Unhealthy alcohol use

Unhealthy alcohol use

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties.

• the harmful use of alcohol ranks among the top five risk factors for disease, disability and death throughout the world
• 6% of all global deaths in 2012 were reported to be due to alcohol consumption (1,2)

The department of health in the UK recommends that adult men should not regularly drink more than four units of alcohol per day and women no more than three units (this definition implies the need for alcohol free or lower alcohol consumption days) (3)

Above 50 units of alcohol per day in men and 35 units in women is regarded as 'definitely harmful' while those drinking more than eight units per day in men and six units in women are regarded as 'binge drinkers' (3)

The spectrum of alcohol use includes:

• abstinence
• low risk - AUDIT score <=7
  • although no amount of alcohol consumption can be called "safe", the risk of harm to person is less than if consumption is below levels specified in the "increasing risk"
• increasing risk (hazardous) - AUDIT score 8-15
  • regular consumption of more than 2 or 3 units a day (women) and more than 3 or 4 units a day (men)
• higher risk (harmful) - AUDIT score 16-19
  • regular consumption of more than 6 units daily (women) or more than 8 units daily (men), or more than 35 units weekly (women) or more than 50 units weekly (men
• dependence - AUDIT score >=20
  • as defined by ICD-10 (international classification of diseases, 10th revision) (1)

Reference:

• (1) World Health Organization (WHO). Global status report on alcohol and health 2014
• (2) Day E, Copello A, Hull M. Assessment and management of alcohol use disorders. BMJ. 2015;350:h715
• (3) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2011. Alcohol-Use Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence