อาการเมาสุรา
การติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังคืออะไร?
แอลกอฮอล์ส่งผลต่อผู้คนในรูปแบบต่างๆ บางคนสามารถเพลิดเพลินกับไวน์สักแก้วพร้อมอาหาร และเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ในปริมาณปานกลาง โดยไม่มีปัญหาใดๆ การดื่มหนึ่งหรือน้อยกว่าต่อวันสำหรับผู้หญิง และสองหรือน้อยกว่าต่อวันสำหรับผู้ชาย ถือเป็นการดื่มในระดับปานกลาง
การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มากเกินไปหรือบ่อยเกินไป หรือไม่สามารถควบคุมการบริโภคเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ได้ อาจเป็นสัญญาณของปัญหาที่ใหญ่ขึ้น คือการติดสุราหรือโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง หรือที่เรียกว่าการพึ่งพาแอลกอฮอล์
คำเหล่านี้บางครั้งใช้แทนกันได้ แต่มีข้อแตกต่างที่ทำเครื่องหมายไว้
ผู้ที่ติดสุราคือผู้ที่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มากเกินไปในบางครั้ง และพฤติกรรมการดื่มของพวกเขามักส่งผลให้เกิดพฤติกรรมเสี่ยงควบคุมตัวเองไม่ได้และการตัดสินใจที่ไม่ดี
โรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังหมายถึงคนต้องการแอลกอฮอล์เพื่อผ่านพ้นวันของพวกเขา
อาการของการดื่มสุรา การล่วงละเมิด และโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังมีอะไรบ้าง?
ความเข้มข้นของแอลกอฮอล์ในเลือดสูงทำให้เกิดอาการต่างๆ เช่น
- พูดช้า
- ปฏิกิริยาตอบสนองช้า
- ความสามารถในการควบคุมการเคลื่อนไหวของร่างกายลดลง
- ไม่มีสมาธิ
- มีปัญหาเรื่องความจำ
- ความสามารถในการตัดสินใจที่ไม่ดี
- มีพฤติกรรมเสี่ยง
- จำเกี่ยวกับการกระทำของคุณไม่ได้
หากดื่มสุรามากทำให้ระดับความเข้มข้นของแอลกอฮอล์ในเลือดสูงมากอาจทำให้หายใจลำบาก โคม่า หรือเสียชีวิตได้
ผลเสียการดื่มเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์สามารถนำไปสู่:
- อุบัติเหตุ
- แอลกอฮอล์
- จมน้ำ
- ฆ่าตัวตาย
- ทะเลาะวิวาท
ไม่ควรขับรถหรือใช้เครื่องจักรกลหนักขณะอยู่ภายใต้ฤทธิ์ของแอลกอฮอลล์
อาการของโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังรวมถึง:
- ความปรารถนาอย่างแรงกล้าหรือความอยากดื่ม
- ที่ไม่สามารถควบคุมความอยาก
- ไม่สามารถหยุดดื่ม
- ความอดทนที่เพิ่มขึ้นสำหรับเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์
- ที่โกหกเกี่ยวกับการ
- พยายามดื่มโดยที่คนอื่นไม่รู้ว่าดื่ม
- ไม่สามารถผ่านกิจกรรมประจำวันโดยไม่ดื่มได้
อาการของแอลกอฮอล์ติดสุรา ได้แก่
- การดื่มเพื่อผ่อนคลาย
- ปัญหาแอลกอฮอล์กับครอบครัวและเพื่อนฝูง เนื่องจากการดื่ม
- ขาดความรับผิดชอบ
- ที่มีปัญหาทางกฎหมายเพราะแอลกอฮอล์
ผู้ที่ติดสุราจะกล่าวว่าการดื่มสุราของเขาไม่มีปัญหากับครอบครัวหรือการงาน ผู้ที่ติดสุราจะดื่มบ่อยครั้งและประสบปัญหากับครอบครัว การทำงาน หรือโรงเรียนเนื่องจากการดื่ม อย่างไรก็ตาม พวกเขาอาจมองข้ามการดื่มหรือโกหกเกี่ยวกับปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์ที่บริโภค
ใครบ้างที่เสี่ยงต่อการติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง?
คนการติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังเป็นผลมาจากปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาหรือทางสังคม พวกเขาอาจดื่มเพื่อสงบสติอารมณ์หรือผ่อนคลายในสภาพแวดล้อมทางสังคม บางคนใช้แอลกอฮอล์เพื่อรับมือกับปัญหาทางจิตหรือความเครียดในชีวิตประจำวัน
การติดแอลกอฮอล์และโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังอาจเกิดขึ้นในครอบครัว สาเหตุที่แท้จริงของการติดดื่มสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังยังไม่ทราบ การติดสุราเป็นเรื่องปกติมากขึ้นในบางช่วงของชีวิต มักเกิดในเพศชาย นักศึกษา และผู้ที่ประสบเหตุการณ์ร้ายแรงในชีวิตหรือการบาดเจ็บ มีแนวโน้มที่จะดื่มสุราเพื่อแก้ปัญหา
- ซึมเศร้า
- ความเหงา
- ความเครียดทางอารมณ์
- ความเบื่อหน่าย
ซึ่งเป็นอันตรายเพราะการติดสุราอาจนำไปสู่โรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง
แหล่ง
ข้อมูลด้านสุขภาพ โควิด-19: เราพบความหวังในความปวดร้าว
ได้อย่างไร เรากำลังแบ่งปันเรื่องราวห้าเรื่องที่คนอย่างคุณรับมือกับความท้าทายของโรคระบาดนี้ เรียนรู้ว่าพวกเขาสร้างความยืดหยุ่นและพบความสุขในปีที่ผ่านมาได้อย่างไร และรับคำแนะนำสำหรับชีวิตของคุณเองด้วย
ใส่อีเมล
สมัคร
ความเป็นส่วนตัวของคุณมีความสำคัญต่อเรา
Many people with alcoholism continue to drink even when they develop health problems related to drinking. Loved ones sometimes notice a problem before the person does. It’s important that the person dependent on alcohol acknowledges their problem. Unless the person acknowledges that they have a problem, treatment will not be successful as the person will not take treatment seriously and most likely will not benefit from treatment offered.
Alcohol abuse can have short-term and long-term effects, such as alcohol poisoning, sexual dysfunction, and liver damage.
The short-term and long-term effects of alcoholism include brain damage, cirrhosis, and an increased risk of heart disease.
Alcohol withdrawal
Someone with alcohol dependence who stops drinking may have withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- nausea
- shaking
- sweating
- irritability
- anxiety
Alcohol withdrawal can be a medical emergency. Seek medical help right away if someone experiences:
- seizures
- severe vomiting
- hallucinations
- fevers
If you have alcoholism and a history of withdrawal symptoms, see a doctor before quitting. You should also see a doctor before quitting alcohol if you have other health conditions.
The treatment for alcohol abuse and alcoholism focuses on helping you learn ways to control the disease. Most people who recover from alcoholism have to abstain from alcohol because drinking alcohol in moderation is too hard for them. Abstinence is often the only way to manage the disease.
Treatment involves helping people understand their alcohol dependency and any problems in their life. It also involves a commitment to staying sober or practicing healthier drinking habits. Recovery from alcohol dependence can be a long process.
Treatment for alcohol abuse often includes therapy, learning new coping skills, and finding healthy ways to manage stress.
Medications
Doctors sometimes prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Other medications can help you quit drinking by blocking the feeling of intoxication or making you feel sick when alcohol enters your body. Medication can also help reduce cravings.
Support groups
Having support and seeking professional treatment increases chances for recovery from alcohol dependence. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide support for people who are recovering.
การวินิจฉัยการติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังเป็นอย่างไร?
การวินิจฉัยภาวะติดสุราหรอพิษสุราเรื้อรังจะต้องอาศัยประวัติจากครอบครัวและเพื่อร่วมให้ข้อมูลปริมาณสุราที่ดื่ม ลักษณะของการดื่มสุรา พฤติกรรมการดื่มสุรา ผลการตรวจปริมาณสุราและโรคประจำตัว
โรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังและการติดสุราสามารถวินิจฉัยได้โดยอาศัยปัจจัยดังต่อไปนี้
- มีผลกระทบต่อความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างบุคคล
- ได้รับอันตรายหรือบาดเจ็บ
- คุณภาพชีวิตลดลง
กระทบ
ทำให้เกิดอันตรายหรือการบาดเจ็บ
มีผลเสียต่อคุณภาพชีวิตของคุณ
การวินิจฉัยการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดอาจเป็นเรื่องส่วนตัว ครอบครัวและเพื่อนฝูงที่เป็นกังวลมักจะพยายามช่วยให้บุคคลนั้นตระหนักว่าการดื่มของพวกเขานั้นควบคุมไม่ได้ แม้ว่าพวกเขาจะไม่เชื่อก็ตาม
แพทย์ของคุณอาจถามคุณเกี่ยวกับนิสัยการดื่มและประวัติสุขภาพ พวกเขายังอาจใช้การตรวจเลือดเพื่อประเมินสุขภาพโดยรวมของคุณ โดยให้ความสนใจเป็นพิเศษกับส่วนต่างๆ ของร่างกายที่ได้รับผลกระทบจากแอลกอฮอล์มากที่สุด รวมถึงสมองและส่วนอื่นๆ ของระบบประสาท ตลอดจนหัวใจและตับ
ภาวะแทรกซ้อนที่เกิดจากโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง
หลายคนที่เป็นโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังยังคงดื่มต่อไป แม้ว่าจะมีปัญหาสุขภาพที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการดื่มสุราก็ตาม คนที่รักบางครั้งสังเกตเห็นปัญหาก่อนที่บุคคลจะสังเกตเห็น เป็นสิ่งสำคัญที่บุคคลที่ติดสุราต้องรับทราบปัญหาของตน เว้นแต่บุคคลนั้นจะรับทราบว่ามีปัญหา การรักษาจะไม่ประสบผลสำเร็จเนื่องจากบุคคลนั้นจะไม่รับการรักษาอย่างจริงจังและส่วนใหญ่จะไม่ได้รับประโยชน์จากการรักษาที่เสนอให้
การใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดอาจมีผลในระยะสั้นและระยะยาว เช่น พิษจากแอลกอฮอล์ การเสื่อมสมรรถภาพทางเพศ และความเสียหายของตับ
ผลกระทบในระยะสั้นและระยะยาวจากโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง ได้แก่ ความเสียหายของสมอง โรคตับแข็ง และความเสี่ยงที่เพิ่มขึ้นของโรคหัวใจ
การถอนแอลกอฮอล์
คนที่ติดสุราซึ่งเลิกดื่มสุราอาจมีอาการถอนได้
อาการถอนยารวมถึง:
- คลื่นไส้
- สั่น
- เหงื่อออก
- หงุดหงิด
- วิตกกังวล
การถอนแอลกอฮอล์อาจเป็นกรณีฉุกเฉินทางการแพทย์ ขอความช่วยเหลือจากแพทย์ทันที หากมีผู้ประสบ:
- ชัก
- อาเจียนอย่างรุนแรง
- เห็นภาพหลอน
- ไข้
หากคุณเป็นโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังและมีอาการถอนหรือลงแดงมาก่อน ให้ไปพบแพทย์ก่อนหยุดสุรา คุณควรไปพบแพทย์ก่อนเลิกดื่มแอลกอฮอล์หากคุณมีภาวะสุขภาพอื่นๆ
การติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังได้รับการปฏิบัติอย่างไร?
การรักษาผู้ติดสุราและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังมุ่งเน้นไปที่การช่วยให้คุณเรียนรู้วิธีควบคุมโรค คนส่วนใหญ่ที่หายจากโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังต้องงดดื่มสุรา เพราะการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ในปริมาณที่พอเหมาะนั้นยากเกินไปสำหรับพวกเขา การละเว้นมักเป็นวิธีเดียวที่จะจัดการกับโรคได้
การรักษารวมถึงการช่วยให้ผู้คนเข้าใจการพึ่งพาแอลกอฮอล์และปัญหาต่างๆ ในชีวิต นอกจากนี้ยังเกี่ยวข้องกับความมุ่งมั่นที่จะอยู่อย่างมีสติสัมปชัญญะหรือฝึกนิสัยการดื่มที่ดีต่อสุขภาพ การฟื้นตัวจากการติดสุราอาจเป็นกระบวนการที่ยาวนาน
การรักษาผู้ติดสุรามักรวมถึงการบำบัด การเรียนรู้ทักษะการเผชิญปัญหาใหม่ๆ และการค้นหาวิธีที่ดีต่อสุขภาพในการจัดการกับความเครียด
ยา
แพทย์บางครั้งสั่งยาเพื่อลดอาการถอน ยาอื่นๆ สามารถช่วยให้คุณเลิกดื่มได้โดยการปิดกั้นความรู้สึกมึนเมาหรือทำให้คุณรู้สึกไม่สบายเมื่อแอลกอฮอล์เข้าสู่ร่างกาย ยายังสามารถช่วยลดความอยากอาหาร
กลุ่มสนับสนุน
การสนับสนุนและแสวงหาการรักษาอย่างมืออาชีพจะเพิ่มโอกาสในการฟื้นตัวจากการติดสุรา กลุ่มต่างๆ เช่น Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) ให้การสนับสนุนสำหรับผู้ที่กำลังฟื้นตัว
แนวโน้มของการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดและโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังเป็นอย่างไร?
ผู้ที่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดและผู้ที่เป็นโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังมีความเสี่ยงเพิ่มขึ้นต่อปัญหาสุขภาพ เช่น
มะเร็ง
ปัญหาสุขภาพจิต ปัญหา
ตับ
สมองทำลาย
ระบบภูมิคุ้มกันที่อ่อนแอ
แม้แต่ผู้ที่รักษาครบแล้วก็ยังเสี่ยงที่จะกลับเป็นซ้ำ สิ่งสำคัญคือต้องรับรู้สัญญาณเตือนและขอความช่วยเหลือหากคุณกังวลเกี่ยวกับการกำเริบของโรค การบำบัดและการสนับสนุนอย่างต่อเนื่องช่วยลดความเสี่ยงนี้
การละเมิดแอลกอฮอล์คืออะไร?
การใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดหรือที่เรียกว่าการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดเป็นปัญหาร้ายแรง เป็นรูปแบบการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มากเกินไปบ่อยเกินไป มันรบกวนชีวิตประจำวันของคุณ คุณอาจกำลังประสบปัญหาจากการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดหากคุณดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มากเกินไปในคราวเดียวหรือบ่อยเกินไปตลอดทั้งสัปดาห์ นอกจากนี้ยังเป็นปัญหาหากคุณหยุดดื่มไม่ได้และส่งผลเสียต่อความสัมพันธ์ของคุณ อาจทำให้คุณไม่สามารถทำงานในที่ทำงานและในด้านอื่นๆ ของชีวิตได้
อ่านเพิ่มเติม
การใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดสามารถนำไปสู่การพึ่งพาแอลกอฮอล์ทางร่างกายหรือโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง แอลกอฮอล์มากเกินไปในคราวเดียวอาจทำให้เกิดพิษแอลกอฮอล์ได้ เครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์หนึ่งหน่วยสุราได้แก่ เบียร์ขนาด 12 ออนซ์; ไวน์สักแก้ว 5 ออนซ์; หรือสุรากลั่น 80 ออนซ์ 1.5 ออนซ์ (เช่น วิสกี้ รัม หรือเตกีลา)
คุณกำลังใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดเมื่อ:
- คุณดื่ม 7 แก้วต่อสัปดาห์หรือมากกว่า 3 แก้วต่อโอกาส (สำหรับผู้หญิง)
- คุณดื่มมากกว่า 14 แก้วต่อสัปดาห์หรือมากกว่า 4 แก้วต่อโอกาส (สำหรับผู้ชาย)
- คุณดื่มมากกว่า 7 แก้วต่อสัปดาห์ หรือมากกว่า 3 แก้วต่อโอกาส (สำหรับผู้ชายและผู้หญิงที่มีอายุมากกว่า 65 ปี)
การบริโภคแอลกอฮอล์ในปริมาณเหล่านี้เป็นอันตรายต่อสุขภาพ ความสัมพันธ์ การงาน และ/หรือทำให้เกิดปัญหาทางกฎหมาย
อาการของการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิด
- คุณได้พยายามหยุดดื่มแอลกอฮอล์เป็นเวลาหนึ่งสัปดาห์หรือมากกว่านั้น แต่เพียงสองสามวันก็กลับมาดื่มใหม่
- คุณไม่สามารถหยุดดื่มได้เมื่อคุณเริ่ม
- คุณตระหนักดีว่าคุณต้องหยุดหรือลดจำนวนลง
- คุณไม่สามารถดำเนินการในที่ทำงานหรือที่บ้านเมื่อคุณกำลังดื่มอยู่
- คุณรู้สึกผิดหลังจากดื่ม
- คนอื่นบอกคุณว่าคุณมีปัญหา
- คุณรู้สึกรำคาญกับการวิพากษ์วิจารณ์การดื่มของคุณ
- คุณดื่มในตอนเช้าหลังจากดื่มมากเกินไปในคืนก่อน
- คุณทำร้ายร่างกายคนอื่นหรือตัวคุณเองหลังจากดื่มมากเกินไป ซึ่งอาจเกิดจากอุบัติเหตุหรือความรุนแรง
- คุณแอบดื่มหรือซ่อนแอลกอฮอล์ของคุณ
- คุณมีอาการหมดสติและความจำเสื่อมหลังจากดื่มมากเกินไป
- คุณเป็นโรคซึมเศร้า
- คุณได้รับใบสั่งขับรถขณะอยู่ภายใต้ฤทธิ์สุรา
- การดื่มของคุณรบกวนความสัมพันธ์ของคุณ
- มือของคุณสั่น
แอลกอฮอล์ส่งผลต่อสุขภาพของคุณในด้านอื่นๆ เช่นกัน อาจทำให้เกิดโรคตับแข็ง เป็นสาเหตุสำคัญของการเสียชีวิตและการบาดเจ็บอันเนื่องมาจากอุบัติเหตุ อาจทำลายสุขภาพของทารกได้หากคุณดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ในระหว่างตั้งครรภ์ มันสามารถทำให้เกิดแผลเลือดออกและทำให้เยื่อบุกระเพาะระคายเคืองได้ แอลกอฮอล์ยังสามารถทำให้คุณมีน้ำหนักขึ้น รู้สึกไม่สบายหรือเวียนหัว ทำให้คุณมีกลิ่นปาก และทำให้ผิวแตกได้
อะไรเป็นสาเหตุของการติดสุรา?
ผู้ที่ติดสุราจะมีเหตุผลในการดื่มสุรา เช่น เพราะแรงกดดันทางสังคม ความปรารถนาที่จะผ่อนคลาย กลไกการรับมือกับความวิตกกังวล ความซึมเศร้า ความตึงเครียด ความเหงา ความสงสัยในตนเองหรือความไม่มีความสุข หรือประวัติครอบครัวที่ดื่มสุราในทางที่ผิด
การวินิจฉัยการละเมิดแอลกอฮอล์เป็นอย่างไร?
หลายคนที่ติดสุราจะได้ยินจากครอบครัวและเพื่อนฝูงว่าพวกเขามีปัญหา โดยทั่วไป แพทย์เชื่อว่าคนที่ติดสุราจะมีพฤติกรรมดังนี้
- ยังคงดื่มสราแม้การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ซ้ำๆ ทำให้มีปัญหาต่อความรับผิดชอบในที่ทำงาน ที่บ้าน หรือที่โรงเรียน
- ยังคงดื่มสราแม้การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ซ้ำๆ ทำให้คุณหรือบุคคลอื่นตกอยู่ในอันตรายทางกายภาพ (การขับรถ การใช้เครื่องจักร การผสมแอลกอฮอล์และยารักษาโรค การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ขณะตั้งครรภ์)
- ยังคงดื่มสราแม้การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ซ้ำๆ นำไปสู่ปัญหาทางกฎหมาย
- ยังคงดื่มสราแม้การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ซ้ำๆ ส่งผลเสียต่อความสัมพันธ์ของคุณ
สามารถป้องกันหรือหลีกเลี่ยงการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดได้หรือไม่?
หากคุณมีประวัติครอบครัวเป็นโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรังหรือดื่มสุราในทางที่ผิด คุณอาจต้องจำกัดแอลกอฮอล์ วิธีอื่นๆ ในการลดการบริโภคเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ ได้แก่
- จำกัดตัวเองให้ดื่มเพียงแก้วเดียวเมื่ออยู่คนเดียวหรือกับเพื่อนฝูง
- แสวงหาการรักษาภาวะสุขภาพจิตพื้นฐาน
- หลีกเลี่ยงการใช้เวลาร่วมกับผู้ที่ติดสุรา
- พูดคุยกับแพทย์ของคุณ
- ลองเข้าร่วมกลุ่มสนับสนุนที่ประกอบด้วยคนอื่นๆ ที่มีปัญหาแบบเดียวกัน
แพทย์ของคุณอาจตรวจหาแอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิด ยังแนะนำให้สอนวัยรุ่นที่มีอายุระหว่าง 12 ถึง 17 ปีเพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์
การรักษาผู้ติดสุรา
หากคุณเป็นคนหนึ่งที่ทุกข์ทรมานจากการดื่มสุรา
- ขั้นตอนแรกคือการตระหนักว่าคุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือ การศึกษาจำนวนมากแสดงให้เห็นว่าผู้ที่มีปัญหาเรื่องการดื่มสุราสามารถได้รับประโยชน์จากการรักษาบางรูปแบบ อย่างไรก็ตาม ทุกคนแตกต่างกัน ไม่ใช่ว่าการรักษาทั้งหมดจะได้ผลเหมือนกันสำหรับทุกคน ยิ่งบุคคลแสวงหาการรักษาเร็วเท่าไร ผลลัพธ์ก็จะยิ่งดีขึ้นเท่านั้น
- การบำบัดพฤติกรรมสามารถใช้เพื่อรักษาผู้ติดสุราได้ การบำบัดสามารถอยู่ในรูปแบบของกลุ่มสนับสนุน การให้คำปรึกษา หรือทั้งสองอย่างรวมกัน
- ยาที่ต้องสั่งโดยแพทย์บางชนิดสามารถรักษาอาการเมาสุราโดยช่วยให้ผู้คนหยุดหรือลดการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ ยาบางชนิดอาจทำให้เกิดผลข้างเคียงเช่นเดียวกับยาทั้งหมด
เมื่อคุณพบวิธีการรักษาที่มีประสิทธิภาพสำหรับคุณแล้ว สิ่งสำคัญคือต้องยึดมั่นในวิธีการรักษานั้น นอกจากนี้ การหลีกเลี่ยงสถานการณ์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับแอลกอฮอล์ปริมาณมากยังมีประโยชน์อีกด้วย
Living with alcohol abuse
Living with alcohol abuse means recognizing the triggers that make you want to drink. For example, hanging around with others who drink will make it difficult for you. You may be experiencing stress or unhappiness in your life and don’t have a counselor or friend to talk with. This could cause you to turn to alcohol to help you cope.
Living with alcohol abuse will continue to be a struggle if you do not recognize that you need help. You will continue to jeopardize your safety, your job or school, and your relationships.
การใช้ชีวิตร่วมกับการดื่มสุรา
การอยู่ร่วมกับการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดหมายถึงการตระหนักรู้ถึงตัวกระตุ้นที่ทำให้คุณอยากดื่ม ตัวอย่างเช่น การอยู่ร่วมกับคนอื่นที่ดื่มเหล้าจะทำให้ยากสำหรับคุณ คุณอาจกำลังประสบกับความเครียดหรือไม่มีความสุขในชีวิตและไม่มีที่ปรึกษาหรือเพื่อนที่จะพูดคุยด้วย นี่อาจทำให้คุณหันไปพึ่งแอลกอฮอล์เพื่อช่วยรับมือ
การใช้ชีวิตร่วมกับการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดจะยังคงเป็นเรื่องยากหากคุณไม่ทราบว่าคุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือ คุณจะยังคงเสี่ยงต่อความปลอดภัย งานหรือโรงเรียนของคุณ และความสัมพันธ์ของคุณ
คำถามที่ถามแพทย์ของคุณ
สามารถเริ่มดื่มแอลกอฮอล์เมื่อคุณเป็นผู้สูงอายุได้หรือไม่?
ยาที่ต้องสั่งโดยแพทย์สำหรับการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิดจะมีปฏิกิริยากับยาอื่น ๆ ที่ฉันทานเพื่อสุขภาพของฉันหรือไม่?
ฉันสามารถทานยาแก้ซึมเศร้าในขณะที่รับการรักษาผู้ติดสุราได้หรือไม่?
ฉันสามารถดื่มเป็นครั้งคราวได้หรือไม่หากฉันมีอาการเมาสุราและสามารถหยุดดื่มได้หลังจากดื่มไป 1 แก้ว?
อาการและอาการแสดงของการถอนแอลกอฮอล์มีอะไรบ้าง?
https://familydoctor.org/condition/alcohol-abuse/
People who abuse alcohol and people with alcoholism are at increased risk for health problems, such as:
- cancer
- mental health issues
- liver problems
- brain damage
- a weakened immune system
Even people who complete treatment have a risk of relapse. It’s important to recognize warning signs and seek help if you’re concerned about having a relapse. Continued therapy and support help minimize this risk.
What is alcohol abuse?
Alcohol abuse, also called alcohol misuse is a serious problem. It is a pattern of drinking too much alcohol too often. It interferes with your daily life. You may be suffering from alcohol abuse if you drink too much alcohol at one time or too often throughout the week. It also is a problem if you can’t stop drinking and it harms your relationships. It can cause you to be unable to function at work and in other areas of your life.
Alcohol abuse can lead to physical dependency on alcohol, or alcoholism. Too much alcohol at one time also can lead to alcohol poisoning. One alcoholic drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer; a 5-ounce glass of wine; or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (such as whiskey, rum, or tequila).
You are abusing alcohol when:
- You drink 7 drinks per week or more than 3 drinks per occasion (for women).
- You drink more than 14 drinks per week or more than 4 drinks per occasion (for men).
- You have more than 7 drinks per week or more than 3 drinks per occasion (for men and women older than 65).
- Consuming these amounts of alcohol harms your health, relationships, work, and/or causes legal problems.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Can alcohol abuse begin when you are elderly?
- Will prescription medicines used for alcohol abuse interact with other medicines I take for my health?
- Can I take antidepressant medicine while being treated for alcohol abuse?
- Can I drink occasionally if I am suffering from alcohol abuse and can stop after one drink?
- What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cooperative agreement number NU84DD000010.
Last Updated: July 23, 2019
This article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff
https://familydoctor.org/condition/alcohol-abuse/
Alcohol misuse is when you drink in a way that's harmful, or when you're dependent on alcohol. To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, both men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week.
A unit of alcohol is 8g or 10ml of pure alcohol, which is about:
- half a pint of lower to normal-strength lager/beer/cider (ABV 3.6%)
- a single small shot measure (25ml) of spirits (25ml, ABV 40%)
A small glass (125ml, ABV 12%) of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol.
Find out more about alcohol units
Low-risk drinking advice
To keep your risk of alcohol-related harm low:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis
- if you drink as much as 14 units a week, it's best to spread this evenly over 3 or more days
- if you're trying to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it's a good idea to have several alcohol-free days each week
- if you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, the safest approach is to not drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum
Regular or frequent drinking means drinking alcohol most days and weeks.
The risk to your health is increased by drinking any amount of alcohol on a regular basis.
Risks of alcohol misuse
Short term
The short-term risks of alcohol misuse include:
- accidents and injuries requiring hospital treatment, such as a head injury
- violent behaviour and being a victim of violence
- unprotected sex that could potentially lead to unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- loss of personal possessions, such as wallets, keys or mobile phones
- alcohol poisoning – this may lead to vomiting, fits (seizures) and falling unconscious
People who binge drink (drink heavily over a short period of time) are more likely to behave recklessly and are at greater risk of being in an accident.
Long term
Persistent alcohol misuse increases your risk of serious health conditions, including:
- heart disease
- stroke
- liver disease
- liver cancer
- bowel cancer
- mouth cancer
- breast cancer
- pancreatitis
As well as causing serious health problems, long-term alcohol misuse can lead to social problems for some people, such as unemployment, divorce, domestic abuse and homelessness.
If someone loses control over their drinking and has an excessive desire to drink, it's known as dependent drinking (alcoholism).
Dependent drinking usually affects a person's quality of life and relationships, but they may not always find it easy to see or accept this.
Severely dependent drinkers are often able to tolerate very high levels of alcohol in amounts that would dangerously affect or even kill some people.
A dependent drinker usually experiences physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly cut down or stop drinking, including:
- hand tremors – "the shakes"
- sweating
- seeing things that are not real (visual hallucinations)
- depression
- anxiety
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
This often leads to "relief drinking" to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Find out more about the risks of alcohol misuse
Am I drinking too much alcohol?
You could be misusing alcohol if:
- you feel you should cut down on your drinking
- other people have been criticising your drinking
- you feel guilty or bad about your drinking
- you need a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover
Someone you know may be misusing alcohol if:
- they regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- they're sometimes unable to remember what happened the night before because of their drinking
- they fail to do what was expected of them as a result of their drinking (for example, missing an appointment or work because they're drunk or hungover)
Getting help
If you're concerned about your drinking or someone else's, a good first step is to see a GP.
They'll be able to discuss the services and treatments available.
Your alcohol intake may be assessed using tests, such as the:
- Alcohol use disorders identification test (PDF, 224kb) – a widely used screening test that can help determine whether you need to change your drinking habits
- Alcohol use disorders identification test consumption (PDF, 382kb) – a simpler test to check whether your drinking has reached dangerous levels
As well as the NHS, there are a number of charities and support groups across the UK that provide support and advice for people with an alcohol misuse problem.
For example, you may want to contact:
- Drinkline national alcohol helpline on 0300 123 1110
- Alcohol Change UK
- Alcoholics Anonymous helpline on 0800 9177 650
- Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 0800 0086 811
See a full list of alcohol charities and support groups
Treating alcohol misuse
How alcohol misuse is treated depends on how much alcohol a person is drinking.
Treatment options include:
- counselling – including self-help groups and talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- medicines
- detoxification – this involves a nurse or doctor supporting you to safely stop drinking; this can be done by helping you slowly cut down over time or by giving you medicines to prevent withdrawal symptoms
There are 2 main types of medicines to help people stop drinking.
The first is to help stop withdrawal symptoms and is given in reducing doses over a short period of time. The most common of these medicines is chlordiazapoxide (Librium).
The second is a medicine to reduce any urge you may have to drink. The most common medicines used for this are acamprosate and naltrexone.
These are both given at a fixed dose, and you'll usually be on them for 6 to 12 months.
Further reading
- Alcohol units
- Carers Trust: caring for an alcoholic
- Social drinking: the hidden risks
- The risks of drinking too much
- Tips for cutting down on your drinking
Alcohol and pregnancy
The Department of Health and Social Care recommends pregnant women and women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol.
Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, and the risk increases the more you drink.
The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep the risk to your baby to a minimum.
If you're worried about alcohol use during pregnancy, talk to your doctor or midwife.
If you're trying to conceive, your partner should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which should be spread evenly over 3 days or more.
Drinking alcohol excessively can affect the quality of his sperm.
Page last reviewed: 21 August 2018 Next review due: 21 August 2021
Risks-Alcohol misuse
ผลกระทบระยะสั้นของการบริโภคเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์
ผลกระทบระยะสั้นของการบริโภคเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มีดังต่อไปนี้ ข้อมูลนี้อิงตามสมมติฐานที่ว่าคุณมีความอดทนต่อแอลกอฮอล์เป็นปกติ
ผู้ติดสุราที่มีความทนทานต่อแอลกอฮอล์สูงกว่ามักจะดื่มได้มากขึ้นโดยไม่ประสบผลใดๆ ที่เห็นได้ชัดเจน
1 ถึง 2 หน่วย
หลังจากดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ 1 ถึง 2 หน่วย อัตราการเต้นของหัวใจจะเร็วขึ้นและหลอดเลือดจะขยายตัว ทำให้คุณรู้สึกอบอุ่น เป็นกันเอง และช่างพูดที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการดื่มในระดับปานกลาง
4 ถึง 6 หน่วย
หลังจากดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ 4 ถึง 6 หน่วย สมองและระบบประสาทของคุณจะเริ่มได้รับผลกระทบ มันเริ่มส่งผลกระทบต่อส่วนต่าง ๆ ของสมองที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการตัดสินและการตัดสินใจ ทำให้คุณประมาทและไม่ถูกยับยั้งมากขึ้น
แอลกอฮอล์ยังส่งผลเสียต่อเซลล์ในระบบประสาทของคุณ ทำให้คุณรู้สึกไม่สดใสและส่งผลเสียต่อเวลาตอบสนองและการประสานงานของคุณ
8 ถึง 9 หน่วย
หลังจากดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ 8 ถึง 9 หน่วย เวลาตอบสนองของคุณจะช้าลงมาก คำพูดของคุณจะเริ่มเบลอและการมองเห็นของคุณจะเริ่มสูญเสียโฟกัส
ตับของคุณซึ่งกรองแอลกอฮอล์ออกจากร่างกายของคุณ จะไม่สามารถกำจัดแอลกอฮอล์ทั้งหมดได้ในชั่วข้ามคืน ดังนั้น เป็นไปได้มากที่คุณจะตื่นขึ้นมาพร้อมกับอาการเมาค้าง
10 ถึง 12 หน่วย
หลังจากดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ 10 ถึง 12 หน่วย การประสานงานของคุณจะบกพร่องอย่างมาก ทำให้คุณเสี่ยงที่จะเกิดอุบัติเหตุร้ายแรง แอลกอฮอล์ระดับสูงมีผลกดประสาททั้งร่างกายและจิตใจ ซึ่งทำให้ง่วง
ปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์นี้จะเริ่มถึงระดับที่เป็นพิษ (เป็นพิษ) ร่างกายของคุณพยายามขับแอลกอฮอล์ในปัสสาวะออกไปอย่างรวดเร็ว สิ่งนี้จะทำให้คุณรู้สึกขาดน้ำในตอนเช้า ซึ่งอาจทำให้ปวดหัวอย่างรุนแรง
ปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์ที่มากเกินไปในระบบของคุณอาจทำให้ระบบย่อยอาหารของคุณแย่ลง ซึ่งนำไปสู่อาการคลื่นไส้ อาเจียน ท้องร่วง และอาหารไม่ย่อย
มากกว่า 12 หน่วย
หากคุณดื่มแอลกอฮอล์มากกว่า 12 หน่วย คุณมีความเสี่ยงสูงที่จะเป็นโรคพิษสุราเรื้อรัง โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งหากคุณดื่มหลายหน่วยในช่วงเวลาสั้นๆ
โดยปกติตับจะใช้เวลาประมาณหนึ่งชั่วโมงในการกำจัดแอลกอฮอล์หนึ่งหน่วยออกจากร่างกาย
พิษจากแอลกอฮอล์เกิดขึ้นเมื่อปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์ที่มากเกินไปเริ่มรบกวนการทำงานอัตโนมัติของร่างกาย เช่น
- การหายใจ
- อัตราการเต้นของหัวใจ
- จะมีปัญหาเรื่องการกลืนซึ่งอาจจะสำลักอาหาร
พิษจากแอลกอฮอล์อาจทำให้บุคคลตกอยู่ในอาการโคม่าและอาจถึงแก่ชีวิตได้
ความเสี่ยงอื่น ๆ
ความเสี่ยงอื่น ๆ ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิด ได้แก่
- อุบัติเหตุและการบาดเจ็บ – การเยี่ยมชมแผนกอุบัติเหตุและฉุกเฉิน (A&E) มากกว่า 1 ใน 10 นั้นเกิดจากการเจ็บป่วยที่เกี่ยวข้องกับแอลกอฮอล์
- พฤติกรรมต่อต้านสังคม – ในแต่ละปีในอังกฤษมากกว่า 1.2 เหตุการณ์รุนแรงนับล้านเชื่อมโยงกับการใช้แอลกอฮอล์ในทางที่ผิด
- การมีเพศสัมพันธ์ที่ไม่ปลอดภัย ซึ่งอาจนำไปสู่การตั้งครรภ์โดยไม่ได้วางแผนและการติดเชื้อทางเพศสัมพันธ์ (STIs)
- สูญเสียทรัพย์สินส่วนตัว หลายคนสูญเสียทรัพย์สินส่วนตัว เช่น กระเป๋าเงินหรือโทรศัพท์มือถือเมื่อเมา
- มีปัญหาเรื่องการเรียน หรือการทำงาน
Long-term effects of alcohol misuse
Drinking large amounts of alcohol for many years will take its toll on many of the body's organs and may cause organ damage. Organs known to be damaged by long-term alcohol misuse include the brain and nervous system, heart, liver and pancreas.
Heavy drinking can also increase your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Long-term alcohol misuse can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to serious infections. It can also weaken your bones, placing you at greater risk of fracturing or breaking them.
There are many long-term health risks associated with alcohol misuse. They include:
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- pancreatitis
- liver disease
- liver cancer
- mouth cancer
- head and neck cancer
- breast cancer
- bowel cancer
- depression
- dementia
- sexual problems, such as impotence or premature ejaculation
- infertility
As well as having a significant impact on your health, alcohol misuse can also have long-term social implications. For example, it can lead to:
- family break-up and divorce
- domestic abuse
- unemployment
- homelessness
- financial problems
Kindling
Kindling is a problem that can occur following a number of episodes of withdrawal from alcohol. The severity of a person's withdrawal symptoms may get worse each time they stop drinking, and can cause symptoms such as tremors, agitation and convulsions (seizures).
Alcohol has a suppressing effect on the brain and central nervous system. Research has shown that when alcohol is removed from the body, it activates brain and nerve cells, resulting in excessive excitability (hyperexcitability). This can lead to behavioural symptoms such as seizures.
With each alcohol withdrawal episode, the brain and nervous system becomes more sensitised and the resulting side effects become more pronounced.
This kindling effect can also occur after chemical stimulus to the brain or body, such as anti-convulsant medication. This means a person's alcohol withdrawal programme needs to be carefully planned, with close monitoring of its effects.
Read more about kindling in alcohol withdrawal (PDF, 163kb).
Alcohol poisoning: what to do
Signs of alcohol poisoning include:
- confusion
- vomiting
- seizures (fits)
- slow breathing
- pale or bluish skin
- cold and clammy skin
- unconsciousness
Dial 999 for an ambulance if you suspect alcohol poisoning and you're worried. Don't try to make the person vomit because they could choke on it. To prevent choking, turn them on to their side and put a cushion under their head.
If a person loses consciousness, don't leave them to "sleep it off". Levels of alcohol in the blood can continue rising for 30 to 40 minutes after the last drink, and symptoms can worsen.
The treatment options for alcohol misuse depend on the extent of your drinking and whether you're trying to drink less (moderation) or give up drinking completely (abstinence).
Brief intervention
If you are worried about your drinking or have had an alcohol-related accident or injury, you may be offered a short counselling session known as a brief intervention.
A brief intervention lasts about 5 to 10 minutes, and covers risks associated with your pattern of drinking, advice about reducing the amount you drink, alcohol support networks available to you, and any emotional issues around your drinking.
Keeping a "drinking diary" may be recommended so you can record how many units of alcohol you drink a week. You may also be given tips about social drinking, such as alternating soft drinks with alcoholic drinks when you're out with friends.
Moderation vs abstinence
Moderation or abstinence are treatment options if you're:
- regularly drinking more than 14 units a week
- experiencing health problems directly related to alcohol
- unable to function without alcohol (alcohol dependency)
Cutting alcohol out completely will have a greater health benefit. However, moderation is often a more realistic goal, or at least a first step on the way to abstinence.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but there are circumstances where abstinence is strongly recommended, including if you:
- have liver damage, such as liver disease or cirrhosis
- have other medical problems, such as heart disease, that can be made worse by drinking
- are taking medication that can react badly with alcohol, such as antipsychotics
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Abstinence may also be recommended if you've previously been unsuccessful with moderation.
If you choose moderation, you'll probably be asked to attend further counselling sessions so your progress can be assessed, and further treatment and advice can be provided if needed.
You may also have regular blood tests so the health of your liver can be carefully monitored.
Detox and withdrawal symptoms
If you're dependent on alcohol to function, it's recommended you seek medical advice to manage your withdrawal.
Some people may be prescribed medication to help achieve abstinence. You may also choose to attend self-help groups, receive extended counselling, or use a talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Where detox is carried out
How and where you attempt detoxification will be determined by your level of alcohol dependency. In mild cases, you should be able to detox at home without the use of medication as your withdrawal symptoms should also be mild.
If your consumption of alcohol is high (more than 20 units a day) or you've previously experienced withdrawal symptoms, you may also be able to detox at home with medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms. A tranquiliser called chlordiazepoxide is usually used for this purpose.
If your dependency is severe, you may need to go to a hospital or clinic to detox. This is because the withdrawal symptoms will also be severe and are likely to need specialist treatment.
Withdrawal symptoms
Your withdrawal symptoms will be at their worst for the first 48 hours. They should gradually start to improve as your body begins to adjust to being without alcohol. This usually takes 3 to 7 days from the time of your last drink.
You'll also find your sleep is disturbed. You may wake up several times during the night or have problems getting to sleep. This is to be expected, and your sleep patterns should return to normal within a month.
During detox, make sure you drink plenty of fluids (about 3 litres a day). However, avoid drinking large amounts of caffeinated drinks, including tea and coffee, because they can make your sleep problems worse and cause feelings of anxiety. Water, squash or fruit juice are better choices.
Try to eat regular meals, even if you're not feeling hungry. Your appetite will return gradually.
You must not drive if you're taking medication to help ease your withdrawal symptoms. You should also get advice about operating heavy machinery at work. You need to tell the DVLA if you have an alcohol problem – failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
It's likely the medication will make you feel drowsy. Only take your medication as directed.
Detox can be a stressful time. Ways you can try to relieve stress include reading, listening to music, going for a walk, and taking a bath. Read more about stress management.
If you're detoxing at home, you'll regularly see a nurse or another healthcare professional. This might be at home, your GP practice, or a specialist NHS service. You'll also be given the relevant contact details for other support services should you need additional support.
Withdrawal from alcohol is an important first step to overcoming your alcohol-related problems. However, withdrawal isn't an effective treatment by itself. You'll need further treatment and support to help you in the long term.
Medication for alcohol dependency
A number of medications are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to treat alcohol misuse. These include:
- acamprosate
- disulfiram
- naltrexone
- nalmefene
Acamprosate
Acamprosate (brand name Campral) is used to help prevent a relapse in people who have successfully achieved abstinence from alcohol. It's usually used in combination with counselling to reduce alcohol craving.
Acamprosate works by affecting levels of a chemical in the brain called gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA). GABA is thought to be partly responsible for inducing a craving for alcohol.
If you're prescribed acamprosate, the course usually starts as soon as you begin withdrawal from alcohol and can last for up to 6 months.
Disulfiram
Disulfiram (brand name Antabuse) can be used if you're trying to achieve abstinence but are concerned you may relapse, or if you've had previous relapses.
Disulfiram works by deterring you from drinking by causing unpleasant physical reactions if you drink alcohol. These can include:
- nausea
- chest pain
- vomiting
- dizziness
In addition to alcoholic drinks, it's important to avoid all sources of alcohol as they could also induce an unpleasant reaction. Products that may contain alcohol include:
- aftershave
- mouthwash
- some types of vinegar
- perfume
You should also try to avoid substances that give off alcoholic fumes, such as paint thinners and solvents.
You'll continue to experience unpleasant reactions if you come into contact with alcohol for a week after you finish taking disulfiram, so it's important to maintain your abstinence during this time.
When taking disulfiram, you'll be seen by your healthcare team about once every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, and then every month for the following 4 months.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone can be used to prevent a relapse or limit the amount of alcohol someone drinks.
It works by blocking opioid receptors in the body, stopping the effects of alcohol. It's usually used in combination with other medicine or counselling.
If naltrexone is recommended, you should be made aware it also stops painkillers that contain opioids working, including morphine and codeine.
If you feel unwell while taking naltrexone, stop taking it immediately and seek advice from your GP or care team.
A course of naltrexone can last up to 6 months, although it may sometimes be longer.
Before being prescribed any of these medications, you'll have a full medical assessment, including blood tests.
Nalmefene
Nalmefene (brand name Selincro) may be used to prevent a relapse or limit the amount of alcohol someone drinks.
It works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, which reduces cravings for alcohol.
Nalmefene may be recommended as a possible treatment for alcohol dependence if you've had an initial assessment and:
- you're still drinking more than 7.5 units a day (for men) or more than 5 units a day (for women)
- you don't have any physical withdrawal symptoms
- you don't need to stop drinking immediately or achieve total abstinence
Nalmefene should only be taken if you're receiving support to help you reduce your alcohol intake and continue treatment.
Therapy for alcohol dependency
Self-help groups
Many people who have alcohol dependency problems find it useful to attend self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
One of the main beliefs behind AA is that alcoholic dependence is a long-term, progressive illness and total abstinence is the only solution.
The treatment plan promoted by AA is based on a 12-step programme designed to help you overcome your addiction.
The steps include admitting you're powerless over alcohol and your life has become unmanageable, admitting you've acted wrongly and, where possible, making amends with people you've harmed.
Read more about the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and alcohol support.
12-step facilitation therapy
12-step facilitation therapy is based on the programme devised by AA. The difference is you work through the stages on a one-to-one basis with a counsellor, rather than in a group.
The therapy may be your preferred treatment option if you feel uneasy or unwilling to discuss your problems in a group setting.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that uses a problem-solving approach to alcohol dependence.
The approach involves identifying unhelpful, unrealistic thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing towards your alcohol dependence, such as:
- "I can't relax without alcohol."
- "My friends would find me boring if I was sober."
- "Just drinking one pint can't hurt."
Once these thoughts and beliefs are identified, you'll be encouraged to base your behaviour on more realistic and helpful thoughts, such as:
- "Lots of people have a good time without alcohol, and I can be one of them."
- "My friends like me for my personality, not for my drinking."
- "I know I can't stop drinking once I start."
CBT also helps you identify triggers that can cause you to drink, such as:
- stress
- social anxiety
- being in "high-risk" environments, such as pubs, clubs and restaurants
Your CBT therapist will teach you how to avoid certain triggers and cope effectively with those that are unavoidable.
Family therapy
Alcohol dependence doesn't just impact on an individual – it can also affect a whole family. Family therapy provides family members with the opportunity to:
- learn about the nature of alcohol dependence
- support the member of the family who is trying to abstain from alcohol
Support is also available for family members in their own right. Living with someone who misuses alcohol can be stressful, so receiving support can often be very helpful.
There are a number of specialist alcohol services that provide help and support for the relatives and friends of people with a dependence on alcohol.
For example, Al-Anon is an organisation affiliated with AA that provides relatives and friends with help and support. Its confidential helpline number is 020 7403 0888 (10am to 10pm, 365 days a year).
Read more about the different types of talking therapies.
Drinking diary
If you're aiming to moderate your drinking, you may be asked to keep a "drinking diary".
On a daily basis, make a note of:
- all the alcoholic drinks you've had
- what time you had them
- where you were
- how many units you drank – you can use the Alcohol Change UK unit calculator to work this out
This will give you a good idea of how much alcohol you're drinking, the situations in which you drink, and how you could start to cut down.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse is the second most common form of substance abuse in the United States, after tobacco addiction. Some people are more severely affected than others.
When an individual's drinking causes distress or harm, that's called an alcohol use disorder. An estimated 10% of adult men and 5% of adult women have an alcohol use disorder. Their use of alcohol leads to health problems or troubles at home, at work, at school, or with the law. Many of them have lost control of their drinking; they are unable to stop or cut down despite serious negative health consequences and the loss of valued activities or relationships.
Why some people abuse alcohol and others don't is not fully understood, but a family history of addiction to alcohol places a person at higher risk. Children of parents who have trouble with alcohol have a fourfold increased risk of the disorder.
Heavy drinking can seriously damage the liver, stomach, heart, brain, and nervous system. It also increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), and esophagus. Women who drink heavily are at higher risk of developing breast cancer and osteoporosis. In addition, people who drink heavily may not eat adequately, so they may develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Although there are many risks to drinking alcohol, there also may be some benefits of moderate drinking. That means no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one drink a day for women. (A drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) Moderate drinking appears to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other circulatory diseases. There is evidence that a small amount of alcohol can boost levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the beneficial cholesterol in your blood, as well as reduce the formation of plaque in blood vessels.
If too much alcohol is harmful but some is beneficial, how do you decide how much is okay? First, if you don't drink, don't start. The risks that come with drinking alcohol frequently outweigh the benefits. If you drink, do so in moderation—no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.
People who should not drink include women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant, people who plan to drive or operate equipment that requires attention or skill, and people using prescription or over-the-counter medicines that can cause drowsiness.
Alcohol can also alter the effectiveness and toxicity of medicines. Some medicines increase blood levels of alcohol or increase the adverse effects of alcohol on the brain.
Signs of alcohol abuse
An alcohol abuse disorder is a serious and progressive condition. But it is treatable. If you think you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol, learn more about the disease and ask your doctor for help.
Early symptoms of an alcohol abuse disorder include drinking more than planned, continuing to drink alcohol despite the concerns of others, and frequent attempts to cut down or quit drinking. As alcohol abuse progresses, the individual develops a tolerance to alcohol. He or she must drink more alcohol to get the desired good feeling or to get intoxicated.
When a person becomes dependent on alcohol, and can't get a drink, he or she develops withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, and fatigue.
As alcohol abuse worsens, the person becomes preoccupied with alcohol and can lose control. He or she may have blackouts, which are episodes in which a person completely forgets what occurred when he or she was drunk even though he or she was conscious at the time.
Finally, personality changes occur. Someone suffering from alcohol abuse can become more aggressive and his or her ability to function (hold a job or maintain relationships with friends and family) can seriously deteriorate. Heavy drinkers may experience tremors, panic attacks, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.
People with alcohol problems often drink alone and say they use alcohol to help them sleep or deal with stress. People who drink excessively may also engage in risky sexual behavior or drive when they should not. They are also at higher risk for dependency on other drugs.
How alcohol abuse affects the body
The effects of too much alcohol on the body are devastating. Health consequences of heavy alcohol use include inflammation of the stomach, inflammation of the liver, bleeding in the stomach and esophagus, impotence, permanent nerve and brain damage (numbness or tingling sensations, imbalance, inability to coordinate movements, forgetfulness, blackouts, or problems with short-term memory), and inflammation of the pancreas. Long-term overuse of alcohol can also increase the risk and severity of pneumonia and tuberculosis; damage the heart, leading to heart failure; and cause cirrhosis of the liver, leading to liver failure.
Treating alcohol abuse
A person who needs help for alcohol addiction may be the last to realize he or she has a problem. Even if the addicted person refuses treatment, family members can get help and support from an organization like Al Anon.
Many similar drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs offer counseling to family members, so that they can learn how to help the addicted person get the right kind of support and help. An important part of these programs is to make the drinker responsible for his or her behavior, and to help the family stop shielding the drinker from the consequences of drinking.
Treating alcohol abuse begins by helping the drinker understand that he or she has a problem and needs help. Once a drinker wants to stop, treatment can take place in an outpatient setting (such as regular appointments with a counselor) or in a hospital inpatient program (where the treatment is much more intensive).
Almost all treatment programs view alcohol dependence as a chronic, progressive disease, and most programs insist on complete abstinence from alcohol and other drugs.
Inpatient treatment usually begins with detoxification—supervised withdrawal from alcohol—usually with the help of medicine to ease the dangerous effects of withdrawal, including restlessness, agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and seizures. In its most severe form, alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening.
Treatment for alcoholism also addresses the medical and psychological consequences of alcohol addiction. Health professionals counsel the person and family about the nature of addiction and help the person find positive alternatives to using alcohol. Health professionals also help the individual cope with any related problems, such as depression, job stress, legal consequences of drinking, or troubled personal relationships.
Maintaining sobriety—often called recovery—is a long-term process that can take many forms. Fellowship groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are often very helpful.
Ongoing counseling and treatment with medicines can also play a role. Disulfiram (Antabuse) may be an option for people who want to try a drug to help prevent them from drinking. Disulfiram disrupts the breakdown of alcohol in the liver, making a person feel ill if he or she drinks alcohol.
Another drug, called naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol), takes away the pleasant feeling that comes with drinking alcohol, so there is less interest in drinking. A third drug, acamprosate (Campral), reduces the unpleasant feeling that alcoholics experience when they don't drink
https://www.health.harvard.edu/addiction/alcohol-abuse
Overview
Alcohol use disorder (which includes a level that's sometimes called alcoholism) is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female downs at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.
If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.
Products & Services
Symptoms
Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of symptoms you experience. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
- Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
- Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
- Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use
- Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems
- Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies
- Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms
Alcohol use disorder can include periods of alcohol intoxication and symptoms of withdrawal.
- Alcohol intoxication results as the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream increases. The higher the blood alcohol concentration is, the more impaired you become. Alcohol intoxication causes behavior problems and mental changes. These may include inappropriate behavior, unstable moods, impaired judgment, slurred speech, impaired attention or memory, and poor coordination. You can also have periods called "blackouts," where you don't remember events. Very high blood alcohol levels can lead to coma or even death.
- Alcohol withdrawal can occur when alcohol use has been heavy and prolonged and is then stopped or greatly reduced. It can occur within several hours to four or five days later. Signs and symptoms include sweating, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, problems sleeping, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness and agitation, anxiety, and occasionally seizures. Symptoms can be severe enough to impair your ability to function at work or in social situations.
What is considered 1 drink?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one standard drink as any one of these:
- 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of regular beer (about 5 percent alcohol)
- 8 to 9 ounces (237 to 266 milliliters) of malt liquor (about 7 percent alcohol)
- 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of unfortified wine (about 12 percent alcohol)
- 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof hard liquor (about 40 percent alcohol)
When to see a doctor
If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your doctor. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group.
Because denial is common, you may not feel like you have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem drinking, but has stopped.
If your loved one needs help
Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don't recognize they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you're concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.
Causes
Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.
Over time, drinking too much alcohol may change the normal function of the areas of your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to exercise control over your behavior. This may result in craving alcohol to try to restore good feelings or reduce negative ones.
Risk factors
Alcohol use may begin in the teens, but alcohol use disorder occurs more frequently in the 20s and 30s, though it can start at any age.
- Steady drinking over time. Drinking too much on a regular basis for an extended period or binge drinking on a regular basis can lead to alcohol-related problems or alcohol use disorder.
- Starting at an early age. People who begin drinking — especially binge drinking — at an early age are at a higher risk of alcohol use disorder.
- Family history. The risk of alcohol use disorder is higher for people who have a parent or other close relative who has problems with alcohol. This may be influenced by genetic factors.
- Depression and other mental health problems. It's common for people with a mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to have problems with alcohol or other substances.
- History of trauma. People with a history of emotional or other trauma are at increased risk of alcohol use disorder.
- Having bariatric surgery. Some research studies indicate that having bariatric surgery may increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder or of relapsing after recovering from alcohol use disorder.
- Social and cultural factors. Having friends or a close partner who drinks regularly could increase your risk of alcohol use disorder. The glamorous way that drinking is sometimes portrayed in the media also may send the message that it's OK to drink too much. For young people, the influence of parents, peers and other role models can impact risk.
Complications
Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. In some people, the initial reaction may be stimulation. But as you continue to drink, you become sedated.
Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is of particular concern when you're taking certain medications that also depress the brain's function.
Impact on your safety
Excessive drinking can reduce your judgment skills and lower inhibitions, leading to poor choices and dangerous situations or behaviors, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents and other types of accidental injury, such as drowning
- Relationship problems
- Poor performance at work or school
- Increased likelihood of committing violent crimes or being the victim of a crime
- Legal problems or problems with employment or finances
- Problems with other substance use
- Engaging in risky, unprotected sex, or experiencing sexual abuse or date rape
- Increased risk of attempted or completed suicide
Impact on your health
Drinking too much alcohol on a single occasion or over time can cause health problems, including:
- Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause increased fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis), inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis), and over time, irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).
- Digestive problems. Heavy drinking can result in inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers. It can also interfere with absorption of B vitamins and other nutrients. Heavy drinking can damage your pancreas or lead to inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
- Heart problems. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure and increases your risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause a serious heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.
- Diabetes complications. Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level.
- Sexual function and menstruation issues. Excessive drinking can cause erectile dysfunction in men. In women, it can interrupt menstruation.
- Eye problems. Over time, heavy drinking can cause involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles due to a deficiency of vitamin B-1 (thiamin). A thiamin deficiency can also be associated with other brain changes, such as irreversible dementia, if not promptly treated.
- Birth defects. Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage. It may also cause fetal alcohol syndrome, resulting in giving birth to a child who has physical and developmental problems that last a lifetime.
- Bone damage. Alcohol may interfere with the production of new bone. This bone loss can lead to thinning bones (osteoporosis) and an increased risk of fractures. Alcohol can also damage bone marrow, which makes blood cells. This can cause a low platelet count, which may result in bruising and bleeding.
- Neurological complications. Excessive drinking can affect your nervous system, causing numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, dementia, and short-term memory loss.
- Weakened immune system. Excessive alcohol use can make it harder for your body to resist disease, increasing your risk of various illnesses, especially pneumonia.
- Increased risk of cancer. Long-term, excessive alcohol use has been linked to a higher risk of many cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, colon and breast cancers. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Medication and alcohol interactions. Some medications interact with alcohol, increasing its toxic effects. Drinking while taking these medications can either increase or decrease their effectiveness, or make them dangerous.
Prevention
Early intervention can prevent alcohol-related problems in teens. If you have a teenager, be alert to signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem with alcohol:
- Loss of interest in activities and hobbies and in personal appearance
- Red eyes, slurred speech, problems with coordination and memory lapses
- Difficulties or changes in relationships with friends, such as joining a new crowd
- Declining grades and problems in school
- Frequent mood changes and defensive behavior
You can help prevent teenage alcohol use:
- Set a good example with your own alcohol use.
- Talk openly with your child, spend quality time together and become actively involved in your child's life.
- Let your child know what behavior you expect — and what the consequences will be if he or she doesn't follow the rules.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243
The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence
Until the publication of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), substance issues were generally divided into abuse and dependence. The DSM-5 combines these categories into a single substance use disorder, measured on a continuum from mild to severe.
This change was made to update the idea that abuse was a mild and early phase of the illness and dependence was a more severe manifestation. In reality, abuse can often be quite severe.
Who Is an Alcohol Abuser?
It is still sometimes useful to clarify the distinctions between abuse and dependence. Alcohol abusers can be defined as those who continue to drink despite recurrent social, interpersonal, health, and legal problems as a result of their alcohol use.1
Who Is Alcohol Dependent?
People who are alcohol-dependent exhibit some or all of the following characteristics.1
- Alcohol tolerance: Needing to drink increasing amounts over time to achieve previous effects. For example, you used to drink three cocktails every night, but now you need five to get the feeling you're looking for.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Experiencing physical symptoms, such as insomnia, tremors, and mood swings. after going for a short period without drinking.
- Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms,such as drinking to stop the shakes or to "cure" a hangover.
- Awareness of the compulsion to drink or craving for alcohol, regardless of whether you admit it to others.
- Drinking larger amounts or over a longer period than intended and making unsuccessful efforts to cut down.
Those with moderate to severe alcohol use disorders generally require outside help to stop drinking. This could include detoxification, medical treatment, professional rehab or counseling, and/or self-help group support.2
How Much Is Too Much?
Are your drinking habits safe, risky, or harmful? Are you abusing alcohol or alcohol dependent? Looking at the aforementioned symptoms can give you an idea of how your drinking may fall into harmful patterns and indicate whether or not you have a drinking problem.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment
If you are alcohol-dependent and decide to change your life and quit drinking, you can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms. These discomforts usually peak 24 to 72 hours after your last drink, but they may last for weeks, according to information from the National Institutes of Health.2
Those with mild to moderate symptoms may be able to receive treatment in an outpatient setting. You should ask a loved one to stay with you during this process and you may need to visit a clinician for daily monitoring. If you have moderate to severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, you may require inpatient treatment at a hospital or substance abuse facility. Symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal include:
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Severe confusion
- Unstable vital signs
โดยภาวะการติดเหล้า จะมีข้อบ่งชี้ 7 ข้อ คือ
- 1.มีภาวะดื้อแอลกอฮอล์ ต้องดื่มปริมาณมากขึ้นเรื่อยๆ เพื่อให้เมาเท่าเดิม
- 2.มีภาวะถอนแอลกอฮอล์หลังงดดื่มหรือลดการดื่มลง
- 3.ดื่มมากกว่าหรือนานกว่าที่ตั้งใจไว้
- 4.พยายามลดลงหรือเลิกดื่มแต่ก็ไม่สำเร็จ
- 5.หมกมุ่นและใช้เวลาหมดไปกับการดื่ม
- 6.เสียงานเสียการเนื่องจากปัญหาการดื่ม
- 7.ยังคงดื่มอยู่ แม้ว่าเกิดผลกระทบอย่างมากแล้ว
หากใครที่มีอาหาร 3 ข้อขึ้นไป จาก 7 ข้อ เรียกว่าอยู่ในภาวะติดเหล้า หากหยุดหรือลดการดื่มกะทันหัน บางรายอาจมีภาวะถอนแอลกอฮอล์ที่รุนแรงตามมา ระดับความรุนแรงหลังการหยุดดื่มขึ้นอยู่กับปริมาณและความยาวนานของการดื่มในอดีตที่ผ่านมา ทั้งนี้ ผู้ที่ต้องการเลิกดื่ม หรือมีภาวะถอน
อาการเมาสุราจะเกิดเมื่อระดับแอลกอฮอลล์มากกว่า 50 มิลิกรัมเปอร์เซ็นต จะเริ่มอาการเดินเซ เสียการทรงตัว
อาจจะทราบว่าเมาหรือไม่ โดยการเจาะเลือดตรวจปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์ในเลือดกับอาการแสดงของผู้ที่ดื่มสุรา
| ปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์ในเลือด
(มิลิกรัมเปอร์เซ็นต์) |
อาการแสดง |
| 30 | สนุกสนาน ร่าเริง |
| 50 | เสียการควบคุมเคลื่อนไหว |
| 100 | เดินไม่ตรงทาง |
| 200 | สับสน |
| 300 | ง่วงซึม |
| มากกว่า 400 | สลบและอาจจะถึงตาย |
จะถือว่าเมาเมื่อระดับแอลกอฮอล์มากว่า50มิลิกรัมเปอร์เซ็นต์ นอกเหนือจากการตรวจหาระดับแอลกอฮอล์ในเลือดแล้วยังมีการตรวจโดยที่ไม่ต้องใช้เครื่องมือใดๆโดยสังเกตอาการดังนี้
- กลิ่นสุราจากลมหายใจ เสื้อผ้า
- การเดินไม่ตรงทาง
- พูดจาอ้อแอ้ไม่มีความหมาย
- ขับรถเร็วหรือช้าโดยไม่มีเหตุผล
- การขับรถความเร็วไม่คงที่
- การหยุดรถไม่ถูกจังหวะหรือไม่เรียบร้อย
- การแซงไม่ถูกจังหวะ
- ไม่ปฏิบัติตามกฎจราจร
- ไม่เปิดไฟเมื่อขับรถกลางคืน
- ขับรถส่ายไปมา
- เปลี่ยนช่องทางจราจรบ่อยๆ
Alcohol Use and Your Health
Drinking too much can harm your health. Excessive alcohol use led to approximately 95,000 deaths and 2.8 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year in the United States from 2011 – 2015, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 29 years.1 Further, excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20-64 years.2 The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2010 were estimated at $249 billion, or $2.05 a drink.3
What is a standard drink?
In the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14.0 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in
- 12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).
- 8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).
- 5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).
- 1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).4
What is excessive drinking?
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21.
- Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consuming
- For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion.
- For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.
- Heavy drinking is defined as consuming
- For women, 8 or more drinks per week.
- For men, 15 or more drinks per week.
Most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.5
What is moderate drinking?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.4 The Guidelines also do not recommend that individuals who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason and that if adults of legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for health than drinking more.4
There are some people who should not drink any alcohol, including those who are:
- Younger than age 21.
- Pregnant or may be pregnant.
- Driving, planning to drive, or participating in other activities requiring skill, coordination, and alertness.
- Taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
- Suffering from certain medical conditions.
- Recovering from alcoholism or are unable to control the amount they drink.4
By adhering to the Dietary Guidelines, you can reduce the risk of harm to yourself or others.
Short-Term Health Risks
Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:
- Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.6,7
- Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.6-10
- Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.11
- Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.12,13
- Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.6,12,14,15
Long-Term Health Risks
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:
- High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.6,16
- Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.6,17
- Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.6,16
- Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.6,18
- Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.6,19
- Social problems, including lost productivity, family problems, and unemployment.6,20,21
- Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.5
By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.
Excessive Alcohol Use is a Risk to Men's Health
Men are more likely than women to drink excessively.1-3 Excessive drinking is associated with significant risks to men’s health and safety, and the risks increase with the amount of alcohol consumed. Men are also more likely than women to take other risks (such as misusing other substances, having multiple sex partners, or not wearing a seat belt), that when combined with alcohol, further increase their risk of illness, injury or death.4-7
Adult Men Drink More than Women
- Almost 59% of adult men report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days compared with 47% of adult women.1
- Men are almost two times more likely to binge drink than women.1-3 Approximately 22% of men report binge drinking and on average do so 5 times a month, consuming 8 drinks per binge.2
- In 2019, 7% of men had an alcohol use disorder compared with 4% of women.4
Alcohol is Associated with Injury, Violence, and Other Harms
- Men have higher rates of alcohol-related hospitalizations than women.8
- Nearly three-quarters of deaths from excessive drinking are among males, totaling about 68,000 deaths each year in the U.S.9
- Among drivers in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, men are 50% more likely to have been intoxicated (i.e., a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater) compared with women.10
- Excessive alcohol consumption increases aggression and may increase the risk of physically assaulting another person.11 Alcohol is a key risk factor for sexual violence perpetration.12
- Males are more than three times as likely to die by suicide than females, and more likely to have been drinking prior to suicide.13-15
- Alcohol use is one of the most important preventable risk factors for cancer.16 Alcohol use increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon, which are more common among men.16,17 Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of prostate cancer.18
Alcohol May Affect Men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production resulting in erectile dysfunction and infertility.19
- Alcohol use by men also increases the chances of engaging in risky sexual activity including unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, or sex with a partner at risk for sexually transmitted infections.20,21
Men can reduce the amount of alcohol they drink to reduce their risk of health problems and other harms.
The Alcohol Use and Your Health Fact Sheet addresses a number of additional health conditions associated with excessive alcohol use that affect both men and women.
Excessive Alcohol Use is a Risk to Women's Health
Excessive alcohol use is associated with more than 27,000 deaths among women and girls each year.1 Excessive alcohol use poses unique health and safety risks to females.2
Alcohol Use is Common Among Women and Girls
- Nearly half of adult women report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.3
- Approximately 13% of adult women report binge drinking and on average do so 4 times a month, consuming 5 drinks per binge.4
- About 18% of women of child-bearing age (i.e., ages 18–44 years) binge drink.4
- In 2019, about 32% of female high school students consumed alcohol compared with 26% of male high school students. Binge drinking was also more common among female (15%) than male (13%) high school students.5
- In 2019, 4% of women overall and 8% of women aged 18 to 25 years had an alcohol use disorder.6
Alcohol Affects Women Differently than Men
Although men are more likely to drink alcohol and consume larger amounts, biological differences in body structure and chemistry lead most women to absorb more alcohol and take longer to metabolize it. After drinking the same amount of alcohol, women tend to have higher blood alcohol levels than men, and the immediate effects of alcohol usually occur more quickly and last longer in women than men. These differences make women more susceptible to the long-term negative health effects of alcohol compared with men.2
Alcohol is Associated with other Diseases, Injuries, and Harms
- Liver Disease: The risk of cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases is higher for women than for men.2,7
- Impact on the Brain: Alcohol-related cognitive decline and shrinkage of the brain develop more quickly for women than for men.2
- Impact on the Heart: Women who drink excessively are at increased risk for damage to the heart muscle at lower levels of consumption and over fewer years of drinking than men.2
- Breast and other Cancers: Alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. In women, drinking is also associated with breast cancer, even at low levels of consumption.2,8
- Sexual Violence: Excessive alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, is a major contributing factor to sexual violence.9,10 Changes in alcohol-related policies can reduce sexual violence in communities.11
There is No Known Safe Amount of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy
- In a recent study, 10% of respondents who were pregnant drank alcohol and 4.5% binge drank.15
- Alcohol use during pregnancy increases the risk of having a baby with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The most severe form is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is associated with intellectual disabilities and birth defects.16
- FASD are 100% preventable if a person does not drink while pregnant or while trying to become pregnant. It is not safe to drink at any time during pregnancy.17
- Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).2,18,19
Women can reduce the amount of alcohol they drink to reduce their risk of harms.
The Alcohol Use and Your Health Fact Sheet addresses a number of additional health conditions associated with excessive alcohol use that affect both men and women.
Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a serious but preventable public health problem.
Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.1,2,3 Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.4 Most people who binge drink do not have a severe alcohol use disorder.1
Who binge drinks?
Data sources: CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2015.
- One in six US adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about seven drinks per binge. This results in 17 billion total binge drinks consumed by adults annually, or 467 binge drinks per binge drinker.5
- Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18–34 years, but more than half of the total binge drinks are consumed by those aged 35 and older.5
- Binge drinking is twice as common among men than among women. Four in five total binge drinks are consumed by men.5
- Binge drinking is more common among people with household incomes of $75,000 or more and higher educational levels. Binge drinkers with lower incomes and educational levels, however, consume more binge drinks per year.5
- Over 90% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days.1
- Most people younger than age 21 who drink alcohol report binge drinking, often consuming large amounts.6,7
Binge drinking has serious risks.
Binge drinking is associated with many health problems,8–10 including the following:
- Unintentional injuries such as car crashes, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning.
- Violence including homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Unintended pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and stillbirth.
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Sudden infant death syndrome.
- Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.
- Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
- Memory and learning problems.
- Alcohol use disorders.
Read more about the CDC study that found that excessive drinking in the U.S is a drain on the American economy.
Binge drinking costs everyone.
- Drinking too much, including binge drinking, cost the United States $249 billion in 2010, or $2.05 a drink. These costs resulted from losses in workplace productivity, health care expenditures, criminal justice costs, and other expenses. Binge drinking was responsible for 77% of these costs, or $191 billion.2
The Community Preventive Services Task Force external iconrecommends evidence-based interventions to prevent binge drinking and related harms.11 Recommended strategies include:
- Using pricing strategies, including increasing alcohol taxes.
- Limiting the number of retail alcohol outlets that sell alcoholic beverages in a given area.
- Holding alcohol retailers responsible for the harms caused by illegal alcohol sales to minors or intoxicated patrons (dram shop liability).
- Restricting access to alcohol by maintaining limits on the days and hours of alcohol retail sales.
- Consistently enforcing laws against underage drinking and alcohol-impaired driving.
- Maintaining government controls on alcohol sales (avoiding privatization).
The US Preventive Services Task Forceexternal icon also recommends screening and counseling for alcohol misuse in medical settings.
Alcohol and Caffeine
Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Caffeine
- The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americansexternal icon cautions against mixing alcohol with caffeine.1
- When alcohol is mixed with caffeine, the caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making drinkers feel more alert than they would otherwise. As a result, they may drink more alcohol and become more impaired than they realize, increasing the risk of alcohol-attributable harms.1–5
- Caffeine has no effect on the metabolism of alcohol by the liver and thus does not reduce breath or blood alcohol concentrations (it does not “sober you up”) or reduce impairment due to alcohol consumption.1
Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Energy Drinks
- Energy drinks typically contain caffeine, plant-based stimulants, simple sugars, and other additives.3
- Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is a popular practice, especially among young people in the United States.6–8 In 2017, 10.6% of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 and 31.8% of young adults aged 19 to 28 reported consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks at least once in the past year.7,8
- In a study among Michigan high school students, those who binge drank were more than twice as likely to mix alcohol with energy drinks as non-binge drinkers (49.0% vs. 18.2%). Liquor was the usual type of alcohol consumed by students who reported mixing alcohol and energy drinks (52.7%).9
- Drinkers aged 15 to 23 who mix alcohol with energy drinks are 4 times more likely to binge drink at high intensity (i.e., consume 6 or more drinks per binge episode) than drinkers who do not mix alcohol with energy drinks.10
- Drinkers who mix alcohol with energy drinks are more likely than drinkers who do not mix alcohol with energy drinks to report unwanted or unprotected sex, driving drunk or riding with a driver who was intoxicated, or sustaining alcohol-related injuries.11
Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages
- Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages (CABs) were premixed beverages popular in the 2000s12 that combined alcohol, caffeine, and other stimulants. They were malt or distilled spirits-based beverages and they usually had a higher alcohol content than beer (e.g., 12% alcohol by volume compared to 4% to 5% for beer).2,12
- CABs were heavily marketed in youth-friendly media (e.g., social media) and with youth-oriented graphics and messaging that connected the consumption of these beverages with extreme sports or their risk-taking behaviors.13
- In November 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told the manufacturers of seven CABs that their drinks could no longer stay on the market in their current form, stating that “FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is ‘generally recognized as safe,’ which is the legal standard.”2,14 Producers of CABs responded by removing caffeine and other stimulants from their products.3
Public Health Impact of Excessive Alcohol Use
- Excessive alcohol use is responsible for about 93,000 deaths in the United States each year15 and $249 billion in economic costs in 2010.16
- Binge drinking (consuming 4 or more drinks per occasion for women or 5 or more drinks per occasion for men) is responsible for almost half of these deaths and three quarters of economic costs.15,16
- Binge drinking is also associated with many health and social problems, including alcohol-impaired driving, interpersonal violence, risky sexual activity, and unintended pregnancy.17
- Most people younger than age 21 who drink report binge drinking, usually on multiple occasions.18
- The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends effective population-based strategies for preventing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms, including increasing alcohol excise taxes, limiting alcohol outlet density, and commercial host (dram shop) liability for service to underage or intoxicated customers.19
- States and communities have also developed educational strategies to alert consumers to the risks of mixing alcohol with energy drinks. At least one community enacted an ordinance requiring retailers to post warning signs informing consumers of the risks of mixing alcohol and energy drinks.20
- Monitoring and reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising through “no-buy” lists could also help reduce underage drinking. No-buy lists identify television programming that advertisers can avoid to improve compliance with the alcohol industry’s self-regulated alcohol marketing guidelines.21
Underage Drinking
Underage alcohol consumption is common in the United States and can have harmful outcomes. A comprehensive approach that includes effective policy strategies can prevent underage drinking and related harms.
Underage drinking is a significant public health problem in the U.S. Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 3,500 deaths and 210,000 years of potential life lost among people under age 21 each year.1 Underage drinking cost the U.S. $24 billion in 2010.2 There were approximately 119,000 emergency rooms visits by persons aged 12 to 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol in 2013.3
Underage Drinking is Common
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among young people in the U.S.4 Data from several national surveys document the use of alcohol among young people.
The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey5,6 found that among high school students, during the past 30 days
- 29% drank alcohol.
- 14% binge drank.
- 5% of drivers drove after drinking alcohol.
- 17% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
Rates of current and binge drinking among high school students have generally been declining in recent decades. Although males historically had higher rates, in 2019, female high school students were more likely to drink alcohol and binge drink than male high school students.6
Other national surveys find that
- 19% of young people aged 12 to 20 years reportedexternal icon drinking alcohol and 11% reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.4
- 8% of 8th grade students and 29% of 12th grade students reportedexternal icon drinking alcohol during the past 30 days, and 4% of 8th grade students and 14% of 12th grade students reported binge drinking during the past two weeks.7
Underage Drinking is Dangerous
Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience6,8-10
- School problems, such as higher rates of absences or lower grades.
- Social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities.
- Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.
- Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses.
- Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity.
- Disruption of normal growth or sexual development.
- Physical and sexual violence.
- Increased risk of suicide and homicide.
- Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, or drowning.
- Memory problems.
- Misuse of other substances.
- Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.
- Alcohol poisoning.
In general, the risk of youth experiencing these problems is greater for those who binge drink than for those who do not binge drink.9,10
Early initiation of drinking is associated with development of an alcohol use disorder later in life.11
Underage Drinking is Associated with Adult Drinking
Studies show a relationship between underage drinking behaviors and the drinking behaviors of adult relatives, adults in the same household, and adults in the same community and state.
- There is a relationship between youth and adult drinking, including binge drinking, in states and communities.12-14 A 5% increase in binge drinking among adults in a community is associated with a 12% increase in the chance of underage drinking.13
- Among adolescents whose peers drink alcohol, those whose parents binge drink are more likely to drink alcohol than those whose parents do not.15
Underage Drinking is Preventable
State alcohol policy environments influence underage drinking, as well as excessive drinking among adults. Comprehensive approaches that include effective population-level policy strategies can reduce underage drinking.13,16,17 The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends several effective strategies for preventing excessive drinking,18 including:
- Increasing alcohol taxes.
- Having commercial host (“dram shop”) liability laws.
- Regulating the number and concentration of alcohol outlets.
- Enforcing laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors.
The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health describes other strategies that can complement effective alcohol policies, such as national media campaigns targeting youth and adults, reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising, and the development of comprehensive community-based programs.8 Read more about the prevention of excessive alcohol use, including underage drinking.
6 Surprising Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health — Not Just Your Liver
Some of the ways alcohol affects our health are well known, but others may surprise you. Here are six less-known effects that alcohol has on your body, according to gastroenterologist K. V. Narayanan Menon, MD:
- Drinking gives your body work to do that keeps it from other processes. Once you take a drink, your body makes metabolizing it a priority — above processing anything else. Unlike proteins, carbohydrates and fats, your body doesn’t have a way to store alcohol, so it has to move to the front of the metabolizing line. This is why it affects your liver, as it’s your liver’s job to detoxify and remove alcohol from your blood.
- Abusing alcohol causes bacteria to grow in your gut, which can eventually migrate through the intestinal wall and into the liver, leading to liver damage.
- Too much is bad for your heart. It can cause the heart to become weak (cardiomyopathy) and have an irregular beat pattern (arrhythmias). It also puts people at higher risk for developing high blood pressure.
- People can develop pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, from alcohol abuse.
- Drinking too much puts you at risk for some cancers, such as cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast.
- It can affect your immune system. If you drink every day, or almost every day, you might notice that you catch colds, flu or other illnesses more frequently than people who don’t drink. This is because alcohol can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infections.
How your liver breaks down alcohol in your body
When you drink, here’s what happens in your liver, where alcohol metabolism takes place.
Your liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from the blood through a process known as oxidation. Once the liver finishes the process, alcohol becomes water and carbon dioxide. If alcohol accumulates in the system, it can destroy cells and, eventually, organs. Oxidative metabolism prevents this.
But when you’ve ingested too much alcohol for your liver to process in a timely manner, the toxic substance begins to take its toll on your body, starting with your liver. “The oxidative metabolism of alcohol generates molecules that inhibit fat oxidation in the liver and, subsequently, can lead to a condition known as fatty liver,” says Dr. Menon.
Fatty liver, early stage alcoholic liver disease, develops in about 90% of people who drink more than one and a half to two ounces of alcohol per day. So, if you drink that much or more on most days of the week, you probably have fatty liver. Continued alcohol use leads to liver fibrosis and, finally, cirrhosis.
The good news? Fatty liver is usually completely reversible in about four to six weeks if you completely abstain from drinking alcohol. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is irreversible and likely to lead to liver failure despite abstinence from alcohol, according to Dr. Menon.
If you drink heavily, see your doctor immediately if you notice a yellow tinge to your skin, feel pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen or experience unexplained weight loss.
Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits
Moderate alcohol use has possible health benefits, but it's not risk-free.
By Mayo Clinic StaffUnderstanding the risks and any possible health benefits of alcohol often seems confusing; that's understandable, because the evidence for moderate alcohol use in healthy adults isn't certain.
Researchers know surprisingly little about the risks or benefits of moderate alcohol use in healthy adults. Almost all studies of lifestyle, including diet, exercise, caffeine, and alcohol, rely on patient recall and truthful reporting of one's habits over many years. These studies may indicate that two things may be associated with one another, but not necessarily that one causes the other. It may be that adults who are in good health engage in more social activities and enjoy moderate amounts of alcohol, but that the alcohol has nothing to do with making them healthier.
Any potential benefits of alcohol are relatively small and may not apply to all individuals. In fact, the latest dietary guidelines make it clear that no one should begin drinking alcohol or drink more often on the basis of potential health benefits. For many people, the possible benefits don't outweigh the risks and avoiding alcohol is the best course.
On the other hand, if you're a light to moderate drinker and you're healthy, you can probably continue to drink alcohol as long as you do so responsibly.
Here's a closer look at alcohol and your health.
Defining moderate
Moderate alcohol use for healthy adults generally means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
Examples of one drink include:
- Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters)
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters)
- Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 milliliters)
Pros and cons of moderate alcohol use
Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits, such as:
- Reducing your risk of developing and dying of heart disease
- Possibly reducing your risk of ischemic stroke (when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow)
- Possibly reducing your risk of diabetes
However, eating a healthy diet and being physically active have much greater health benefits and have been more extensively studied.
Keep in mind that even moderate alcohol use isn't risk-free. For example, even light drinkers (those who have no more than one drink a day) have a tiny, but real, increased risk of some cancers, such as esophageal cancer. And drinking and driving is never a good idea.
Risks of heavy alcohol use
While moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking — including binge drinking — has no health benefits.
Heavy or high-risk drinking is defined as more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks a week for women and for men older than age 65, and more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks a week for men age 65 and younger.
Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.
Excessive drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems, including:
- Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and liver
- Pancreatitis
- Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
- Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Suicide
- Accidental serious injury or death
- Brain damage and other problems in an unborn child
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
When to avoid alcohol
In certain situations, the risks of alcohol may outweigh the possible health benefits. For example, check with your doctor about drinking if:
- You're pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- You've been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol addiction, or you have a strong family history of alcoholism
- You've had a hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures)
- You have liver or pancreatic disease
- You have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart
- You take prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol
Deciding about drinking
If you don't drink alcohol, don't start because of potential health benefits. However, if you drink a light to moderate amount and you're healthy, you can probably continue as long as you drink responsibly. Be sure to check with your doctor about what's right for your health and safety.
What Are the Warning Signs of Alcohol-Related Liver Damage?
Your liver is the organ found on the upper right side of your abdomen, just under your ribs. It has many functions that are essential to your health, such as:
- breaking down drugs, alcohol, and other potentially toxic substances
- producing bile to aid with the digestion of fats
- storing nutrients like glucose in the form of glycogen, as well as certain types of vitamins
- making proteins that are important for blood clotting
Various substances can damage your liver. While liver tissue can regenerate, continued damage can lead to the buildup of scar tissue. As scar tissue forms, it replaces healthy liver tissue. This can impair your liver’s ability to carry out its vital functions.
Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver damage. When liver damage has happened due to alcohol, it’s called alcohol-related liver disease.
Below, we’ll explore the early signs of alcohol-related liver disease, what alcohol actually does to your liver, and what steps you can take in your day-to-day life to improve your liver health.
One of your liver’s jobs is to break down potentially toxic substances. This includes alcohol. When you drink, different enzymes in your liver work to break down alcohol so that it can be removed from your body.
When you drink more than your liver can effectively process, alcohol and its byproducts can damage your liver. This initially takes the form of increased fat in your liver, but over time it can lead to inflammation and the accumulation of scar tissue.
The early stages of alcohol-related liver disease often have no symptoms. Because of this, you may not even know that you’ve experienced liver damage due to alcohol.
If symptoms are present, they may include:
- swelling of your liver, which may lead to discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
Alcohol-related liver disease actually encompasses three different liver conditions. Let’s discuss each of these in a bit more detail.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease
Alcoholic fatty liver disease is also called hepatic steatosis. It happens when fat begins to build up within your liver. Consuming too much alcohol can inhibit the breakdown of fats in the liver, causing fat accumulation.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease is common in heavy drinkers. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 90 percentTrusted Source of people who drink heavily have some form of this condition.
People with alcoholic fatty liver disease typically have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include:
- discomfort in the area of the liver
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
Alcoholic fatty liver disease can be reversed by abstaining from alcohol for at least several weeks. The exact amount of time can vary by individual. For some, abstinence may need to be permanent.
If someone with this condition has alcohol use disorder, a healthcare provider will need to set up a treatment plan. This plan will help manage the condition as well as the withdrawal symptoms that may occur with abstinence.
Alcoholic hepatitis
If excessive alcohol consumption continues, inflammation levels can begin to increase in the liver. This can lead to a condition called alcoholic hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis can have the following symptoms:
- pain in the area of the liver
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Alcoholic hepatitis can be mild or severe. In mild alcoholic hepatitis, liver damage occurs slowly over the course of many years.
Severe alcoholic hepatitis can come on suddenly, such as after binge drinking, and can be life threatening.
If you develop alcoholic hepatitis, you may be able to reverse the damage by permanently abstaining from alcohol. Treatment also involves dietary changes and medications to reduce inflammation.
Some people with severe alcoholic hepatitis may need a liver transplant.
Alcoholic cirrhosis
Continued liver damage due to alcohol consumption can lead to the formation of scar tissue, which begins to replace healthy liver tissue. This is referred to as fibrosis. When extensive fibrosis has occurred, alcoholic cirrhosis develops.
The symptoms of alcoholic cirrhosis are similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis. Additionally, alcoholic cirrhosis can lead to a variety of serious health complications, such as:
- portal hypertension (high blood pressure of the liver)
- ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
- hepatic encephalopathy (brain damage due to increased toxin levels in the blood)
- bleeding from veins in the upper digestive tract (varices)
- increased risk of infection
- kidney failure
- liver cancer
Alcoholic cirrhosis can’t be reversed. Treatment focuses on minimizing additional liver damage while addressing any complications that arise. In advanced cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
We ask Lesley Stahl, Alyssa Milano, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and more in our Live Town Hall: COVID-19 One Year Retrospective on Thursday, March 11.
Some of the risk factors for developing alcohol-related liver disease include:
- Alcohol consumption. Although drinking in moderation can cause some degree of fatty liver, consuming high quantities of alcohol over a long period of time puts you at an increased risk of alcohol-related liver disease.
- Sex. Women are more likely to develop alcohol-related liver disease than men.
- Obesity. People who have obesity are at a higher risk of alcohol-related liver disease.
- Infections. Liver damage is accelerated in individuals who have chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
- Genetics. Genetic factors can influence how your body processes alcohol as well as your risk for alcohol-related liver disease or alcohol use disorder.
There are several steps you can take to help improve the health of your liver. Cutting down on your alcohol consumption is one of them.
Drinking alcohol in moderation can help lower your risk of liver disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source defines moderate alcohol consumption as:
- up to 1 drink per day for women
- up to 2 drinks per day for men
Keep in mind that what’s considered a standard drink can vary based on the type of alcohol you’re consuming. One drink is considered to be:
- 12 ounces (oz) of beer (5 percent alcohol)
- 8 oz of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol)
- 5 oz of wine (12 percent alcohol)
- 1.5 oz of liquor (40 percent alcohol)
It’s important to avoid drinking alcohol altogether if you’re:
- recovering from alcohol use disorder
- pregnant
- taking medications that can interact with alcohol
Additional tips for boosting liver health
In addition to reducing your alcohol intake, you can also take the following steps to help boost the health of your liver:
- Eat a healthy diet. Try to eat a diet rich in fresh produce, whole grains, and lean protein. Limit foods that are high in sugars, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates.
- Break a sweat. Regular exercise can help reduce excess fat in your body, including fat in your liver.
- Manage weight. Having obesity can increase your risk of alcohol-related liver disease. If you’re overweight or obese, work with your doctor to develop a weight loss plan that’s right for you.
- Mind your medications. Some medications and supplements can stress your liver. Examples include acetaminophen (Tylenol), statins, and ephedra. Always take these as directed and avoid taking them with alcohol.
- Protect against hepatitis. Some ways to prevent getting viral hepatitis include getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, using condoms and other barrier methods during sex, and not reusing needles or other injectable drug materials.
- Have regular checkups. Seeing your doctor regularly can help your doctor identify and treat any underlying health conditions early. Additionally, if you have early symptoms of alcohol-related liver disease, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor.
Alcohol is one of several substances that can damage your liver. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause fat to build up in your liver. This can lead to inflammation and an increase in scar tissue, which can seriously impact your liver’s ability to function as it should.
The early stages of alcohol-related liver disease typically have no symptoms. When they’re present, the early symptoms can include pain in the area of your liver, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
The early stages of alcohol-related liver disease can potentially be reversed by abstaining from alcohol. For some people, this may need to be permanent. If damage persists, alcoholic cirrhosis can develop, which can’t be reversed.
You can improve the health of your liver by abstaining from alcohol or only drinking in moderation, eating a healthy diet, and managing your weight. If you notice early signs of alcohol-related liver disease, be sure to follow up with your doctor.
How Much Alcohol Is Safe to Drink Daily?
Alcohol is second to only tobacco as the most widely-used substance in the United States. In recent surveys, more than 86% of people ages 18 and over reported drinking alcohol at some point in their life.1 Even though moderate drinking is common in many cultures, anyone who chooses to drink alcohol daily must remain aware of its potential risks.
Despite the perception that alcohol is somewhat distinct from other drugs, alcohol is in fact one of the most addictive substances consumed worldwide. Drinking is by no means an entirely benign pastime. Alcohol consumption, though somewhat normalized, results in more than 3 million alcohol-related deaths each year throughout the world.2
Increasingly so, many argue that the only safe amount of alcohol to drink is none at all. However, to minimize the myriad of potential health risks, people who choose to drink should weigh certain biological, psychological, and environmental factors. The daily amount of alcohol that constitutes low-risk drinking may differ from one person to the next. The following components can potentially influence the amount of alcohol that is safe for someone to drink:3
- Age
- Weight
- Concurrent use of other drugs, including both certain prescribed or over-the-counter medications
- General mental and physical health status
- Genetic influences
- Sex
Although general guidelines exist to help people determine how much alcohol they can drink while minimizing health risks, recommended authoritative limits do not guarantee safety for every individual. Drinking responsibly requires an awareness of how much you, as an individual, can consume without becoming impaired or otherwise under the control of alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to irreversible health-related or social consequences.1,4
Drinking While Pregnant
Women who are pregnant should not consume alcohol. There is no amount of alcohol that is completely safe for pregnant women to consume. Drinking while pregnant exposes the developing baby to the potentially-toxic effects of alcohol and increases the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.5 Even women who are breastfeeding are encouraged to abstain from drinking, as exposure to alcohol in breastmilk could unintentionally hurt an infant by impairing growth and cognitive development.4,6
Dietary Guidelines For Safe Levels Of Alcohol Consumption
It has long been debated whether there actually is any amount of alcohol that constitutes a safe amount to drink.
According to the US Dietary Guidelines, 2015-2020, people should limit their alcohol-related risks by drinking in moderation, meaning up to 1 serving of alcohol per day for women and up to 2 servings per day for men.4 Daily drinking may indeed be harmful for you, especially if you suffer from certain health conditions, mental health issues, or have a family history of substance use disorders.
What Is One Serving of Alcohol?
Measuring your alcohol isn’t always simple or easy. One “serving” of alcohol depends on the percentage of alcohol in your beverage.
One alcoholic drink-equivalent totals as:4
- 12 ounces of beer (containing an average percentage of 5% alcohol).
- 5 ounces of wine (containing an average percentage of 12% alcohol).
- 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (containing an average percentage of around 40% alcohol).
Be aware that these are rough guidelines. These protocols may not apply to every single brand or type of drink within a particular category of spirits. In fact, most drinks served at bars tend to be larger than these suggested serving sizes.7 No alcoholic beverage is currently considered safer than any other type of spirit, either.
___
How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?
There is no clear-cut way to determine how much alcohol is “too much” to drink. Each individual’s body chemistry is unique and situations in which alcohol is being consumed will naturally vary. Increasingly so, researchers investigating the global impact of substance use on health and disease are making arguments that even small amounts of alcohol can be detrimental to our health, and that the associated risks rise with increased levels of consumption.8
When it comes to the amount of drinking, there are patterns of alcohol consumption—such as binge drinking—that can greatly increase several types of health risks.
- For example, binge drinking is associated with increased:9
- Risk of violence.
- Injuries, such as car crashes and fall-related injuries.
- Heart disease.
- Stroke.
- Certain types of cancer.
- Memory and learning issues.
- Alcohol poisoning or alcohol overdose.
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD).
What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is not defined by a specific number of drinks people have, but by the blood alcohol content (BAC) they reach while drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption that raises the BAC to 0.08 or above.1
Typically, women may reach this BAC by having 4 or more drinks in a span of 2 hours. In men, this may be reached by having around 5 or more drinks in 2 hours.4 Similarly, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines binge drinking as 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more for men in the same sitting (i.e., at the same time or within a few hours of each other), with such a pattern taking place at least once during the past month.1
What Is Excessive Drinking?
The concept of excessive alcohol consumption, or “heavy drinking” may also encompass binge drinking. However, excessive alcohol consumption also refers to when women have more than 8 drinks in one week, and when men have 15 or more drinks in one week. In comparison, as mentioned above, binge drinking refers more to having 4 or more drinks for women or 5 or more drinks for men in a time span of two hours.4
How Long Does It Take To Get Drunk?
Several factors affect how alcohol long it takes for someone to feel intoxicated, such as weight, how much someone has eaten that day, and even the amount of water in their body which can influence the rate at which a person’s BAC rises.10 In many instances, someone may begin to feel the effects of alcohol within 30 minutes of consuming an alcoholic beverage, depending on their BAC.
Biological and Genetic Factors
Certain genes may confer differences in the ability to metabolize alcohol in the body, which can influence the rate at which alcohol blood levels rise and fall. Genetic heritability also plays a role in the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder. For instance, a person with a family history of alcoholism or addiction may be at a higher risk of developing problematic patterns of drinking, so abstaining from alcohol may be a safer option for this person than consuming any amount of alcohol.11
Certain medical conditions such as the following can make drinking any amount of alcohol very dangerous:
- Diabetes
- Cirrhosis
- Heart conditions
Certain medications can make daily alcohol consumption unsafe at any level and for any individual. Alcohol is generally not recommended for people who take certain prescription drugs. A person should consider his or her overall physical health, medical conditions, and the medications they are taking before deciding how much alcohol is safe for them to drink each day.
Psychological Factors
Mental health issues and substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorders commonly co-occur. Struggling with a mental health disorder can influence the likelihood of developing patterns of problematic drinking and, conversely, having an alcohol use disorder can increase the risk of developing significant psychiatric issues. The potential interplay of both can worsen the course and treatment of the other. Many healthcare professionals advise that those with certain psychological conditions (including those people who might experience adverse interactions between alcohol and their psychiatric medications) steer clear of drinking alcohol.12
In many cases of compulsive alcohol use, people lose control over the ability to regulate their patterns of drinking. For those not struggling with such compulsive patterns of use, the amount of alcohol one consumes may be more of a personal choice—but not one that people should weigh lightly because of the myriad risks to health, including the potential for eventual alcohol use disorder development. To determine their safe level of drinking, people must consider the biological, environmental, and psychological factors that could affect their safety while drinking, while also abiding by the recommendations set forth in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. And, as always, the absolute safest level of drinking remains none at all.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551
https://www.healthline.com/health/early-signs-of-liver-damage-from-alcohol
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm
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