People listen to the speeches regarding alcoholism, but many don’t really hear. But yet so many people are addicted to binge drinking or are full blown alcoholics.
Handing a beer to a friend might seem like a friendly gesture, but some people cannot stop at one. Actually, most people in that circle probably are not stopping at one, but they only see the person with the
low tolerance as a problem.
Binge drinking is classified for women as having four or more drinks in one sitting, and for men it is five drinks according to Alberta’s Office of Chief Medical Officer for health
[1]. And unfortunately, the number of women who engage in binge drinking twice a month has increased over the years. From 2001 to 2014, this statistic has risen from 5% to 9% documents Alberta Health Services as reported in Metro News
[2]. More
men in Edmonton binge drink, but the numbers have stayed relatively consistent over the years at just under 15%.
Alberta Health Services put out a report in 2015 regarding alcohol and Albertans’ health, and the full findings can be
viewed here.
Surprisingly, with all the information touted in the media regarding the health benefits of moderate drinking, even one to two drinks a day can actually negatively impact health. When this is done over the long term, the person is at risk of developing eight types of cancer according to the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
[3]. And what is worse is that more average use of alcohol (around
10 drinks per week) can increase the risk of seizures, stroke, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and irregular heartbeat, also according to the CCSA.
Drinking only one drink a day after 45 does have a few benefits such as protection against diabetes, but only if this number is never exceeded.
Clearly binge drinking and moderate drinking are health choices that will more than likely negatively impact one’s health. And thankfully in Edmonton, there are
medical facilities that are geared to helping Albertans steer away from this drug.
On Alberta Health Services website, they have
information for people looking to safely withdraw from alcohol in the event of a substance abuse problem. If you are planning a party, consider providing an alcohol free environment, as is
one suggestion from their section regarding “
Making Decisions Regarding Drinking”.
An application for residential treatment facilities can be found at
this link. You can apply for treatment in Henwood Treatment Centre located at
18750 18 Street NW, Edmonton (for all related questions call 780.422.4466). Unfortunately, alcohol addiction can spiral so out of control that a person might not be able to survive without specialized treatment.
There is a lot of value in watching the type of company that one chooses to keep while trying to get away from an unhealthy lifestyle. Alcohol is more addictive than some people will ever admit, and there is merit in avoiding situations completely where alcohol consumption is the focus of the gathering.
In time, with healthy choices, a person might be able to re enter those situations without being tempted to binge drink. I think that the important take away message here is that we recognize that alcohol can be an abused substance even though it is legal. So let’s try to help each other along and send out the message that love is stronger than addiction.
