Sept. 24, 2020 | An estimated 14.4 million people in this country have alcohol use disorder, or AUD. AUD is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol intake and a negative emotional state when not using. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women will die from alcohol-related causes this year. That makes alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death after tobacco and obesity. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly 30 percent of 15-year-olds in this country had had at least one drink in their lives while 54 percent of college students reported having a drink in the last month. In fact, 36 percent of the college students surveyed said they had engaged in binge drinking compared to 27 percent of people the same age. Binge drinking is defined as 5 drinks for men or 4 for women in a two-hour period.

Sept. 24, 2020 | We’ve all heard it before. Someone whose been drinking says they’re fine, they’ve only had a couple drinks. So how much alcohol is in the average drink? Different types of beer, wine, or malt liquor can have very different amounts of alcohol content. For example, many light beers have almost as much alcohol as regular beer, about 85 percent as much. This why it’s so important to know the amount of alcohol in the drinks you consume. A 12-ounce can of regular beer contains about five percent alcohol while nine ounces of malt liquor contains about 7 percent alcohol. Five ounces of table wine is about 12 percent alcohol while one and a half ounces of distilled spirits such as gin, rum and vodka, is about 40 percent alcohol. A four-ounce glass of a fortified wine, such as sherry or port, has about 17 percent alcohol. Meanwhile a three-ounce glass of a cordial, liqueur or aperitif, has about 24 percent alcohol and single jigger or shot of brandy or cognac has 40 percent.

Sept. 24, 2020 | Have you ever drank more alcohol than you intended? Have you ever tried to cut down or quit drinking and failed? If so, you may have alcohol use disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, outlines 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder. Anyone meeting two or more of the criteria during a 12-month period is considered to have AUD. So consider these questions? Have you ever experienced a strong craving to drink? Do you continue to drink even though it causes problems with family or friends? Have you ever continued to drink although it made you depressed or anxious? Do you spend a lot of time drinking or being sick from the effects of drinking? Have you ever gotten into a dangerous situation as a result of drinking? Do you find that you have to drink more than you once did to get the effect that you want? If you answered yes to two of these, your drinking may already be a cause for concern.

Sept. 24, 2020 | Alcohol can contribute to immediate problems like hangovers but do you know the long-term effects it can have? Heavy drinking can cause increased fat in the liver, inflammation of the liver and, over time, irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue. It can also result in inflammation of the stomach lining as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure and increase your risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause a serious heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar. This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level. Excessive drinking can cause erectile dysfunction in men. In women, it can interrupt menstruation. Long-term use has been linked to a higher risk of many cancers, including colon, liver and breast cancer.

Sept. 24, 2020 | For anyone thinking about getting help for alcohol use disorder, a good first step is talking to your primary care physician. He or she can be a good source for referrals to various treatment options as well as medications that can help overcome the disorder. The newer types of these medications work by offsetting changes in the brain caused by alcoholism. All approved medications are non-addictive and can be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. Behavioral treatments involve working with a health professional to identify and help change the behaviors that lead to heavy drinking. Brief interventions are short, one-on-one or small-group counseling sessions that are time limited. The counselor provides information about the individual’s drinking pattern and potential risks. After receiving personalized feedback, the counselor will work with the client to set goals and provide ideas for help to make a change.