Alcohol
The problems associated with alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, are wide ranging and can be physical, psychological and social. For someone with a drink problem, drinking becomes a compulsion and takes precedence over all other activities.
A person with alcohol dependence:
- has a strong desire to drink alcohol,
- has difficulty controlling their use of alcohol,
- persistently uses alcohol despite being aware of the harmful effects,
- shows increased tolerance for alcohol, and
- Shows signs of withdrawal when without alcohol.
Alcohol dependence can remain undetected for many years.
Between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths in England each year are associated with alcohol misuse mainly resulting from stroke, cancer, liver disease accidental injury or suicide. Around a third of all incidents of domestic violence are linked to alcohol and half of all violent crimes are alcohol related.
Binge drinking
Binge drinking is defined as drinking eight or more units of alcohol in one session if you are a man, and more than six units in one session, if you are a woman. Studies are starting to reveal that drinking a large amount of alcohol over a short period of time may be significantly worse for your health than frequently drinking small quantities.
In the UK, binge drinking is becoming a big problem. Teenagers as young as 16 admit to binge-drinking and around 40% of patients admitted to A&E are diagnosed with alcohol-related injuries or illnesses.
Alcohol misuse
Increasing alcohol consumption and changing patterns of alcohol consumption are a significant challenge to improving the life expectancy and quality of life of people in Greater Manchester.
The short term health risks of alcohol include:
- Anxiety
- Sexual difficulties such as impotence
- Impaired judgment leading to accidents and injuries
- Slowed breathing and heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness
- Suffocation through choking on your own vomit (aspiration)
- Potentially fatal poisoning
In the long term, alcohol can contribute to a variety of problems, including damage to an unborn child, liver disease, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, infertility, heart disease, raised blood pressure, stroke, dementia and brain damage.
It can also lead to an increased risk of a variety of cancers, particularly breast cancer and cancer of the gullet. It is also frequently associated with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
Key fact: The government recommends that adult males should drink no more than 3 - 4 units of alcohol a day, and that adult females should drink no more than 2 - 3 units of alcohol a day.