Are you drinking too much?
Experts have warned that millions of people are overdoing it with their alcohol consumption.
Heavy drinking can impact the health of livers, bones and brain cells. It can also increase the risk of depression, divorce and redundancy.
“Heavy drinking has become normalised – alcohol is ingrained in so many areas of our lives and there is a lot of pressure to drink,” said Iqbal Mohiuddin, a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in addictions and clinical lead at Serena House, a medical detox and treatment centre in London.
“Many people I see either don't realise or are in denial about their alcohol consumption – I often suspect it's double what people admit to.”
“Part of the problem is many of us have no idea how many units are in various drinks – it's nearly always more than you think – and can vary widely even among different types of wine and beers.”
One tool used by medical professionals is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). The 10-question test was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and is key in helping to determine if someone has alcohol abuse problems.
To complete the test, answer each question and write down your corresponding score.
YOUR SCORE:
0-7: You are within the sensible drinking range and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.
8-15: Medium level of risk. Drinking at your current level puts you at risk of developing problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider cutting down (see below for tips).
16-19: Higher risk of complications from alcohol. Cutting back on your own may be difficult at this level, as you may be dependent, so you may need professional help from your GP and/or a counsellor.
20 and over: Possible dependence. Your drinking is already causing you problems, and you could very well be dependent. You should definitely consider stopping gradually or at least reduce your drinking. You should seek professional help to ascertain the level of your dependence and the safest way to withdraw from alcohol.
Overall:
A score of 1 or more on question 1 and question 3 indicates consumption at a hazardous level. Points scored above 0 on questions 4-6 (especially weekly or daily) implies the beginning of alcohol dependence. Points scored on questions 7-10 indicate alcohol-related harm is already being experienced. Over 8 indicates harmful or hazardous drinking.
Severe dependence may require medically assisted withdrawal or detox due to the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms in the first 48 hours needing specialist treatment.
“Some people manage to stop suddenly without any problems, but others may have withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, shakiness, sweating, increasing anxiety, headache and even hallucinations. In fact, going 'cold turkey' if you're a very heavy drinker is highly risky and could be fatal. Hence, it is not recommended,” said Dr Mohiuddin.
If you fear you cannot cut down on your own, consult your GP and they can tell you about services available in your area to help you.
“Another option is to attend a support group for drinking problems, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, where there are other people in your situation who understand and can give you support,” said Dr Mohiuddin.
“There are meetings all over the world and they're free to attend.”