Alcohol Misuse

Question 1

State low-risk drinking guidelines for mine and women in terms of units of alcohol

Answer 1

Men :

• No more than 14 units per week
• no more than 3 units in any one day
• and at least two alcohol-free days per week

Women:

• No more than 14 units per week
• no more than 3 units in any one day
• and at least two alcohol-free days per week

Question 2

State the definition of binge drinking and associated risks

Answer 2

Binge drinking = refers to drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time or drinking to get drunk

• more than 6 units of alcohol in a single session for men and women

Increase risk of

• accidents resulting in injury, causing death in some cases
• misjudging risky situations
• losing self control

Question 3

List health conditions associated with regularly drinking over the safe limit guidelines

Answer 3

1 in 3 men and 1 in 7 women drink more than safe levels,
- cancer of throat, oesophagus or larynx
• regularly drinking two large glasses of wine (AbV 13%) or 2 pints of strong lager (ABV 5.2%) a day could make you 3 times as likely to get mouth cancer
- breast cancer
•Risk increases by 20%
- stroke
- heart disease or irregular heartbeat can lead to ha
- high blood pressure
- liver disease such as cirrhosis and liver cancer
•risk of cirrhosis increases 1.7times
- pancreatitis
- reduced fertility
- obesity
•1 glass of wine=bag of crisps in calories

Question 4

Discuss the effects of drinking alcohol in pregnancy on the fetus

Answer 4

• increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth
• increased risk of premature birth and low birthweight related to drinking alcohol in the first 3 months of pregnancy
• poor growth and development

On the featus :
- foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) includes:
•poor growth
•small head and jaw
•cerebral palsy
•hearing and/or sight problems
•epilepsy
•weak immune system
•problems with liver,kidneys, heart or other organs
•problems with emotional and behavioural development

• baby facial features are formed during 6-9weeks of pregnancy, mothers who drink during the 3 week window are more likely to have babies with facial deformities associated FASD

Question 5

Discuss the brief advice service (aims, key stages of alcohol identification and methods of assessment of level of use)

Answer 5

A

Question 6

Alcohol measurement

Answer 6

• measured in units
• 1 uk unit is 10ml or 8g of pure unit =
  •about half a pint of normal strength lager or
  • a single measure (25ml) of spirits
  • half a standard (175ml) glass of wine

Alcoholic drinks are produced in different sizes (ml) and strengths (abv%)

Unit = strength (abv%) x size (ml)
———————————————
1000