Drugs and Alcohol
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Drugs and Alcohol Do I have any problems with alcohol consumption? Introduction to alcohol The legal profession is both very stressful and usually well paid – Turning to drugs and alcohol when under a combination that leaves some legal professionals with both a reason and extreme stress or when suffering from varying degrees of depression and anxiety can become the means to drink heavily. The question is, do you have an alcohol problem? a way to escape. However, as this information Do you recognise yourself in any of these statements? will explain, taking drugs or drinking excessively • “I go out intending to have just one or two drinks, but then I just don’t can exacerbate the problems and make dealing with issues more challenging. seem to be able to stop.” Anecdotal evidence suggests substance use • “I’ve tried to cut down a couple of times. Once I even managed to go a disorders, characterised by dependence on whole week without drinking, just to prove to myself that I could do it.” alcohol or a drug, use of alcohol and drugs that can lead to problems at work, school or home • “Sometimes I feel a bit guilty about my drinking, or about the effect it has or to legal problems, and use of alcohol or drugs on other people. I know I’m letting people down and breaking promises.” at a level that is damaging to one’s health, are • “Other people sometimes comment on the amount I drink. It really higher in the legal industry compared to the normal population and in comparison to other irritates and annoys me. Why can’t they mind their own business?” professional industries. Research undertaken • “I really look forward to a drink. Sometimes I even count down the hours by the Brain and Mind Institute (Sydney 2009) until the next one, and if we’re going out and I’m worried there won’t be support the claim that mental health is indeed a enough alcohol when we get there I will have a couple of glasses before serious issue within the legal industry. Findings showed there were high levels of psychological we leave.” distress and risk of depression in law students • “I always feel better if I have a little drink fairly early in the day, just to and practicing solicitors and there was a general steady me.” reluctance to seek help for mental health issues. • “I drink more than some other people, but I know I’m not an alcoholic because I don’t drink spirits/only drink at weekends/I’m never blind drunk/I don’t drink as much as Joe Bloggs.” If just one of these statements rang true for you, then you could potentially have an alcohol problem and may require some professional help or assistance. Please note: Whilst this information is about alcohol, addiction to any drug or substance follows similar patterns and requires similar treatment. POWER OF ASSOCIATION INFORMATION AND PRACTICE RESOURCES POWER OF ASSOCIATION INFORMATION AND PRACTICE RESOURCES POWER OF ASSOCIATION Health & Wellbeing – Drugs and Alcohol Consumption rates and standard drinks What is a standard drink? The Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney recently undertook Can/Stubbi low-strength beer 0.8 standard drink a comprehensive study where participants Can/Stubbi mid-strength beer 1 standard drink were asked to report on what they saw to be the most typical characteristics of a Can/Stubbi full-strength beer 1.4 standard drinks person with depression. Results showed 100ml wine (13.5% alcohol) 1 standard drink that 49.5 per cent of the 2,414 participants 30ml nip spirits 1 standard drink suggested dependence on alcohol, drugs or sedatives were typical behaviours exhibited Can spirits (approx 5% alcohol) 1.2 to 1.7 standard drinks by students, solicitors and barristers. Can spirits (approx 7% alcohol) 1.6 to 2.4 standard drinks Alcohol-related deaths and Source: www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_files/ds10-alcoholqa.pdf other relevant statistics What is the recommended What are the dangers of • Alcohol is the second largest cause of weekly consumption limit for drinking too much? drug-related deaths and hospitalisations in Australia (after tobacco) (AIHW, men and women? Alcohol is known to be a major cause of 2005a); the following ailments and conditions: The Australian government National Health • Alcohol is the main cause of deaths on and Medical Research Council’s 2009 • Vitamin deficiency and malnutrition; Australian roads. In 1998, over 2000 guidelines advise both men and women • Skin and facial problems; deaths of the total 7000 deaths of to drink no more than two standard drinks • Sexually transmitted infections; persons under 65 years were related to per day to reduce their health risks over a • Female or male sexual dysfunction; alcohol (Ridolfo and Stevenson, 1998); lifetime. The previous guidelines set out • Liver disease/cirrhosis; • In 2004, the age standardised rate were four drinks for men and two drinks for for male deaths due to alcoholic liver women per day, on average. • Brain damage/hallucinations/blackouts; • Gastrointestinal diseases/inflammation of disease as the “underlying cause” was the stomach, gastritis and duodenal ulcers; 5.5 per 100,000, compared with 1.5 per 100,000 for females (ABS 2006b); and • Cardiovascular diseases; • In 2004, the age standardised rate for • Dementia/memory loss; male deaths with mental and behavioural • Infertility/impotence and small genitals; disorders due to alcohol as the • Anaemia/hypertension and impaired underlying cause was 1.9 per 100,000, blood clotting; compared with 0.4 per 100,000 for • Anxiety; females (ABS 2006b); • Stress; These above-mentioned statistics illustrate • Depression; that excessive alcohol consumption can • Cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, seriously damage your health, your personal larynx, liver, breast and rectum; life and the lives of those around you. • Stroke; Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006b, • Suicide; Causes of Death, Australia, 2004, cat.no. 3303.0, • Metabolic syndrome; ABS, Canberra. • Trembling hands and loss of sensation in fingers; • In pregnant women, drinking can potentially lead to foetal alcohol syndrome, characterised by varying degrees of lifelong brain and nerve damage and facial deformity in the baby. Page 2 Health & Wellbeing – Drugs and Alcohol What is the relationship between alcohol and depression? Those affected directly or indirectly by Alcohol is a known depressant, meaning depression know only too well how that it slows down the body in all ways. What is denial and how crippling the illness can be. It is an all- The feelings of relaxation and wellbeing it common is denial? engulfing, frightening mental disease that promotes are due to this general slowing can destroy all sense of control, purpose down and “depressing” of the body’s Denial is present in nearly all and hope. It frequently kills in the form of systems, in particular the brain. Most who have problems with alcohol, suicide. The main symptoms of depression cognitive processes, from reaction time to and is a primitive psychological include sleep problems, fear of social emotional responses, will be dulled. defence mechanism by which the person subconsciously rejects the situations, inability to relax, incessant In individuals who were not depressed implications of an event or situation. dwelling on problems, severe anxiety and when they began drinking, alcohol can Those affected by excessive alcohol desperate black moods. Many alcoholics cause depression. Consumption of consumption will unconsciously will admit that they suffer from depression, alcohol causes an increase in dopamine perform often enormous feats but are unaware that it is related to levels in the brain, leading to feelings of of distorted perception and logic alcohol. pleasure. With this artificially increased to shield them from the truth of destruction. Many alcoholics will admit that they suffer from depression, In addition, admitting that alcohol is but are unaware that it is related to alcohol. the cause of their difficulties means that they must accept the guilt, In all its glory, alcohol appears to be a supply of dopamine, however, the brain shame and disgrace their drinking miracle drug. It can aid sleep, create compensates by producing less. When may have caused, and admit that a sense of social competence and consistently stimulated into reducing problems they have encountered – ease friendly conversation. It promotes dopamine by excessive alcohol intake, the such as marriage breakdown, losing relaxation, causes problems to be brain may cease producing dopamine in a job or losing their driving licence, forgotten momentarily and raises mood. response to other stimuli altogether. The were, in fact, their own fault. This is It works instantly and does not require a result is that the addict now requires the an enormous thing to have to admit prescription. Finally, it is affordable and is drug just to feel “normal” and finds no and take some degree of liability for. even tasty and palatable for most people. pleasure in anything except alcohol. A person suffering from alcohol Like all drugs, however, alcohol has its Understandably an alcoholic lifestyle may dependence may be in denial side effects. First, it can be dangerously lead to depression for other reasons. and when challenged about their addictive. Depression sufferers, with their There is a pattern of loss to the alcoholic’s drinking may typically become very poor sense of self are unlikely to care life that can be inevitable unless help is defensive, irritated, annoyed and about this addiction, or to be able to do sought. Typically, the affected person sometimes even violent. It is for this anything about it should they sense that may potentially lose their job, standing reason that one must tread lightly, they are becoming dependent. in society, driving licence, family, home, not come across as judgmental and health and dignity.