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Health
Beat
the booze blues
GPCAPT
Len Lambeth looks at alcohol in the second
of a two-part series on addictive substances.
Volume
11, No. 56, November 16, 2006
Most of us in the ADF enjoy a drink. It is
a very socially acceptable way of breaking
down barriers and encouraging social interaction.
However, alcohol is a legal drug, and one
which can easily become a dangerous addiction.
It is openly available, its use is encouraged
by our social and cultural norms, and its
production contributes significantly to Australia’s
gross national product.
Small is good
We are all well aware that a small amount
of alcohol helps to prevent heart disease
from middle age onwards. We find that the
relaxing effects of a few drinks are most
acceptable. All of this sounds pretty good.
Too
much is bad
Alcohol is absorbed very rapidly and reaches
the brain within five minutes of ingestion.
A small amount of alcohol makes us cheerful
and relaxed.
The emphasis here is on the word ‘small’.
As our blood levels of alcohol increase, our
inhibitions decrease, our judgement becomes
impaired, and behaviour becomes unpredictable.
Some of us become aggressive, others depressed
(alcohol is a depressant). We are all aware
of the ‘hangover effect’. At high
levels, our moods change, there may be nausea,
vomiting, double vision, and memory loss is
common. Very high levels may lead to respiratory
failure, coma and death.
It can happen to you
While many, if not most, of us are aware of
all of this, we have a tendency to deny and
minimise – ‘It won’t happen
to me’. The statistics from the Australian
population in general don’t support our
denial. Consider these facts:
-
Alcohol
is the second largest cause of drug-related
deaths and hospitalisations in Australia
after tobacco.
-
Alcohol
is the cause of 5.5 per cent of the disease
burden for males and 2.2 per cent for
females.
-
Alcohol
is the main cause of death on Australian
roads.
-
31,132
Australians died from alcohol-caused disease
and injury between 1992 and 2001.
-
Two
million Australians drink at risky/high-risk
level.
-
High-risk
drinking for men and women is highest
in the middle age groups.
These statistics show
that alcohol is a
problem for Australians.
Take action
We would hope that
having been hit with
all of this, most
of you (if not all),
will want to take
action. The easiest
way to do this is
to work on your closest
mate – YOU.
What should you
do?
Here are some hints:
-
Decide
to drink safely. For some, this will mean
abstinence. For most, it means keeping
within low risk guidelines. For men, up
to four standard drinks per day, with
six on occasion (rare), and for women,
up to two standard drinks per day, with
up to four on occasion (again rare). Both
should aim for two alcohol-free days per
week.
-
Celebrate
safely. Plan where you are going and who
with. Plan how much you will drink and
how you will get home.
-
Avoid a detour to the local police station or hospital.
-
Start
with a non-alcoholic drink to quench your
thirst. Eat something.
-
One
drink at a time, consumed slowly.
-
Mates
– look out for them. Keep them safe.
-
Water
– a great way to rehydrate and avoid
hangover.
-
Shouts
– avoid shout rounds.
All
of
this
is
fine.
But
what
if
you
have
already
come
to
the
conclusion
that
you
drink
too
much?
Here
are
some
more
hints:
-
Identify
some
good
reasons
for
cutting
down.
Write
them
down.
-
Set
goals
and
stick
to
them.
-
Be
aware
of
high-risk
times.
Where
and
when
you
are
most
likely
to
drink.
-
Manage
the
high-risk
times.
Alternate
between
alcoholic
and
non-alcoholic
drinks.
Make
sure
you
eat.
Plan
to
do
other
things
at
times
when
you
would
drink.
-
Identify
someone
you
trust
to
support
you.
- Seek
help.
You
aren’t
immune
We
can’t
deny
that
historically
the
ADF
has
had
a
very
strong
alcohol-related
culture,
although
this
is
changing.
Being
a
member
of
the
ADF
doesn’t
make
you
immune
from
this.
What
we
do
have
in
the
ADF
are
resources.
These
include:
-
Outpatient
Alcohol
Treatment
Program.
This
is
an
out-patient
program
designed
to
educate,
encourage
self-reflection
and
motivate
you
to
enjoy
a
low-risk
approach
to
drinking
and
handle
stress
without
resort
to
alcohol.
-
Keep
Your
Mates
Safe
–
alcohol.
An
alcohol
first
aid
course
promoting
safe
drinking
and
looking
after
your
mates.
-
Alcohol
Rehabilitation
Program.
This
is
an
in-patient
program
designed
for
those
with
a
more
chronic
problem
requiring
specialist
support
and
help.
-
National
Alcohol
Dependence
Program.
This
is
an
RAN-specific
program
based
on
a
continuum
of
assessment
and
rehabilitation
and
with
linkages
to
the
other
tri-service
programs.
-
Local
medical
centres
where
your
doctors
can
provide
you
with
assessment,
advice
and
materials
to
assist
you
in
your
goals
leading
to
safe
drinking
or
abstinence.
-
Psychologists.
Our
psychologists
are
able
to
offer
education
and
counselling
and
assist
with
motivational
interviewing
to
lessen
the
difficulties
associated
with
reducing
alcohol
consumption.
-
Chaplains.
Our
chaplains
are
always
ready
to
put
you
on
the
right
path
to
overcome
these
problems.
They
will
be
able
to
advise
you
on
all
of
the
resources
available.
-
Mental
Health
Strategy
information
sheets.
These
advise
you
about
low-risk
drinking,
self-assessment
of
your
drinking
habits,
encourage
you
to
drink
safely,
and
provide
you
with
information
on
how
to
get
more
expert
advice
and
help.
-
Directorate
of
Mental
Health
officers
can
provide
information
in
a
confidential
manner
about
all
of
the
above
programs
and
supply
you
with
a
variety
of
materials
to
assist
you
in
not
becoming
one
of
the
statistics
outlined
above.
The
ADF
is
a
large
organisation
which
cares
for
its
people.
Our
people
are
our
chief
resource
and
we
are
aware
that
some
will
have
developed
risky
habits
with
respect
to
alcohol.
Letting
those
habits
become
our
masters
is
something
we
want
to
avoid.
We
have
programs
to
help
us
to
“Work
Well,
Live
Well,
Be
Well”
–
using
them
will
benefit
us
as
individuals,
the
ADF
as
a
whole,
and
the
Australian
community.
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