Addressing
Addictions
Care Quality Commission Registered
UK Based Clinical Specialists in Alcohol Dependence and Substance Misuse
Alcohol Information
What is Harmful Drinking?
Harmful drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption causing health problems directly related to alcohol. This could include psychological problems such as depression, alcohol-related accidents or physical illness such as acute pancreatitis. In the longer term, harmful drinkers may go on to develop high blood pressure, cirrhosis, heart disease and some types of cancer, such as mouth, liver, bowel or breast cancer.
What is Alcohol Dependence?
Alcohol dependence is characterised by craving, tolerance, a preoccupation with alcohol and continued drinking in spite of harmful consequences (for example, liver disease or depression caused by drinking). Alcohol dependence is also associated with increased criminal activity and domestic violence, and an increased rate of significant mental and physical disorders.
Comorbid mental health disorders commonly include depression, anxiety disorders and drug misuse, some of which may remit with abstinence from alcohol but others may persist and need specific treatment. Physical comorbidities are common, including gastrointestinal disorders (in particular liver disease) and neurological and cardiovascular disease. In some people these comorbidities may remit on stopping or reducing alcohol consumption
Can I just stop drinking?
Acute withdrawal or suddenly stopping from drinking alcohol in the absence of correct medical management can be hazardous in people with severe alcohol dependence, as it may lead to seizures, delirium tremens and, in some instances, death. This is where the highly specialised Addressing Addictions medical team can help.
Delirium tremens is a medical emergency that requires specialist inpatient care supervised by medical professionals. Symptoms of delirium tremens are characterised by:
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Agitation
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Confusion
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Paranoia
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Visual and auditory hallucinations
Am I dependant on Alcohol?
To asses whether you are truly dependent on alcohol, Addressing Addictions will need to conduct a thorough initial consultation. Here we will assess your health as a whole using up-to-date blood results and details of other health conditions.
To help us with this, you are welcomed to complete our free, no obligation alcohol use questionnaire which will help us understands the patterns of your alcohol use better.