Clinical
Corner Ð Recognizing Substance Abuse
Am I Drinking Too Much?
YES, if you are:
- A
woman who has more than seven drinks* per week or more than three drinks
per occasion
- A
man who has more than 14 drinks* per week or more than four drinks per occasion
- Older
than 65 years and have more than seven drinks* per week or more than three
drinks per occasion
Am I Taking Risks with
Alcohol or Other Mood-Altering Substances?
YES, if You:
- Drink
or use drugs and drive or operate machinery, or if you mix alcohol or
drugs with other medicine (over-the-counter and prescription drugs)
- Don't
tell your surgeon, physician, or pharmacist that you are a regular drinker
or user of mood-altering drugs
- Are
pregnant or are trying to become pregnant and drink or use drugs. (Even
small amounts of alcohol can hurt an unborn child. Other drugs are also
dangerous in pregnancy)
- Drink
alcohol or use drugs while you are looking after small children
Has My Drinking or Drug Use
Become A Habit?
YES, If you drink or use
drugs regularly to:
- Relax,
relieve anxiety, or go to sleep
- Be
more comfortable in social situations
- Avoid
thinking about sad or unpleasant things
- Socialize
with other regular drinkers or drug users
Is Alcohol or Drug Use
Taking Over My Life?
YES, if you:
- Worry
about having enough alcohol or drugs for an evening or weekend
- Hide
alcohol or drugs, or buy alcohol at different stores so people will not
know how much you are drinking
- Switch
from one kind of drink to another, hoping that this will keep you from
getting drunk
- Try
to get "extra" drinks at a social event or sneak drinks when
others aren't looking
Has Drinking Alcohol or
Using Drugs Become a Problem for Me?
YES, if you:
- Can't
stop drinking or using drugs once you start
- Have
tried to stop drinking or using drugs for a week or so but only lasted a
few days
- Fail
to do what you should at work or at home because of drinking or drug use
- Feel
guilty after drinking or using drugs
- Find
that other people make comments to you about your drinking or drug use
- Have
had a drink or used drugs in the morning to get yourself going
- Can't
remember what happened while you were drinking or using drugs
- Have
hurt someone as a result of your drinking or drug use
What Do I Do About Problem
Drinking?
Try to cut down to safe drinking levels: less than seven drinks per week
and less than three drinks per occasion for women and older people, and less
than 14 drinks per week and less than four drinks per occasion for men.
How Can I Get Help for An Alcohol Or Drug Problem?
If you feel you need help to cut down, you can contact:
- Your
doctor for advice, treatment, or referral
- Self-Help
Support Groups:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA); call your local
chapter (check your local phone directory under "Alcoholism") www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Narcotics Anonymous (NA); call your local
chapter (check your local phone directory under "Drug Abuse" or call
818-773-9999) www.na.org
Al-Anon (for spouses and other significant
adults in an alcoholic person's life) and Alateen
(for children of alcoholics) Telephone: 1-800-344-2666 www.al-anon.alateen.org
Adult Children of Alcoholics Telephone:
1-310-534-1815 www.adultchildren.org
Women for Sobriety, Inc. Telephone:
1-800-333-1606 www.womenforsobriety.org
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Call
1-800-662-HELP for information about local treatment programs and to speak to
someone about your alcohol or drug problem.
For More Information
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Public Information
Office
Telephone: 1-301-443-3860
Website: www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Telephone: 1-800-729-6686
Website: www.health.org
*--One drink = one 12-oz bottle of beer (4.5 percent alcohol), one 5-oz
glass of wine (12.9 percent alcohol), or 1.5 oz of
80-proof distilled spirits.
Source:
American Academy of Family Physicians