Frequently asked questions about alcoholism, part 2 Published Oct. 11, 2007 By Sally Smith Substance Abuse Counselor TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Does alcoholism treatment work? Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But just like any chronic disease, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, however, one-thing is clear: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober. Can a problem drinker simply cut down? It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is no. Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol -- that is, abstaining -- is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol related problems may be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can't stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether. If an alcoholic is unwilling to get help, what can you do about it? This can be a challenge. An alcoholic can't be forced to get help except under certain circumstances, such as a violent incident that results in court-ordered treatment or a medical emergency. But you don't have to wait for someone to "hit rock bottom" to act. Many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following steps to help an alcoholic get treatment. Stop all "cover ups." Family members often make excuses to others or try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking. It is important to stop covering for the alcoholic so that he or she experiences the full consequences of drinking. Time your intervention. The best time to talk to the drinker is shortly after an alcohol-related problem has occurred (like a serious family argument or an accident). Choose a time when he or she is sober, both of you are fairly calm, and you have a chance talk in private. Be specific. Tell the family member that you are worried about his or her drinking. Use examples of the ways in which the drinking has caused problems, including the most recent incident. State the results. Explain to the drinker what you will do if he or she doesn't go for help -- not to punish the drinker, but to protect yourself from his or her problems. What you say may range from refusing to go with the person to any social activity where alcohol will be served, to moving out of the house. Do not make any threats you are not prepared to carry out. Get help. Gather information in advance about treatment options in your community. If the person is willing to get help, call immediately for an appointment with a treatment counselor. Offer to go with the family member on the first visit to a treatment program or an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Call on a friend. If the family member still refuses to get help, ask a friend to talk with him or her using the steps just described. A friend who is a recovering alcoholic may be particularly persuasive, but any person who is caring and nonjudgmental may help. The intervention of more than one person, more than one time, often is necessary to coax an alcoholic to seek help. Find strength in numbers. With the help of a heath care professional, some families join with other relatives and friends to confront an alcoholic as a group. This approach should only be tried under the guidance of a health care professional who is experienced in this kind of group intervention. Get support. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Support groups offered in most communities include Al-Anon, which holds regular meetings for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic's life, and Alateen which is geared to children of alcoholics. These groups help family members understand that they are not responsible for an alcoholic's drinking and that they need to take steps to take care of themselves, regardless of whether the alcoholic family member chooses to get help. If the person is an active duty military member and has a substance abuse related incident, Air Force Instruction 44-121 states the member should be referred to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment office to initiate the assessment process within seven days of the incident or as soon as possible if it is a driving under the influence incident. What is a safe level of drinking? For most adults, moderate alcohol use -- up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people -- causes few, if any, problems. One drink equals a 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5-ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits. Certain people should not drink at all, they are: · Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant · People who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skills such as using high-speed machinery · People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines · Recovering alcoholics · People younger than age 21 Is it safe to drink during pregnancy? No, drinking during pregnancy is dangerous. Alcohol can have a number of harmful effects on the baby. The baby can be born mentally handicapped or with learning and behavioral problems that last a life-time. We don't know exactly how much is required to cause these problems. We do know, however, that these alcohol-related birth defects are 100-percent preventable, simply by not drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The safest course for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant is not to drink alcohol at all. Is alcohol good for your heart? Studies have shown that moderate drinkers are less likely to die from one form of heart disease than are people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink more. It's believed that these smaller amounts of alcohol help protect against heart disease by changing the blood's chemistry, thus reducing the risk of blood clots in the heart's arteries. Nondrinkers, however, should not start drinking solely to benefit their heart. You can guard against heart disease by exercising regularly and eating foods that are low in fat. And if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic or have another medical condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink. If you can safely drink alcohol and you choose to drink, do so in moderation. Heavy drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis. When taking medicines, must you stop drinking? Possibly. More than 150 medicines interact harmfully with alcohol. These interactions may result in increased risk of illness, injury, and even death. Alcohol's effects are heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and some pain killers. In addition, medicines for certain disorders, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, can have harmful interactions with alcohol. If you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol. How can a person get help for an alcohol problem? Call the ADAPT Program at 739-7141 or stop by the medical group bldg 5801 to make an appointment. The ADAPT clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Through this service you can speak directly to a licensed substance abuse counselor concerning substance abuse treatment, request printed educational/prevention material on alcohol or other drugs or obtain local substance abuse treatment referral information in your state.