Patient information

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most commonly used recreational drug in Australia. Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, an intoxicating chemical made from fermented grains, potatoes, fruit or honey. The fermented sugars are used to make drinks like wine and beer, while higher alcohol spirits like whisky and brandy contain distilled fermented sugars.

Alcohol is a depressant rather than a stimulant. Passing through the stomach walls and small intestine, it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and reaches the brain after only a few minutes. As a depressant, alcohol slows down the messages travelling to the brain, resulting in a loss of coordination and slowed reflexes. It takes around an hour for the liver to break down the alcohol in a standard drink.

Commonly used in social situations as an 'ice-breaker', alcohol initially acts as a relaxant, creating feelings of reduced tension and lessened inhibitions. These effects can be followed by unpleasant sensations of nausea, drowsiness and loss of balance and coordination. Excessive use of alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can mean liver failure, brain damage, coma or death. Prolonged use of alcohol can lead to alcoholism.

Alcohol consumption

According to the 2007 National Health and Medical Research Council survey, almost 90 per cent of the Australian population aged over 14 years consumed alcohol in the 12 months prior to the survey.

The survey also showed that in 2007:

• 48.3 per cent of Australians drank at low-risk levels
  
• 8.1 per cent of Australians drank daily, 41.3 per cent drank weekly and 7 per cent were former drinkers
  
• 20.4 per cent (one in five) Australians indulged in binge drinking; that is, they drank at short-term risky or high-risk levels at least once a month
  
• 17 years was the average age at which Australians had their first full serve of alcohol
  
• around 22 per cent of teenagers drank at least weekly.

Short-term effects of alcohol

The short-term effects of using alcohol may include:

• relaxation
  
• reduced concentration
  
• lack of co-ordination and slower reflexes
  
• loss of inhibitions
  
• flushed appearance
  
• blurred vision and slurred speech
  
• intense moods, including aggression, elation or depression
  
• headache
  
• nausea and vomiting
  
• violence
  
• coma and death (at high doses).

Long-term effects of alcohol

Regular intake of alcohol over a period of time is likely to cause physical, emotional or social problems. These may include:

• damage to your brain
  
• digestive problems
  
• damage to your internal organs
  
• impotence
  
• reduced fertility
  
• damaged eyesight
  
• short-term memory loss
  
• depression
  
• anxiety
  
• relationship problems
  
• risk of domestic violence
  
• poor performance at work
  
• legal and financial problems.

Treatment program for alcohol addiction

The highly regarded, medically supervised treatment program manages the severe symptoms of withdrawal and sets in place a system of support to help ensure post-treatment success. Our treatment program involves rehabilitation as both an in-patient and day patient. Following a thorough assessment, the medically managed detoxification process includes group therapy, individual therapy and the use of external support groups.