| It is estimated that one in thirteen people in the UK are | | | | 10 or more 4 |
| dependent upon alcohol. Nearly everyone knows of | | | | 3. How often do you have six or more drinks on any |
| someone who has, to some extent, battled with this | | | | one occasion a. Never 0 b. Less than monthly 1 c. |
| particular addiction, one that drives those affected to | | | | Monthly 2 d. Weekly 3 e. Daily or almost daily 4 |
| drink large amounts of alcohol, and to experience | | | | 4. How often during the last year have you found that |
| withdrawal symptoms if they do not take it regularly. It | | | | you were unable to stop drinking once you had |
| is also well known that over time the excessive | | | | started? a. Never 0 b. Less than monthly 1 c. Monthly 2 |
| consumption of alcohol can have a detrimental affect | | | | d. Weekly 3 e. Daily or almost daily 4 |
| on a persons health. Short-term affects include anxiety, | | | | 5. How often in the last year have you failed to do |
| memory loss and nausea, while long-term alcohol | | | | what was expected of you because of drinking? a. |
| abuse can increase the risk of a person contracting | | | | Never 0 b. Less than monthly 1 c. Monthly 2 d. Weekly |
| cancer, liver disease and pancreatitis as well as | | | | 3 e. Daily or almost daily 4 |
| potentially developing some form of mental illness, such | | | | 6. How often in the last year have you had a feeling |
| as depression or memory loss. | | | | of guilt or remorse after drinking? a. Never 0 b. Less |
| The good thing is that recovering from alcohol | | | | than monthly 1 c. Monthly 2 d. Weekly 3 e. Daily or |
| addiction is possible, but first and foremost is that of | | | | almost daily 4 |
| admission; that a person recognises that they have a | | | | 7. How often in the last year have you been unable to |
| problem with alcohol. Only once a person admits that | | | | remember what happened the night before because |
| they have a problem can they begin on the road to | | | | you had been drinking? a. Never 0 b. Less than |
| recovery. | | | | monthly 1 c. Monthly 2 d. Weekly 3 e. Daily or almost |
| Alcohol Dependency | | | | daily 4 |
| In moderation, alcohol can, for some, enhance the | | | | 8. Have you or someone else been injured because of |
| quality of life. Often consumed with friends and family | | | | your drinking? a. No 0 b. Yes, but not in the last year 2 |
| in social situations, where we celebrate, commiserate | | | | c. Yes, during the last year 4 |
| and relax. However, for many people the regular | | | | 9. Has a relative or health worker been concerned |
| consumption of alcohol turns into a habit, the real | | | | about your drinking or suggested you cut down? a. No |
| problem being caused when they have to drink more | | | | 0 b. Yes, but not in the last year 2 c. Yes, during the |
| and more to have the desired effect (e.g. complete | | | | last year 4 |
| relaxation and forgetting about the 'real world'). A | | | | Your score: - Add up the scores for each question to |
| person who is alcohol dependent will display the | | | | give a total out of 40. - If it is eight or above, you are a |
| following: | | | | 'hazardous' drinker at risk of conditions such as liver |
| - A strong compulsion to drink; - Continued extreme | | | | disease and depression. - If your total is over 16 you |
| use of alcohol despite being aware of its damaging | | | | are a 'harmful' drinker and your health is likely to be |
| affects; - Withdrawal symptoms when decreasing or | | | | harmed. |
| stopping alcohol consumption; - A pre-occupation with | | | | If you feel you are at risk, then please be aware that |
| acquiring and consuming alcohol. | | | | there are a number of different treatment options |
| How to tell if you are addicted | | | | available to you, most popular and successful including |
| One of the most comprehensive tests is that | | | | detoxification, one-to-one and group therapy, residential |
| developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). If | | | | rehabilitation and self help. There are also many |
| you are concerned rate yourself in the test below:- | | | | organisations that are ready and willing to assist, these |
| 1. How often do you drink alcohol? a. Never 0 b. | | | | including counselling services (both private and the |
| Monthly or less 1 c. Two to four times a month 2 d. | | | | NHS), and many abstinence based 12 step |
| Two to three times a week 3 e. Daily or almost daily 4 | | | | programmes such as used by Alcoholics Anonymous. |
| 2. How many standard drinks do you have on a typical | | | | Also for families and friends, there is Families |
| day when you are drinking? (A standard drink is half a | | | | Anonymous. |
| pint of beer; a single measure of spirits or a small glass | | | | Remember that help is out there and recovery is |
| of wine.) a. 1 or 2 0 b. 3 or 4 1 c. 5 or 6 2 d. 7 to 9 3 e. | | | | achievable. |