» Bottled Up?
Zara Baker talks to Dr Bowskill of The Priory Group about alcohol misuse and the signs
Advertising campaigns ask us to consider how much alcohol we are consuming, but there is still confusion about units and glass sizes. How much is too much? “The recommended safe drinking levels are 21 units per week for men and 14 units for women,” says Doctor Bowskill of The Priory Hospital Brighton and Hove. “But obviously it’s not safe if these units are consumed in one binge. So another way of thinking about safe amounts is three to four units per day for men, or two to three units for women, with two or three days with no alcohol.”
A pint of standard lager is 2.3 units, but a pint of premium lager can carry three units. Wine can vary:
“It is worth remembering that the strength of alcohol has gradually increased, especially for wine,” warns Dr Bowskill, “and so has the size of glasses, so a large glass of wine can easily be three units.”
What about the line between unhealthiness and addiction? When a drink after work to forget a stressful day turns into something regular, or a weekend drink turns into a binge, should you be worried about your dependancy levels?
The Priory Group offers an addiction assessment with one of its experienced therapists, which can be booked online. It’s a free and confidential starting point for individuals who feel their alcohol dependency may be getting too much. But how do we spot the warning signs?
“Alcohol addiction tends to develop gradually over a number of years,” says Doctor Bowskill. “Warning signs include gradually increasing the amounts of alcohol consumed with an increased tolerance to the effects of alcohol. Arguments, accidents and time off work are concerning signs – also if alcohol is being drunk alone or to help with sleep. Full blown dependency occurs when individually drinking on a daily basis with ever-increasing amounts of alcohol, before switching to stronger types of alcohol.”
From the initial assessment, The Priory’s addiction treatment programme is tailored for each individual seeking further help. Outpatients visit the hospital for weekly sessions with their therapist or consultant. Others may choose inpatient care, where they take part in the group psychological programme throughout the day. This includes anxiety management, assertion, relapse prevention and cognitive behaviour therapy groups.
“The majority of patients who come to The Priory have come to some acceptance that they have difficulties they wish to address,” says Doctor Bowskill. “But they are often supported by family and friends who can be helpful in pointing out how individuals’ drinking behaviours are affecting them too.” The family support programme is included in the care, as The Priory recognises that alcohol misuse can have a big impact on loved ones.
The length of treatment depends on the severity of the addiction. Some can be treated in six sessions as an outpatient, while others may require treatment as an inpatient. Patients follow a medically supervised detox programme, group and individual therapy, education lectures and relapse prevention planning. Taking part in holistic activities to boost health and wellbeing is also encouraged, with patients practising yoga, Tai Chi and art therapy.
A free 12-month aftercare programme provides ongoing support for patients in the early stages of recovery. “Our greatest concern is the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms in the morning, especially anxiety and shakiness,”
says Doctor Bowskill. “Sometimes these can be quite subtle and withdrawal symptoms can be misdiagnosed as anxiety.”
So, is it possible to go ‘cold turkey’? “If somebody is alcohol dependent, they usually require a medically assisted detoxification in hospital. It is dangerous to quit using ‘cold turkey’.”
The Priory Group Hospital Brighton & Hove, 14–18 New Church Road, Hove, BN3 4FH, 01273 747464, www.priorygroup.com/addictions
