<<

Drinking can add up What can you do?

without you realising If you feel like you are experiencing problems related to your drinking there is help and support out there. Drinks after • Talk to your doctor or nurse to see if you are at risk of Total drinks work x 3 related harms = 7 • Complete a short survey to screen for alcohol risk • Monitor your alcohol intake (with your doctor or with an alcohol calculator tool (see below) • Implement the strategies your health professional A quick advises drink while 1 x night • See a specialist if advised by your doctor cap cooking x 1 Self help resources:

Drinks with Standard Drinks Calculator: dinner x 2 drinkwise.org.au Alcohol & Drug Services: betterhealth.vic.gov.au / ReachOut.com How much are you actually drinking? Telephone counselling service: DirectLine (VIC) 1800 858 858 Is your drinking One standard drink contains 10g of alcohol (NSW) 1300-806-258 Alcohol Support App: catching up www.hellosundaymorning.org/daybreak with you? Sparkling Regular Light Fortified Spirits Pre-mixed spirits Wine 100ml Beer Wine 30ml 1.5-2.4 standard 100ml 285ml 425ml 60ml drinks each

1 bottle of wine 1 slab of alcohol 1 slab of light 7.5 33 24 standard drinks standard drinks standard drinks Change your drinking habits. Speak with your doctor 1 bottle of spirits 4 litre cask or nurse today or visit riskydrinking.com.au

22 40 This activity is supported by funding from the standard drinks standard drinks Australian Government under the PHN Program. Excessive drinking can Excessive Drinking is: lead to severe physical Top 5 causes of and mental health Insomnia alcohol-attributable An average Fatigue DID glass of wine or risks such as: deaths* YOU Depression champagne is KNOW Anxiety/Agitation

More than 2 standard 150ml Blackouts which is drinks per day Paranoid Ideation/Morbid Jealousy 1.4-1.6 Breast Cancer Disease standard drinks Hypertension Haemorrhagic Stroke 18% 18% Tachyarrhythmias/Palpitations Liver Disease Bowel Cancer Night Sweating More than 4 standard drinks per day Cardiomyopathy 15% 10% Dyspnoea Haemorrhagic Stroke Oesophageal Cancer • Drinking in excess or can become 10% 8% a problem Impotence Menstrual Irregularities Bowel Cancer Oropharyngeal Cancer • A ‘couple’ of drink can add up to 7 or more ‘standard’ drinks Infertility 10% 6% • Drinking more than what is recommended can Polyuria Lower Respiratory Suicide impact physical and mental health as well as Infections social and family life Nausea/Vomiting/Retching 6%

Non-specific Dyspepsia 09% Risky drinking can fly under the radar as you might Recurrent Diarrhoea just see it as ‘normal’ drinking behaviour: Poor/Lack of Appetite In the Murray PHN region: Complication Of Unsafe Sex • A drink when you get home Alcohol related deaths are • A drink while you prepare dinner Prescription Or Illicit Drug Use above the • A couple of drinks during dinner Victorian Suicidal Ideation/Attempts 33% average • A drink to ‘relax’ before bed Marital/Relationship Problems • A ‘big’ weekend (binge drinking) Work/School/Study Absenteeism or Alcohol related assaults are Poor Academic / Work Performance above the This drinking behaviour should not be ‘normal’. Financial Difficulties Victorian It can lead to alcohol related harms. 26% average

*Source: National Alcohol Indicators report by the National Drug Research Institute https://www.sbs.com.au/news/alcohol-related-disease-claims-6000-lives