We
are living in a country awash with alcohol and drugs.Every day we hear of violence, suicides, marriage
breakdowns, unplanned pregnancies and so on which are associated
with the unwise use of these substances.What information do we need to avoid the dangers?
Alcohol
Alcohol
is used to mark every stage of our life.A pint is bought for our father in the pub
when we are born and a whiskey is drunk to our memory when we
die.We drink to celebrate or forget the results
of the junior certificate, the leaving certificate, our college
exams, our driving test, our latest romance.
There
are many casualties of this love affair with drink.Alcohol is a major factor in
many suicides
one third of marriage break-ups
a high percentage of attendances in Accident and Emergency
departments
health problems leading to hospital stays.
We
are unique in Europe in the last decade in the startling increase
in our alcohol consumption (and this in a country where we have
always been famous for our drinking).
You can
drink wisely and safely – just follow the advice below:
Legal
Age: The legal age for purchasing drink in this country
is 18.It is wise to
wait until at least this age before starting to drink as before
this a person has not matured physically and mentally.Some would argue that we should raise the legal
age to 21 as a similar increase in the legal age in the USA
was associated with a significant fall in youth suicide.Doctors today in Ireland are regularly seeing people who have begun
drinking in their teens and are fully-fledged alcoholics before
the age of 25.
The
Safe Limits: Doctors say “ 21 units a week for a man,
14 units a week for a woman”. A unit is a half-pint (glass)
of beer or stout or a glass of wine or a small (English) measure
of spirits.So a weekly
limit for a man is 10.5 pints and a woman 7 pints of beer or
stout.
It
is unwise to drink more than 3-5 units at one sitting. The safe
limits are lower for people who are unwell physically or mentally.Many people on medication are advised not to
drink at all. If you are troubled by suicidal thoughts avoid alcohol as it increases
the chances of acting on these suicidal thoughts.
Recognising
a Problem: There is a significant risk that you may have
a problem with alcohol if you regularly drink above the safe
limit.Other warning
signs are:
1. Problems
with your physical health such as regular stomach upset or ulcers,
regular morning after symptoms like sweating shakes and nausea.
2. Psychological
symptoms like depression, memory problems or irritability.
3. Social
problems such as marital problems, financial problems, complaints
about the quality of your work or legal problems such as drunk
driving charges.
If
family or friends suggest that you have a problem with alcohol
you should take this very seriously, as they are almost invariably
right.
Seeking
Help: If you wish to discuss your drinking with a professional
advisor the simplest thing to do is go and talk to your family
doctor. If there is a problem this can generally be managed
by cutting down to safe limits. In a small number of cases it
is necessary for the person to stop drinking completely and
your doctor will advise about this and further treatment as
needed.
Some
other tips for drinking safely
Never
drink and drive.
Drink
with friends.
Do not
engage in unplanned sex if drinking. If you do have sex use
contraception unless you are actually trying to conceive a
baby. (an old college joke is that “Arthur Guinness
is the father of the nation”)
Don’t drink if you are feeling very sad, worried
or irritable, as alcohol will intensify the feelings and may
lead you to a course of action you will regret.
One
drink an hour alternating with soft drinks or water as the
night goes by. As a general rule - don’t allow yourself
to get drunk: remember the 3-5 unit limit – falling
down and vomiting is not attractive!
Don’t
let drinking be your only social activity - eat out, go to
the cinema, take up a hobby. Go out with your friends and
don’t drink alcohol just for a change.
Allow
other people not to drink.There is a huge social pressure to drink in Ireland.
Remember drinking alcohol is optional and not everyone wishes
to respect their choice.
Reconsider
your relationship with alcohol if you are frequently drinking
over the limits.
Street
Drugs
From
a mental and physical health standpoint there is no such thing
as the safe use of street drugs. Firstly, as they are produced
illegally there is no such thing as (for example) a standard
ecstasy tablet or cannabis joint. Secondly, all are associated
with potentially serious mental and physical health problems:
for example
Cannabis
– linked with increased incidence of schizophrenia and
lung cancer
Ecstasy
– rebound depression, dehydration and sudden death
Amphetamines
– psychosis and rebound depression, cardiovascular collapse
Heroin – personality
deterioration, Aids and Hepatitis C
Glue
– hallucinations and brain damage
LSD
– hallucinations and schizophrenia
So the
simple advice is don’t use drugs. If you choose to ignore
this advice then at the very least don’t use drugs on
your own. Use with a sober friend because at least then you
will have someone to bring you to hospital if it all goes horribly
wrong.
Over
the counter and prescription medication
Some
people develop a problem with medicines that can be easily bought
in any chemist. The most commonly misused are cough bottles
and pain-killers. If you regularly exceed the daily maximum
dose or find that you are taking a medicine because it gives
you a “good feeling” you may have a problem. Again
talk to your family doctor who will definitely have met this
problem before.Medicine that your doctor prescribes can also
be misused so always follow instructions carefully.
If you
find yourself misusing medication or using street drugs speak
to your family doctor who will advise you and refer you for
further appropriate help. Remember, the longer the misuse goes
on the more problems accumulate.
Advice
for parents
Ultimately
as a parent you have to accept that your son or daughter will
make up their own mind about alcohol and drugs. There are some
things that will give them a good chance of making wise choices
but unfortunately there are no guarantees.
Use
alcohol wisely yourself and don’t take street drugs
or misuse medication
Give
consistent clear messages about what is acceptable behaviour
If they are earning money encourage them to spend on other
things besides going out drinking
Get
to know their friends
In younger ages get to
know the parents of their friends. This can help with the
negotiations about “my friend is allowed why am I not?”Parents can decide what they will allow and stick to
it.
From
an early age encourage them to have a wide range of interests
Keep
the lines of communication open at all times
Become
informed about alcohol and drugs and give this information
to your children. It is better to say “don’t …because”
rather than “don’t because I say so”
In summary
have fun but stay safe - Remember “Slainte” translates
as “Good Health.” And remember if you are developing
a problem go and speak to your family doctor who will know how
to help.Don’t
be embarrassed to seek help – your doctor really will
have seen it all before!
Irish College of Psychiatrists, 121 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin
2, Rep. of Ireland. Tel: +353 1 402 2346 Fax: +353 1 402 2344 email: icpsych@eircom.net
