What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a sedative hypnotic drug that depresses the central nervous system, making you feel more relaxed.

Most adults in the UK drink alcohol moderately and on a social basis and derive a lot of pleasure from doing so.

However, about one in five men and one in seven women regularly drink more than the Department of Health suggests is strictly safe for good health.

Key Facts

• The harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths world wide each year.
• 320 000 young people between the age of 15 and 29 world wide die from alcohol-related causes, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group.
• Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease burden; it is the leading risk factor in the Western Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe.
• Alcohol is associated with many serious social and developmental issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, traffic accidents and absenteeism in the workplace.
• Harmful drinking is a major determinant for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as alcohol use disorders and epilepsy and other noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis of the liver and various cancers. The harmful use of alcohol is also associated with several infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is because alcohol consumption weakens the immune system and has a negative effect on patients' adherence to antiretroviral treatment.

(World Health Organisation)

The health risks of excess alcohol include:

• Weight problems
• Stomach upsets
• Headaches
• Anxiety, stress, depression
• Poor concentration
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Raised blood pressure

More serious effects include:

• Accidents and injuries
• Liver disease
• Coronary heart disease
• Cancers
• Strokes
• Memory loss
• Sexual difficulties

Are you addicted to alcohol?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) developed a short questionnaire to help assess someone’s use of alcohol. It is used by Doctors to help identify people who have problems with alcohol. It is called AUDIT which stands for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. If you find it difficult to answers these questions honestly by yourself, ask a friend or loved one for help. It can be difficult to really take stock of your drinking.

The AUDIT questionnaire

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
• Never (0)
• Monthly or less (1)
• 2-4 times a month (2)
• 2-3 times a week (3)
• 4 or more times a week (4)


2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
• 1 or 2 (0)
• 3 or 4 (1)
• 5 or 6 (2)
• 7 to 9 (3)
• 10 or more (4)


3. How often do you have 6 or more drinks on an occasion when you are drinking?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


4. How often during the past year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


5. How often during the past year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


6. How often during the past year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


7. How often during the past year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


8. How often during the past year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
• Never (0)
• Less than monthly (1)
• Monthly (2)
• Weekly (3)
• Daily or almost daily (4)


9. Have you or has someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
• No (0)
• Yes, but not in the past year (2)
• Yes, during the past year(4)


10. Has a relative, friend, or a doctor or other health care worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
• No (0)
• Yes, but not in the past year (2)
• Yes, during the past year(4)

How did you do?

The higher your score the greater the danger. Seven or less is not considered to be a significant problem, but from 8 upwards there is a need to take action.

The good news

With the right treatment and support, you can counteract the disruptive effects of alcohol and regain control of your life. The first obstacle is to recognize and admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones who are often better able to see the negative effects drug use is having on your life. The second is to ask for the help you need.

At StreetScene we have many years of experience in working with people with alcohol addictions, many of our staff have experienced the condition first hand and recovered and gone on to lead lives more enjoyable than they ever thought possible. Many of our graduate clients are still in touch and send us word as their lives go from strength to strength, doing things they never dreamed were possible whilst they were in the grip of their problems.