Think about the times you’ve taken a survey and checked the boxes asking about how often you drink. Were there ever any meaningful discussions about your answer? Probably not.
Healthcare professionals are realizing that their former methods of dealing with a patient’s alcohol use are ineffective. The either/or approach isn’t working. Only one out of every eight people with an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is getting the help they need.
A New Way of Thinking
Medical doctors are changing how they measure the effects of drinking. Now, instead of focusing solely on the person with the alcohol problem, they are approaching AUD’s with a wider view so that best practices and improved life strategies can be put into place for the teenager who is starting to drink, the high-functioning mom who has four glasses of wine each night, or that friend who binge drinks every once in awhile.
Social drinking is a large part of our culture. From get-togethers, tailgates, sports, birthdays, holidays, and more, alcohol use is linked to so many positive life events and is a core part of many of our identities. However, there is a flipside to social drinking.
- Eight out of every one hundred people have an active AUD, causing health issues such as liver disease, stomach bleeds, dementia, and depression.
- One-third of emergency room visits are alcohol-related.
- 85,000 people die in the United States each year from alcohol-related accidents. Only a fraction of the people involved in these are considered alcoholics.
- Risks of liver disease increase significantly in women who have over one drink daily, on average, and men who have over two.
- Less than one drink a day, on average, increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
- Alcohol use is linked to over seven other cancers.
- The touted heart health benefits of alcohol are no longer stacking up against the other risks.
Recommended Limits
There seem to be two risk patterns for drinking: regular alcohol use and heavy, episodic drinking. That is why experts have recommended drinking limits for each. For men, it is suggested that they drink no more than fourteen glasses a week, with a limit of four in one day. For women, the suggestion is no more than seven drinks in one week, with a limit of three in one day. Of course, the ounces of each drink depends on the alcohol percentage of the beverage.
Each of us experiences alcohol use in different ways. Our vulnerability to developing an AUD is based on many factors, including our family history, the age when we begin drinking, and mental health. A one-size-fits-all approach is not helpful because our individual needs vary.
On one end of the AUD spectrum are those who regularly exceed recommended limits but have not run into problems yet. On the other end are individuals who would be considered alcoholics by traditional standards. Everyone needs to stop and think about their habits. This is smart self-check we should all perform regularly. Has your daily performance been affected by your use of alcohol? Are you drinking more often than you use to? Are you using alcohol to cope with stress or insomnia? Are there healthier ways you can cope with your issues?
We may think we are functioning fine, but in reality, we may not be noticing, or we may be ignoring, the negative effect of alcohol on our health, our relationships, and our ability to meet our goals and daily responsibilities.
Getting Help
The resources available to treat AUD’s have expanded. Online self-assessments, various types of therapy, stress management classes, community agencies, and new medications are all tools that can be used to get drinking in check. If you feel you have a problem, reach out to a trusted family member, friend, or physician to seek help. (The resources at FLEXTALK.org are free and designed to help you talk with a trusted friend or mentor about your addictions.)
Alcohol affects each of us differently. It can negatively impact us even at low levels of use. Though there are those who are best served by giving up alcohol completely, most people benefit by making a few positive changes in the right direction. We need to change the conversations we are having about alcohol. Stereotypes, stigmas, and pessimism prevent people from getting the help they need if they don’t fit the typical caricature of an “alcoholic.” When we are honest with ourselves and others, we start a ripple effect of responsible drinking and accountability.
Article for this topic by Jamie Casperson.
