Alcohol Abuse - Alcohol Related Harm
Alcohol is an integral part of society and in moderation it
can be used for relaxation, enjoyment and sociability. Yet, consumption
even mildly above the recommended level can lead to serious
consequences.
Hazardous drinking is defined by both the frequency
and the amount of alcohol people use. If you have less than 3 alcohol
free days per week and if you drink in access of 12 to 15 standard drinks per week,
it is highly likely that you are running the risk of alcohol related harm.
Alcohol impacts on many different areas of your life. The effects
may be subtle and transient, such as the feelings of a hangover, or more
serious, such as high blood pressure or liver disease. Alcohol related
harm can be categorised as the following:
Physiological
Impacts
Social Impacts
Recognising harmful
alcohol use is not easy. Unfortunately excessive drinking is rather a
norm at all levels of Australian society. People often
minimise the negative impact of alcohol and believe that the
amount they consume is harmless. A couple who shares a bottle of wine
with dinner 4 or 5 times a week and spends a Friday or a
Saturday night with friends drinking and socialising may not
think they have a drinking problem, but in fact they do.
Similarly, someone who must have one or two glasses of
wine or beer after work to "wind down" may not see this as problem
drinking, but in fact it is.
