According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), alcohol is one of the most widely used drugs. Its use plays a central role in various societies and cultures around the world. NIDA explains, “More people over age 12 in the United States have used alcohol in the past year than any other drug or tobacco product, and alcohol use disorder is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States.”
Despite the long history and heavy normalization of alcohol use today, many people do not understand the inherent health risks and consequences that can result from its use – even in moderation. Like any kind of drug use, alcohol use can cause a wide range of health problems and concerns that range in severity.
Individuals must understand the harms associated with alcohol use to make appropriate and informed decisions regarding their own use of the substance. Additionally, learning about the warning signs of alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder (AUD) can help individuals encourage their loved ones to seek treatment when their use becomes problematic.
The Perry Clayman Project (PCP) by Rehab Today is passionate about helping individuals, as well as their families, achieve lasting healing from alcohol use and its effects. PCP offers a number of private alcohol and drug rehabilitation clinics across the UK. This ensures that every person has access to the professional resources they need to establish and sustain long-term sobriety from addictions of all types. It is vital for individuals to understand that effective treatments are available and that lasting recovery is possible.
A Brief History of Alcohol Use
In the book titled Alcohol: A History by Rod Phillips, the history of alcohol use is brought to life. The book discusses that although traces of the first alcoholic beverages date back to 7000 B.C., humans likely consumed alcohol in fruits thousands of years prior. Over the years, alcohol use gained a reputation alongside various religious practices. Some of the earliest evidence of alcohol use was found in religious contexts, suggesting its use was central to religious ceremonies.
The book continues, highlighting specific milestones in the history of alcohol use. Starting as far back as 1000 A.D., “[C]hanges in the political, economic, and cultural landscapes of Europe brought about significant shifts in the social position of alcohol and in drinking cultures.” As Europe moved into the early modern period (1500-1700 A.D.), alcohol became a part of individuals’ daily diets, with a wider selection of alcoholic beverages to choose from. Distilled spirits became extremely popular during this time due to their higher alcohol content levels.
The following excerpt is taken from chapter six of the book, titled “Distilled Spirits”:
“Alcoholic beverages made by distillation appeared in Europe by the twelfth century, but even as late as 1500 they were produced in very limited quantities and almost exclusively for medical purposes. Yet by the end of the 1500s, distilled spirits had entered the mainstreams of European and American drinking cultures and the bloodstreams of their populations.”
Moving into the early 1700s, temperance movements rose quickly as an attempt to address the harmful effects of alcohol use on health and social order. These movements aimed to promote total abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages. Further, prohibitionist movements worked to ban the production and sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the country and beyond. Many of these movements were motivated by various wars throughout the world.
There is much left to be said about the history of alcohol. However, based on the information previously mentioned, it is obvious that there has been a push-and-pull regarding alcohol use since its initial discovery. It is important to understand that the policies, production, and concerns of alcohol vary by country and culture. These are all important things to keep in mind when addressing alcohol use in society today.
The Normalisation of Alcohol Use in the UK
Throughout history, well into today, alcohol use has been central to British society. Compared to other cultures, alcohol use in the UK is not necessarily acknowledged for disapproval. However, there are advertising standards in place when it comes to alcohol use to reduce its appeal to younger viewers and to lessen irresponsible forms of use. These standards are put in place by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), “the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media.”
In the UK, the legal drinking age is 18 years old. According to the ASA, “Marketing communications for alcoholic drinks should not be targeted at people under 18 and should not imply, condone or encourage immoderate, irresponsible or anti-social drinking.” Various rules must be followed to properly abide by this principle. Some of these additional rules include:
- No encouragement of excessive drinking
- Alcohol use can not be portrayed as a challenge
- No implications that alcohol plays a key role in the success of personal relationships or social events
- Marketing can not link alcohol use with seduction, sexual activity, or sexual success
- No implications that alcohol can enhance confidence or popularity
Prevalence of Alcohol Use
Although these standards have likely shown success at reducing underage drinking, there are still high prevalence rates of alcohol use across the UK. Research by Alcohol Change UK found that in England in 2018, “82% of adults drank alcohol in the past 12 months, with 49% of adults drinking at least once a week. Further, in Great Britain in 2017, ”[A]n estimated 29.2 million adults drank alcohol in the week before being surveyed, 57% of the population.”
These statistics certainly do not cover the full extent of alcohol use across the UK. However, they do address that the prevalence of alcohol use is staggering. Unfortunately, many users of alcohol are not informed of the potential dangers and harms that can result from regular use, as it is regarded as a normal, social, and celebratory activity.
The Harms of Alcohol Use
According to Gov.UK, “In England, among people aged 15 to 49 years, alcohol is the leading cause of ill-health, disability, and death.” Alcohol use, misuse, and abuse becoming worsening public health issues across the globe. Yet, many people continue to engage in alcohol use without considering the short-term and long-term consequences of doing so. For those in the UK, specifically, it is essential to become familiar with the health risks of alcohol use to prevent worsening problems from developing down the road.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) sheds light on the various effects of alcohol use on the body. It explains, “Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health.”
Some specific effects of alcohol use on various bodily organs include:
On the Brain
Alcohol use interferes with important communication pathways in the brain. Over time and through repeated use, these pathways can become dysregulated, causing long-lasting changes in brain structure and associated functioning. Such disruptions can result in significant mood and behavioural changes and can make individuals more likely to develop mental health disorders.
On the Heart
Drinking too much on a single occasion or in large quantities over time can cause lasting damage to an individual’s heart. Some cardiovascular-related problems that may result from alcohol use include:
- Cardiomyopathy, meaning stretching and drooping of the heart muscle
- Arrhythmias, meaning an irregular heartbeat
- Increased risk of stroke
- High blood pressure
Additional Short- and Long-Term Health Risks
In addition to affecting vital organ functioning, alcohol use can have a variety of short-term and long-term health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the following short-term health risks of alcohol use:
- Accidental injuries, such as falls, drownings, and motor vehicle accidents
- Violence
- Risky sexual behaviours, such as having unprotected sex
- Alcohol poisoning
The CDC also explains that alcohol use can increase an individual’s risk of the following long-term health problems:
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Digestive problems
- Various types of cancers, including cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, colon, liver, etc.
- A weakened immune system, which makes it more likely for an individual to get sick
- The development of mental health disorders
- Social problems
- Alcohol abuse, dependency, or AUD
When Does Alcohol Use Become Problematic?
Because of the normalisation of alcohol use in society, it is important to address potential warning signs for when alcohol use may become problematic. Gov.uk explains, “One unit of alcohol equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, which is around the amount of alcohol the average adult liver can break down in an hour, although this will vary from person to person.” They also give specific examples of what one unit of alcohol looks like, addressing the following:
- A half pint of “regular” beer, lager, or cider
- One half a small glass of wine
- A single measure of aperitifs
Weekly Guidelines
In 2016, the UK’s Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) launched low-risk alcohol guidelines. For both men and women, weekly guidelines are as follows:
- To keep health risks at a low level, individuals must not consume more than 14 units per week regularly.
- For those that intend to drink 14 units per week or more, individuals should spread alcohol use over three days or more. Those that engage in one or two heavy drinking sessions experience increased risks of death, both from chronic illnesses as well as from accidents and injuries.
Guidelines for Single Episodes of Drinking
Additionally, CMOs also provide guidelines for single episodes of drinking to reduce short-term health risks. These guidelines include:
- Limiting the total consumption of alcohol used on any occasion
- Drinking slower, with food, and alternating alcohol use with water
- Avoiding high-risk places and activities and ensuring that one can get home safely
Categories of Alcohol Use
Gov.uk also provides risk categories for alcohol use, ensuring that individuals can recognize when their own alcohol use may become problematic. The categories are as follows:
- Low-risk drinking: This means not exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week, spreading use evenly over the week.
- Increasing risk drinking: Increasing risk drinking is more than 14 units per week or up to 35 units for women and 50 units for men.
- Higher-risk drinking: Individuals in this category are likely already experiencing health damage from their alcohol use. For women, higher-risk drinking equates to exceeding 35 units per week and, for men, over 50 units per week.
- Binge drinking: This translates to drinking enough on one occasion to get drunk. In technical terms, binge drinking includes six or more units for women or eight or more units for men in a single drinking session. Binge drinking is related to the highest risk of injury and health damage.
Understanding Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Use Disorder
According to the NIAAA, AUD is “a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” The term AUD is often used synonymously with alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. AUD can range in severity from mild, to moderate, to severe. An individual can work with a healthcare professional to determine the severity of their AUD and to better understand the criteria for this condition.
Additionally, Drinkaware provides a variety of resources that individuals can use to address the potential consequences of their alcohol use as well as how to limit their alcohol consumption. Some specific warning signs of problematic alcohol use to consider include:
- Impaired control over alcohol use
- Giving increasing priority to alcohol
- Experiencing unwanted physical or mental effects from drinking
- Displaying inappropriate behaviour when under the influence
- Recurrent alcohol use results in failure to fulfil important responsibilities at work, school, or at home
- Alcohol use causes recurrent social or interpersonal problems
It is important to recognize that no matter where an individual stands in their relationship with alcohol, treatments are available to reduce and cease problematic alcohol use. In the same way, achieving lasting sobriety and recovery from alcohol use is possible. Being informed about the potential consequences and warning signs of alcohol use can serve as encouragement and motivation for loved ones to seek the professional support and guidance they need for recovery.
Treating Alcohol Use and AUD With PCP
The Perry Clayman Project (PCP) by Rehab Today offers a plethora of inpatient treatment programmes and rehabilitation centres across the UK. Our recovery programmes last anywhere from 10 days to six months, depending on the unique needs and recovery goals of our clients. Following our inpatient programmes, we offer secondary programmes and long-term aftercare resources to ensure that our clients have the best chance at lasting success in sobriety.
Alcohol Detoxification
Most individuals seeking recovery from alcohol use must start with an alcohol detoxification programme. Alcohol detox is a medically-assisted process of ridding the remnants of alcohol from an individual’s brain and body. Oftentimes, participation in detox is necessary to safely withdraw and cease alcohol use. This is because the withdrawal effects of alcohol can be extremely uncomfortable and, in many cases, life-threatening. Medication is often administered to clients in detox to enable a safe and comfortable withdrawal process.
Alcohol Rehabilitation
Following detox, individuals will be encouraged to participate in an alcohol rehabilitation programme. At PCP, our rehabilitation centres take a compassionate and personalised treatment approach; rehabilitating each of our clients individually and as a whole. Our alcohol rehab programme can be individualised to fit our client’s unique needs and goals for recovery. Taken from our website, “The aim of our rehab programme is to help ‘free’ people from the negative thinking, behaviours and emotions that lead to and were part of the addiction, and teach a new way of living that will lead to long term abstinence from alcohol.”
Contrary to what individuals may believe, recovering from alcohol use and addiction requires more than just ceasing alcohol use. Rather, it requires individuals to address and overcome the root causes of their alcohol use. Many individuals will need to reflect on past trauma and learn more effective coping mechanisms for managing challenging emotions from their past. Others will need access to recovery resources, such as sober living homes, to aid in their journey to sustaining lasting sobriety outside of treatment.
Our rehab programmes include both 1-2-1 and group counselling modalities. Every client can expect to work through the 12-Step programme over the course of their treatment. In addition, we offer a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), art therapy, and guided meditation sessions.
Our primary rehab programmes can last for two, four, eight, or 12 weeks, as well as a secondary programme that can last up to an additional 12 weeks. Typically, the longer someone is in rehab, the more successful their treatment outcome is. For this reason and more, we recommend our 90-day (12-week) program for those seeking recovery from alcohol abuse and addiction.
Despite the high prevalence and normalisation of alcohol use in society today, regular drinking can contribute to a wide range of health risks and consequences. The UK’s Chief Medical Officers suggest drinking no more than 14 total units (drinks) per week to minimize potential health risks. If you suspect you or a loved one are exhibiting warning signs of problematic drinking behaviours, it is important to understand that treatment is available and recovery is possible. Fortunately, the Perry Claymay Project (PCP) by Rehab Today offers a number of private rehabilitation centres across the UK. We can help you or your loved one achieve lasting healing from alcohol use and its effects. To learn more, call 08000 380 480.