PROBLEM DRINKING???
PROBLEM DRINKING???
Three factors have the greatest effect in determining BAC:
Follow these guidelines to lower the risk of alcohol problems:
Some people should limit or avoid alcohol intake
(From: Dealing with Drinking: How to Quit or Cut Down. Addiction Research Foundation, 1996)
Try to avoid .....
Attempt to .....
Provided by Anne Gallant of the Peterborough City-County Health Unit.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a depressant drug, though most people don't think of it as a drug at all. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the small intestine, as well as from the stomach and colon. Once it is absorbed, alcohol travels throughout the body in the bloodstream and decreases activity in parts of the brain and spinal cord. That's why drinking can lead to impaired judgement, decreased inhibitions and loss of motor coordination, for example.
It's the amount of alcohol you drink, not the type of beverage, that affects you. Beer, wine or distilled spirits all contain the same type of alcohol that has the same affect in your body. It is true that the amount of alcohol varies between types of alcoholic beverages by volume. A standard drink is a way of comparing the alcohol content per drink of different types of beverages.
One Standard Drink is 1.5 oz. of 40% spirits, 12 oz. of 5% beer, or 5 oz. of 12% wine.
MYTHS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRINKING
Myth: Beer is safer than wine or distilled spirits
Fact: It's the alcohol content in the beverage, not the form it comes in, that affects you.
Myth: I won't get drunk if I dance all night.
Fact: Physical activity does not influence the rate that your body can break down alcohol, Ninety-five percent of the alcohol you drink is removed by your liver, only five percent by breath, sweat and urine combined. The average adult can break down about 8.5 grams of alcohol in an hour ... about 2/3 of a regular beer. If you drink at a rate that is faster than the ability of your body to break the alcohol down, the alcohol accumulates in your body and you become intoxicated.
Myth: A strong cup of coffee will sober me up before I have to drive.
Fact: Coffee does not increase your ability to break down the alcohol you drink. You will feel the stimulant effect of the coffee and be more awake, but not sober. Similarly, a cold shower or a brisk walk will not speed up the sobering-up process.
Myth: My friend drank alcohol throughout her pregnancy and her baby seems fine.
Fact: If a woman drinks during pregnancy there is a risk that the development of the baby will be affected by the alcohol. Women who drink regularly when they are pregnant may have babies with mental and physical problems. The affect depends on how much alcohol is consumed and at what stage of development the unborn baby is exposed to alcohol. Some of the behavioural problems that come from exposure to alcohol before birth are not apparent until the child is approaching school age. The safest choice is not to drink alcohol if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Cutting down alcohol intake is a consideration for women who can not stop drinking when they are pregnant. Talk to your doctor or health care provider.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC)
BAC refers to the percentage of alcohol in a person's blood.
1. How much you drink over a specified period of time. The more alcohol you consume, the higher your BAC will be. The higher your BAC is, the more intoxicated you become.
2. Body weight. The heavier you are, the lower your BAC will be given the same amount of alcohol. For example, if a 200-pound man and a 130-pound man each drank five standard drinks in four hours, the 130 pound man's BAC would be twice as high as the BAC of the 200-pound man. This is because of the relative distribution of alcohol over body mass.
3. Gender. Females have less water in their bodies and a higher percentage of body fat than men. Because alcohol is soluble in water, not in fat, the alcohol consumed is more broadly distributed in men. The BAC for women can be much higher for women than for men of the same weight who drink the same amount of alcohol at the same rate --- up to 30% higher!
There are other factors that can increase BAC to a small degree:
---hormonal changes in women
---increase in age in men
---poor health
---fast rate of alcohol consumption
---using carbonated mix
---drinking on an empty stomach - food does slow the absorption rate of alcohol but can't stop the alcohol from being absorbed.
TOLERANCE
Some people have a higher tolerance to the effects of alcohol than others, so they don't show the typical signs of intoxication when others do, given the same amount of alcohol. A high tolerance has virtually no effect on BAC measurement.LOW RISK DRINKING GUIDELINES
Health agencies in Ontario have developed new low risk drinking guidelines to help adults weight the risks and benefits associated with drinking alcohol.
The guidelines are based on a standard drink size which is 12oz of regular beer (5% alcohol), 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% alcohol) or 5 oz of wine (12% alcohol).
--- --> Drink no more than 2 standard drinks on any day.
--- --> Limit weekly intake to 14 or less standard drinks for men and 9 or less for women.
--- --> Drink slowly to avoid intoxication, waiting at least 1 hour between drinks. Consume food and non-alcoholic drinks as well.
--- --> Don't start drinking alcohol for protection against heart disease. Exercise, better nutrition and quitting smoking are better choices.
--- --> If you choose to drink, you can achieve the protective effect of alcohol against heart disease with as little as one standard drink every other day.
---people with certain health problems such as mental illness or liver disease
---people taking certain medications such as sedatives, pain killers and sleeping pills
---always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking drugs and alcohol together.
---anyone with a personal or family history of serious drinking problems
---women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to conceive
---people operating any type of vehicle (car, boat, forklift etc.)
---people who need to be alert (eg. responsible for safety of other's, operating machinery, playing sports....)
---people who are under legal or other restriction from drinking.For more information about low risk drinking guidelines visit the Alcohol Policy Network of Ontario and go to "Action Packs".WHEN IS DRINKING A PROBLEM?
Most adult Canadians drink alcohol and the majority choose to drink responsibly. About one in twenty drinkers would be considered to have an alcohol dependency. But you don't need to be an alcoholic to experience alcohol problems. Drinking can cause problems both in the short term and the long term such as:
---acting out of character and regretting your actions later;
---having unintended sex;
---sustain injury and violence;
---problems with money, work/school, family and friends;
---develop illnesses related to drinking.
For more information about low risk drinking guidelines visit Care to try an on-line drinking assessment?IMPAIRED DRIVING
Impaired driving is one negative consequence of drinking. The legal blood alcohol limit across Canada is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood (or 0.08mg%). In Ontario, between 50mg% - 80 mg% can result in 12 hour license suspension.The number of drinking drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes has decreased by 53% since 1985, while the number of licensed drivers has increased by 34%.More than 22,000 drivers are convicted of impaired driving each year; 69% of those are repeat offenders.People who have credibility (spouses, girlfriends) or who are concerned about the person have the greatest chance of intervening with repeat impaired driving offenders.NEW DRUNK DRIVING LAWS IN ONTARIO
The Government of Ontario has significantly increased the penalties for impaired driving including:
---90 day administrative driver's license suspension for drivers who blow over the legal limit or refuse an alcohol-breath test;
---A person who chooses to drive while under suspension faces fines of $5,000 - $50,000, six months in jail, and 45 day vehicle impoundment at the owner's expense;
---Mandatory education or treatment program for all convicted drinking drivers to have their license re-instated, at a cost of $475;
---Longer license suspension periods for drivers convicted of criminal-code driving offences
--- --> 1 year on first conviction
--- --> 3 years on a second conviction
--- --> lifetime suspension on a third conviction (can be reduced to 10 years)
--- --> lifetime suspension on a fourth conviction with no possibility for reinstatement of an Ontario driver's license;
--- --> Increased period of driver record search.NEW FEDERAL PENALTIES
Changes have recently been made to the Criminal Code regarding impaired driving, including:
---BAC over 160 mg% can be considered as an aggravating circumstance when sentencing;
---driving prohibition periods increased;
---inclusion of ignition interlock provisions;
---increased fines.MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING
Against Drunk Driving
Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada
Ontario Ministry of Transportation -
Transport CanadaHOW TO QUIT OR CUT DOWN DRINKING
To lower your risk of alcohol problems try:
1. Keep track of your drinking.
.. Monitor how much you are drinking every day.
.. How do you avoid drinking too much?
.. When do you drink more than intended?
.. How does your typical drinking compare to Ontario's low risk drinking guidelines?2. Pace your drinking
.. Moderate drinking means mixing low drinking days with alcohol free days.
.. Measure your drinks so you know how much you are consuming.
.. Dilute drinks with water, pop or juice.
.. Sip, don't gulp.
.. Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic drinks.
.. Eat a snack when drinking.
.. Wait a while between drinks.3. Spend time on other things
Instead of drinking, spend time on other things you enjoy that don't involve alcohol:
- go for a walk - listen to music
- see a movie - take up a hobby
- read a book - join a club4. Stay alert
There may be times when you feel pressure to drink. Alcohol does not solve problems.
Learn to plan ahead and set limits for yourself, resist temptation.
Refuse drinks without feeling guilty --- it's always OK to say "no thanks"
Leave if you're having trouble sticking to your plan.5. Don't use alcohol to escape problems or to feel better
talk about your feelings
voice your opinions
show affection
assert yourself
seek help if you need help coping6. Never drink and drive
Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to drive or operate heavy equipment.
If you plan to drink, have safe transportation planned before you drink. WHERE TO GET HELP
Some of the community support services that are available in Peterborough include:
1. Four Counties Addiction Services Team (4CAST)
Publicly funded addiction treatment service in downtown Peterborough offering assessment, referral, day treatment and support programs. Also provide gambling treatment. Call 876-1292 or toll-free at 1-800- 461-1909.2. DART
(Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment) a toll-free line for information about and referral to addiction treatment services in Ontario. Call 1-800-565-8603.3. Self-Help Programs
AA, Al Anon, Alateen and NA are all available in the Peterborough area. Call 745-6111 for times and locations.4. John Howard Society
Offer drug and alcohol treatment and support in Peterborough. Call 743-8331.5. Private Practice Addiction Counseling
There are a number of private practice counselors who provide addiction treatment. Look under "addictions" in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book.6. Peterborough County-City Health Unit
Provide public information materials, access to information/reference services, resources that can be borrowed (books, videos) and referral to community supports. Call 748-2021.7. Info-ARF
Toll-free and confidential telephone information line that offers taped messages on a variety of substance abuse topics. Call 1-800-463-6273.HOW TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THEIR DRINKING
General Principles
--- -->Ignoring self-defeating behaviour is not helpful to the person.
--- -->Helpful intervention is a process, not an event.
--- -->When people are confronted about behaviour that is part of their lifestyle, they generally become defensive and angry.
--- -->The more you learn about alcohol and its effects, the more helpful you can be to those who are having problems with it.
--- -->Arguing with the person.
--- -->Getting angry and losing control.
--- -->Letting them change the topic.
--- -->Getting hooked by their defensiveness --- don't feel guilty and don't take it personally!
--- -->Delaying the confrontation --- talk to the person soon, when they are sober.
--- -->Diagnosing and labeling (ie. "You're an alcoholic")
--- -->Sparing the person the consequences of their drinking.
--- -->Choose a private time and place to talk when the person is sober.
--- -->Let them know you care. Use "I" statements ("I am worried about you.")
--- -->Stay calm.
--- -->Remain non-judgmental. Emphasize the contrast between the person's sober behaviour, which you like, and the drinking behaviour that concerns you. Reflect what you see without making value judgements.
--- -->Use gentle persistence.
--- -->Anticipate their possible responses and be ready to answer them.
--- -->Be ready to provide some information about what supports are available.
--- -->Decide before-hand what you can offer --- make a first phone call, go with them to an appointment.