Alcohol

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Alcohol

• Hot Topic Presentation
• Amy Findlay

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Introduction

• Facts and figures
• Definitions
• Recommended limits
• Alcohol associated problems
• Assessing alcohol consumption
• Management strategies

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Facts and Figures

• GP
• AE
• Young people
• Alcohol related deaths

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Definitions

• An alcoholic is someone you dont like who
  drinks as much as you do
• Dylan Thomas

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Definitions

• Unit of alcohol
• 8g (10ml) of absolute alcohol (ethanol)
• This corresponds to
• One single pub measure of spirits (25mls)
• One small glass wine (125mls)
• ½ Pint ordinary beer

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Definitions

• Can also calculate units of alcohol volume (ml)
  X abv/1000.
• Imprecise measure! Home measures on average 2x
  standard pub measures.

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Definitions

• Hazardous drinking
• Harmful drinking
• Alcohol dependence

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Recommended Limits

• UK Government, currently no more than
• 28u/week for males
• 21u/week for females

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Recommended Limits (2)

• BMA/RCGP/RCP/RCPSYCH, recommend upper limit of
• 21U/week for males
• 14U/week for females

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Alcohol Associated Problems

• The 4 Ls
• Liver
• Lover
• Livelihood
• Law

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Alcohol Associated Problems

• Wernickie Encephalopathy
• Korsakoff Syndrome

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Alcohol Associated Problems

• National Harm Reduction Strategy (2004)
• Aim to prevent further increase in alcohol
  related harm
• Target areas education, communication, improved
  treatment services

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Assessing Alcohol Consumption

• BJGP study 2001
• BMJ Feb 2006
• WHO AUDIT

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Assessing Alcohol Consumption

• AUDIT
• 92 sensitivity, 94 specificity
• Scoring
• FAST
• Abbreviated form, Q3,5,8,10

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Assessing Alcohol Consumption

• CAGE
• C - Have you ever thought you should CUT DOWN on
  your drinking?
• A - Have you ever felt ANNOYED by others'
  criticism of your drinking?
• G - Have you ever felt GUILTY about your
  drinking?
• E - Do you have a morning EYE OPENER?

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Management Strategies

• Non-dependent drinkers
• Dependent drinkers
• Vitamin supplements

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Resources

• SIGN Guidelines 2003
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Alcohol Concern
• Drinkline (Government sponsored helpline)

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Questions