Alcohol and Your Health

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Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in Australia. People drink to relax, celebrate, have fun, gain confidence and forget problems. It is a depressant drug, which means it slows down the activity of the brain and the central nervous system. In moderation alcohol is not harmful to most people. However, excessive drinking can cause a number of social, personal and health problems. When people are not 100% in control of their speech, movement and judgement it can lead to accidents, drink driving, unsafe sex, assault, self-harm or overdose. For some, drinking can jeopardise their job, relationships, and cause legal or financial difficulties.

Alcohol in the body

• After the first drink is swallowed the alcohol travels to the stomach and small intestine, where 90% of the alcohol passes through into the blood stream.
• The remaining 10% of alcohol leaves the body quickly through breath, sweat and urine.
• When alcohol reaches the brain it almost immediately slows down our thinking and movement. It also affects the part of the brain that controls vomiting.
• The impact alcohol has on the brain will depend on many factors including how much the person has drunk and the alcohol content of the drink.
• If the blood alcohol concentration reaches a high enough level, a person may become unconscious and, because alcohol depresses all systems of the body, eventually breathing will slow down.

This could cause death, especially if alcohol is mixed with another depressant drug such as heroin or benzodiazepines.

‘Sobering’ up

The alcohol in our bloodstream can only be removed by the liver. It takes the liver about one hour to breakdown and clear one standard drink and, despite attempts to sober up with cold showers, walking, black coffee, fresh air or vomiting, nothing can be done to speed up this process. People can still have alcohol in their blood the day after a heavy drinking session and therefore may still be over the legal limit to drive.

What is a standard drink?

A standard drink contains approximately 10 grams of alcohol which is found in:

Light beer (3.5% alcohol)

Regular beer (4.8% alcohol)

Wine ( 9.5% - 13% alcohol)

Spirits

Pre-mixed spirits ( around 5% alcohol)

Sensible drinking

The following levels of risk are for young adults of average or larger body size who drink alcohol on an occassional day NOT every day. Younger people or those of small build need to adjust the levels accordingly.

For Women

For Men

To be ‘low risk’, drinking must be within BOTH the occasional day limits AND the weekly limits. Everyone should have at least 2 alcohol free days a week.

Party safely

• Eat food before and while you are drinking, avoiding salty foods like nuts and chips as they make you more thirsty.
• Have a glass of water or soft drink to quench your thirst before having your first alcoholic drink and alternate with alcoholic drinks.
• Avoid rounds or shouts — choose to drink at your own pace.
• Mix your own drinks and hold onto your drinks at all times.
• Never mix alcohol and other drugs.
• If you think you are going to drive it is best not to drink at all. If you are on L-plates or P-plates special blood alcohol limits apply and can be different in each state.
• Look out for your friends. Remember it is more important to get help for someone than to worry about what trouble they may get into for drinking.

If someone passes out, is unconscious, or cannot walk or talk:

1. Call an ambulance on 000.
2. Do not leave them alone.
3. Lay them on their side in the ‘recovery’ position.
4. Clear their airway and check their breathing.
5. If they stop breathing do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and full CPR if needed.

Drinking problem

If you think you or a friend may have a drinking problem it is important that you talk to someone about it. A General Practitioner (GP) can help with withdrawal and treatment programs and can refer someone to a specialist drug and alcohol service. All states and territories have drug and alcohol services that can help.

More Information

• Talk to a GP.
• Call Lifeline on 131 114.
• Call Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.
• Call your local Community Health Centre
  (look under Health Services in the information pages at the front of the white pages).
• Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state or territory
• www.reachout.asn.au
• www.thesource.gov.au
• www.ceida.net.au
• www.adf.org.au

If these services can’t help you they can usually give you the contact details of a service in your area that can.

Produced by The Commonwealth Bank and AMA Youth Health Advocate Program.

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