not regularly drink more than 3-4 units (a pint of 5.2% beer is 3 units). Over ten million adults in England regularly exceed these limits, affecting their general day to day health, but also increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers.

Jessica Alexander added:

“If you find yourself drinking above the recommended daily limits most days of the week, your body may be constantly trying to catch up and then it’s likely you’ll never feel fully alert or equipped to deal with the stresses and strains of daily life.”

The chemical processes of sleep are not the only function of the brain that is disrupted by alcohol, according to neuroscientist Dr Barry Gibb, author of the Rough Guide to the Brain.

Dr Gibb said: “Anyone who enjoys alcohol knows that, after a few drinks, they start to need more frequent trips to the loo. But many don’t realise this is actually a sign that they are starting to dehydrate. This can seem strange when you’re taking on more liquid than normal, but what is actually happening is that alcohol stops the brain from releasing an important chemical, called vasopressin, which normally regulates the amount of water in your body.

“With this chemical turned off, your body starts misbehaving and gets rid of the liquid in your body more quickly than it should. Water makes up about 80% of the brain and is an essential element in keeping it working smoothly, so dehydration doesn’t just cause headaches but can put stress on all of the brain’s normal processes – not helpful at a time when the body is working extra hard to get rid of toxic chemicals.”

While some people in the YouGov survey thought alcohol makes the brain ‘swell’, ‘shrink’ or even ‘pickle’, Dr Gibb explains that this isn’t the case at all.

“People might be surprised that the brain itself cannot feel pain. While the thumping, pulsing hangover headache may feel as if the brain is pressing against the skull, the pain is actually coming from the inner lining of the skull which contains numerous blood vessels with all their associated pain receptors.”

Department of Health

Few people take the time to consider how much their evening out on the town may end up costing them if they should decide to get behind the wheel of a car after having a few drinks. A conviction for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in New York is estimated to cost up to $9500 – and this is for a first time conviction!

The fines for a DWI conviction vary depending on the age of the driver, whether the driver has any previous convictions and the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Generally, a driver with a BAC between 0.08 and 0.17 will have to pay a fine between $500-$1000. If the driver’s BAC was 0.18 or greater, the driver is charged with the more serious crime of aggravated DWI and may be fined between $1000-$2500.

New York also has a zero tolerance law. Drivers under 21 are not permitted to operate a vehicle with any alcohol in their systems. Underage drivers caught driving a car with a BAC between 0.02 and 0.07 may receive a minimum $125 fine.

Other expenses associated with a DWI conviction include:

- Driver Responsibility Assessment fees ($250 per year for 3 years)
– Surcharges and other fees
– Attorney’s fees
– Driver’s license reinstatement fees
– Alcohol assessment and treatment program expenses
– Victim impact panel fees
– Vehicle towing and impoundment costs
– Public transportation costs
– Increased insurance premiums

One of the most expensive costs associated with a DWI are the increased auto insurance rates. Some insurers will not offer coverage to a driver who has been convicted of a drunk driving charge, forcing those who have been convicted of a DWI to find a new insurance company offering coverage to high risk drivers.

Auto insurance rates are not the only insurance rates that will increase. Homeowner, life insurance, health insurance, disability and umbrella policies also may increase as a result of the DWI as well as the insurance rates for other types of motor vehicles, including boats and motorcycles.

The Costs Are Not Just Monetary

A DWI conviction costs more than just money. A drunk driving charge has the potential to impact nearly every area of a person’s life.

- License revocation: Those receiving their first conviction for a DWI can expect to have their license revoked for a minimum of 6 months. In some circumstances, they may be able to receive a conditional driver’s license, which will give them restricted driving privileges during the revocation period. Conviction for DWI may result in a person being placed on three years probation. A person on probation may not apply for a conditional license without the permission of the probation officer. Drivers may also be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles at their expense in order to receive the conditional driver’s license.

- Employment: A drunk driving conviction can prevent someone from obtaining certain types of employment or may result in the person losing their job. Depending on the type of job, employees may be required to notify their employer of the drunk driving charge within a certain amount of time. Employees also may have to miss significant time from work for court dates, alcohol treatment and/or jail time.

- Education: Applicants to certain educational programs may be required to disclose whether or not they have ever been convicted for a DWI. Depending on the type of program, the applicant may have his or her application denied because of the conviction. Those applying for professional licenses will have to disclose their conviction for DWI. The conviction may well result in negative consequences when the application is considered by the licensing authority.

- Child custody: A DWI conviction may impact a parent’s rights to custody of their children especially if the parent is involved in an ongoing custody dispute with their spouse. The conviction may be used as a factor against a parent to show that it is not in the child’s best interests for the parent to have primary or joint custody.

There is also the social stigma of being considered a drunk driver. Society looks harshly on those who have been convicted of drunk driving and the laws penalizing this behavior become stricter each year.

It is imperative that drivers remember that the legal blood alcohol limit in New York is 0.08 – not when a person "feels" drunk or "thinks" they are intoxicated. Depending on a person’s gender, weight, tolerance level and other factors, it may only take a couple of drinks before he or she has reached the legal limit and is too impaired to drive under the law.

Getting the Help You Need

Everyone makes mistakes. The law, however, does not view drunk driving as a one-time mistake and severally punishes those convicted of a DWI. With the help of an experienced attorney, you may be able to limit the impact of these charges on the rest of your life. An attorney can also assist you in getting the professional help you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for Help!

Greenspan & Greenspan