Alcohol Help

Reacting to the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, says:

“The drinking culture in the UK is entrenched and many young people see drinking alcohol as a rite of passage, so this guidance from the Chief Medical Officer is extremely useful. It’s imperative that from an early age, we start to educate children and young people about the dangers of alcohol misuse.

“Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s attitudes towards alcohol, often without even realising it. Children need to know the facts and parents are in the best position to give them information – research shows that half of 16 and 17 year olds listen to their parents about alcohol. In the same way that parents teach children about fire safety or safe sex, parents should not shy away from educating their children about the effects alcohol misuse can have.

“It can be very difficult for parents to know how and when to talk to their children about alcohol, but with the right support and advice, it can hopefully seem less daunting.”

Drinkaware tips for parents include:

• Be a positive role model – adults should drink within the daily recommended guidelines (3-4 units a day for men, 2-3 for women)
• Introduce the topic early – the average age for young people to have their first alcoholic drink is 13.
• Don’t make alcohol a taboo subject – ensure your child can talk freely with you about alcohol. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, soap operas or news stories can provide a useful trigger.
• If your child does get drunk try not to overreact – talk to them about it the next morning: listen to what they have to say and try to understand their situation.

Drinkaware

The holiday season is infamous for being a time of over-indulgence, and recovering alcoholics often feel the heat, not only from summer temperatures, but also from the pressure of remaining abstinent. The festive season is a difficult time for alcoholics as it presents many situations where uncomfortable emotions arise and opportunities for relapse are abound.

Here are five tips for staying Sober during the festive season:

1. Work your 12 Step programme

A 12 Step programme offers alcoholics everything they need to stay Sober. If you apply yourself to your 12 Step fellowship, you will get through the holidays Sober, serene, and able to enjoy the excitement of the festive period.

2. Pick up the phone

If you find yourself craving drugs or alcohol, call someone immediately. By the time the conversation has ended, the feeling will most likely have passed. Make sure that you have important numbers saved and that you always have airtime to make a call in case you begin to experience a craving.

3. Have an escape plan

The holiday season sometimes seems like one party after another. If you feel unstable and vulnerable in your sobriety, turn down an invitation. Your sobriety is worth more than a disappointed host. For those functions you cannot excuse yourself from, have a ‘plan B’. This means that if you feel your sobriety may be in danger, make sure you can leave and get to a safe place. Keep your phone on you so you can call someone immediately and arrange to meet with them to talk through the craving.

4. Be good to yourself

Late nights, sunburn, dehydration, over-indulgence: these all take their toll on a person’s body, leaving them tired, irritable and depressed. These conditions are not conducive to remaining abstinent from drugs. Recovery is about treating yourself well, so make sure you get enough sleep, eat properly, drink enough fluids and generally look after your body. Physical wellness increases happy feelings and decreases cravings.

5. Don’t panic

This part is simple but difficult: Relax. You got into recovery to get your life back on track, not to live like a hermit, afraid of seeing anyone for fear you might relapse. This doesn’t mean that painting the town red is good idea. It simply means that if you are suddenly faced with an uncomfortable situation, empower yourself by realising that you have a choice as to whether to use or not, and that you are making healthy choices – choices that don’t include alcohol or drugs.

Mark Bowey, addictions counsellor at Oasis Counselling Centre says, "The festive season is a high-risk period for recovering alcoholics. But many stay Sober because, in working a 12 Step programme, they get incredible support, tools and an outlook on life that helps them to be a part of society, without having to use."

Oasis Counselling Centre

Chief Medical Officer publishes final guidance on alcohol and children

The Chief Medical Officer’s guidance for parents, children and young people is based on the most comprehensive ever review of the scientific evidence and follows an extensive public consultation.

Parents have backed the Chief Medical Officer’s advice that children should avoid alcohol completely before the age of 15.

Following publication of draft guidance in January this year, parents were asked what they thought. Parents from across the country commented on the guidance, with the majority welcoming its focus on parental responsibility and the clear advice on the health effects and risks of children drinking alcohol.

The final five-point guidance published today advises:

1. an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option – if children drink alcohol, it shouldn’t be before they reach 15 years old;

2. if young people aged 15 – 17 years old drink alcohol, it should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment;

3. parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and not drinking is the healthiest option for young people. If children aged 15 – 17 drink alcohol they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week. They should never drink more than the adult daily limits recommended by the NHS;

4. the importance of parental influences on children’s alcohol use should be communicated to parents, carers and professionals. Parents and carers need advice on how to respond to alcohol use and misuse by children; and

5. support services must be available for children and young people who have alcohol-related problems and their parents.

The final guidance is the first time advice on children and alcohol has been set out for parents and will be the basis of a new national campaign on alcohol and children to be launched by the Department for Children School’s and Families in the new year. The campaign will provide support and advice to parents and young people on the effects and harms of alcohol.

Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England said:

“Across England, half a million children between the ages of 11 and 15 years will have been drunk in the past four weeks.

“The science is clear. Drinking particularly at a young age, a lack of parental supervision, exposing children to drink-fuelled events and failing to engage with them as they grow up are the root causes from which our country’s serious alcohol problem has developed.

“The overwhelmingly positive response to the guidance has shown that this is a major issue for parents and carers. They want more information to support them in talking to their children about alcohol and helping them to grow up as responsible drinkers.”

Department of Health

The UK drinks industry has made a major commitment to tackling alcohol misuse by providing increased funding for alcohol education charity Drinkaware.
The funding, coupled with an updated Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Health, the alcohol industry and The Drinkaware Trust*, will make it possible for Drinkaware to step up its activities while continuing its valuable work providing independent, medically evidenced alcohol education for consumers. The additional funds will be used to amplify current campaigns targeting adults, young adults and under-18s, build its digital presence, and develop more compelling education and information programmes.

Fifty alcohol-related companies including leading producers, pub operators, supermarkets and off-licence companies have committed more than £5 million per year for the next three years to support Drinkaware.

Established as a standalone charity three years ago, Drinkaware’s success continues to grow. Nearly half of UK adults are familiar with the charity, more than 3 billion products every year carry the Drinkaware logo, some 2 million people visit the drinkaware.co.uk website for information each year, and primary care trusts, schools and community drug and alcohol teams regularly use the charity’s educational materials. Armed with continued funding from across the drinks industry, Drinkaware can carry on effecting the cultural change needed to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse.

Derek Lewis, Chairman of Drinkaware, says:

“We’re extremely happy to receive broad support from across the drinks industry. The funding from retailers, trade bodies and producers will make it possible for Drinkaware to continue talking to under-18s, young adults and adults about the dangers of alcohol misuse.

“Changing the UK drinking culture won’t happen overnight and we’ve all got a part to play. It’s imperative that the drinks industry, medical and public health community, charities and central and local Government all work together to protect consumers from alcohol related harm.

“With alcohol misuse costing the NHS around £2.7 billion each year, it is essential that consumers are able to make informed decisions about their consumption. Education plays a key role in changing behaviour – and Drinkaware, as a provider of independent medically-validated and accessible information, is in a great position to help effect this change.”
Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, says:
"With 10 million people drinking more than is good for them, and putting themselves at risk of diseases like cancer and diabetes, there’s no doubt that we still have work to do.
“Government action to tackle alcohol can only succeed if the industry step up to the mark and play their part in changing attitudes and helping people drink responsibly. I am committed to taking decisive yet proportionate steps, at every opportunity, to make it easier for people to drink within the recommended limits.
“Drinkaware have made good progress so far, and it’s encouraging that they can continue with more stable funding.”

Drinkaware

Half of Australian adults and 63 per cent of Australians on a higher income believe teenagers aged from 15 to 17 year old should be allowed to consume alcohol under parental supervision at home, according to the latest MBF Healthwatch survey.

Bupa Australia Chief Medical Officer, Dr Christine Bennett, said these statistics were both surprising and of concern given alcohol consumption can have long-term health implications for young adult brains that are not yet fully developed.

"Our survey suggests many Australians believe it’s acceptable to buy alcohol for teenagers and allow them to drink under parental supervision at home," Dr Bennett said.

"Some parents may think this is harmless to a young person’s health; some may see this approach as a way to teach their teenage children about socially responsible drinking. But we want parents to understand that early exposure to alcohol may actually be doing their teenager’s health, damage.

"Evidence suggests that the younger teenagers are when alcohol is introduced, the greater the risk of long-term alcohol related health problems.

"Too much alcohol impairs young people’s judgement which can lead to violence, injury and build a pattern of use that leads to lifetime dependence.

"Binge drinking in young people is on the rise and it’s shocking to think that one teenager a week dies of alcohol abuse.

"We teach children about the harmful health effects of smoking, unsafe sex and taking illicit drugs, but we also need to teach them about the damage that alcohol can do," she said.

The MBF Healthwatch survey results also showed that people’s acceptance of supervised underage drinking was closely linked to their incomes:

• 63 per cent of people earning more than $100,000 supported supervised alcohol consumption, followed by
• 53 per cent of people earning between $70,001 to $100,000
• 48 per cent of people earning $40,001 to $70,000.

Professor Ian Hickie, Executive Director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, reaffirmed Dr Bennett’s concerns.

"It’s concerning that one in two adults believes it’s acceptable to allow underage drinking, especially in light of the latest alcohol guidelines released by the National Health and Medical Research Council, which are based on current international medical evidence," Hickie said.

"These statistics highlight the gap between best medical evidence and parental actions, while also challenging the belief parents are well placed to assist their children to avoid drinking alcohol during the critical years of brain development.

"Parents need to understand that early alcohol use can disturb a wide range of key brain functions, with the long-term ramifications potentially causing permanent disruption to some of the brain’s most important integrative functions."

Adults in Western Australia were the biggest supporters of underage drinking, with 59 per cent stating it was acceptable under parental supervision. In contrast, only 46 per cent of adults residing in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory approved of underage drinking.

Allowing underaged teenagers to drink alcohol was also supported by 52 per cent of adults living in Tasmania, 51 per cent in Queensland and Victoria, and 49 per cent in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

"Given that social drinking is a common part of the Australian culture, our challenge is to help our young people learn how to enjoy alcohol in a socially responsible way and protect them from harm now and in the long-term," Dr Bennett said.

"That will mean educating young people about the health risks of underage drinking and, as parents and a community, being good role models."

MBF Health Insurance

If you know someone or are yourself addicted to alcohol, you know it is a sad road to follow.

Alcohol addiction often takes over every aspect of an individuals life, but treatment can often help someone get out of the ditch and back on a straight and narrow path to a happy, productive life. Unfortunately, too many people suffer, and not all are adults. Young people and teenagers that are becoming addicted to substances are a growing number.

Being addicted to alcohol interferes with the person’s ability to work, interact socially with others, and life in general. It may have started out with peer pressure (especially teens) or just as an occasional social drink. Some families have a tendency toward the condition, and it may run through every generation of their family. Often, it begins as a fun and relaxing high, and ends up as depression and an inability to cope without a drink. The individual may make excuses about why they cannot attend this function or that – the real reason is often because they have to have that next drink.

Many people try to hide their problem from others, and drink in secrecy. Alcohol addiction treatment helps those who finally sink to the bottom and feel they have no way out to learn how to deal with their addiction. Those who feel that they cannot function without a drink are sometimes horrified at the idea of treatment, because they do not know how they would make it without alcohol. But, if deep down within there is a true desire to stop letting the substance control your life, it can be accomplished.

Alcohol addiction treatment often includes cognitive behavior therapy, which is effective in treating any type of addictive disorder. Individuals learn how the things that go through their mind can often affect what they do or how they feel, which helps them analyze their problems in a different way instead of resorting to substances. Many times, those who have existing issues with anxiety or depression may turn to alcohol. In some instances, neurofeedback helps those who are affected learn different ways to help modify their own brain wave activity, which helps prevent relapse.

Never feel that you or a loved one are doomed to the addiction forever. When alcohol addiction treatment is handled by professionals who understand the rhyme and reason of it all, you can develop the skills you need to beat the addiction. Emotional skills training often helps those with substance abuse or addiction problems discover how to use their emotions in a positive way, so that they avoid drowning their emotions in alcohol. Is there hope? More than that, there are effective treatments and therapies that WORK.

Dataflurry Medical Search Marketing

The study followed 1,897 breast cancer survivors of early-stage invasive breast cancer and compared breast cancer recurrence in women who drank with the breast cancer survivors who did not drink.

While previous research has shown that consumption of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, there have been limited studies about alcohol’s role in patient prognosis and survival among those already diagnosed with breast cancer.

This study found that increased risk of recurrence was greater among postmenopausal and overweight or obese women, regardless of the type of alcohol.

Moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (at least three to four drinks per week, no matter the type of alcohol) is associated with a 30 percent increased risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study. Post-menopausal or overweight women may be most susceptible to the effects of alcohol on recurrence, according to the researchers.

Detailed results of this study will be presented Dec. 9–13 at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center — American Association for Cancer Research San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium by Marilyn L. Kwan, PhD, staff scientist in the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.

“Women previously diagnosed with breast cancer should consider limiting their consumption of alcohol to less than three drinks per week, especially women who are postmenopausal and overweight or obese,” Kwan said

While previous research has shown that consumption of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, there have been limited studies about alcohol’s role in patient prognosis and survival among those already diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kwan and her colleagues examined the effects of alcohol on cancer recurrence and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology Study, a prospective cohort study of 1,897 breast cancer survivors diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer between 1997 and 2000. The researchers recruited participants from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cancer Registry and compared breast cancer recurrence in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer who drank with a reference group of women previously diagnosed with breast cancer who did not drink.
Kaiser Permanente Division of Research

Researchers used a questionnaire to document information on wine, beer and liquor consumption over the past year. Each year, participants also completed information on health outcomes, including recurrence of breast cancer, which was then verified by their medical records.

After eight years of follow-up, Kwan and colleagues found 349 breast cancer recurrences and 332 deaths from cancer and other causes. Among drinkers (50 percent of the study population), wine was the most popular choice of alcohol (90 percent), followed by liquor (43 percent), then beer (36 percent).

The increased risk of recurrence appeared to be greater among participants who were postmenopausal and overweight or obese, and was present regardless of type of alcohol. Alcohol consumption was not associated with overall mortality.

“These results can help women make more informed decisions about lifestyle choices after a diagnosis of breast cancer,” Kwan said. She added that these findings should be confirmed with more research because few studies have addressed the influence of alcohol on breast cancer prognosis, and the increased risk of recurrence was observed in only some subgroups.

Additional researchers on the study include Erin Weltzien, Emily Tam, Adrienne Castillo, Lawrence Kushi and Bette Caan, all with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research; and Carol Sweeney, with the division of clinical epidemiology and department of internal medicine at the University of Utah. Funding for the study was provided by the National Cancer Institute.

Kaiser Permanente

Drinkaware launches nationwide review of festive drinking habits

At least 602 million units of alcohol will be consumed at festive celebrations in December according to new research launched today (10th December) by alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware*. The equivalent of 265 million pints, 602 million shots of vodka or 286 million glasses of mulled wine will be guzzled on Christmas Day and work Christmas parties, with nearly half (47%) predicting they will drink more than the recommended daily unit guidelines.**

To determine the extent of British festive drinking, Drinkaware is today unveiling a live examination of the nation’s drinking habits. A seven square metre touch screen in Covent Garden in central London will link to a festive version of the charity’s unit calculator on the Drinkaware website, allowing people to enter what they’ve had to drink in the last 24 hours, compare their drinking to the rest of the nation and see how their calorie intake from alcohol fares against other festive food treats. Similar events in Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham will make it easy for people across the country to take part in what is believed to be the largest-scale interactive assessment of the nation’s drinking ever undertaken.

According to Drinkaware research, one in seven GB adults (14%) drink more than they mean to over Christmas while one in six (16%) say December is the one month of the year they can drink and not feel guilty. More than one in three Brits (36%) will go to three or more festive-related events and more than half (53%) say they will drink alcohol at most or all festive parties they attend. More men are expected to drink over their unit guidelines during the festive season (54%) than women (41%).

Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says: “For many people, December and the festive season is a time for getting together with loved ones and celebrating over a drink or two, or even more! It might feel like party time, but it’s still really important to keep track of how much you’re drinking – the long term effects of drinking to excess can last for much longer than Christmas.

“Although it seems an enormous amount, it’s likely that 602 million units is actually an underestimate of how much alcohol we’ll slug over the festive season. Conducting an experiment to find out what Britain is drinking this Christmas will encourage people to think about how much they’ve had to drink over the last 24 hours and help to educate them about units at the same time.”

Information gathered from the live screen in Covent Garden and other events across the country will be captured on the Drinkaware website with a rolling average for each day. The survey will run for a month, the screen in Covent Garden will be live for one week while Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham activity will run for five days. Results of the Drinkaware interactive survey will be reported in early 2010.

Don’t rely on alcohol to make you merry this Christmas. That’s the message from Central District Police who want everyone to have a fun festive holiday, but will be treating alcohol harm and liquor ban breaches as a priority.

Operations Manager Inspector David White said: "It’s not the drinking; it’s how we are drinking. We expect high spirits as people take advantage of the summer festivities, but year on year there are those that take it too far, drink excessively and make very poor decisions. We won’t be just standing back and letting this happen."

In New Zealand approximately one third of all police recorded offences are committed after the offender has consumed alcohol.

It is important to remember that there are a number of liquor bans in the District and consuming alcohol in those areas has consequences.

• Breaching liquor bans can lead to fines of up to $20,000.
• If you are found consuming alcohol in a liquor ban area, the police can confiscate all of the alcohol and search you and your vehicle.
• Anyone under 18 found drinking in a public place can be issued with a Liquor Infringement Notice which carries an instant $200.
• Adults breaching a ban face prosecution.
• Anyone using a fake ID or someone else’s ID faces conviction and a $2,000 fine.

Throughout the summer, operations focusing on alcohol harm will be taking place across the district and just because you can’t see the police it doesn’t mean to say they can’t see you. Full use will be made of closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) to help police deal with all alcohol-related situations and crimes. The Traffic Alcohol Group (booze bus) will also be operating and could be anywhere at any time.

If you are going out and will be drinking alcohol:
• Arrange safe transport to and from your location, whether that is a designated sober driver, taxi, bus or dial-a-driver. If you are paying for your transport, make sure that you put the money aside at the start of the evening so that you don’t spend it on drink and find yourself stranded.
• If you are going out with a group, stay with that group. Look out for one another.
• For every alcoholic drink you have, have a glass of water or non-alcoholic drink.
• Never lose sight of your drink. Although drink-spiking is rare it can happen. If you lose sight of your drink at any time throw what is left away and get a fresh one.
• Never accept a drink that is handed to you by a stranger.

New Zealand Police