Safer Drinking Dependence and Help

Alcohol is unlikely to harm your health if you drink only small amounts and avoid drinking every day. Steps to get the best out of drinking and avoid problems include:

Keeping to the recommended weekly intake.

Aiming for two or three alcohol-free days a week.

Drinking slowly instead of gulping.

Alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.

Experimenting with low alcohol or alcohol-free drinks.

Not drinking on an empty stomach.

Not drinking by yourself when you are unhappy or morose.

Not having 'one for the road.'

Not drinking to relieve anxiety tension depression or loneliness.

Not keeping your home stocked with alcohol. Alcohol dependence While there does not appear to be a single cause of alcohol dependence, personality, environment and the addictive nature of alcohol contribute to the development of the illness. It is also thought that genetic factors probably play a part in causing dependence, and any person can become alcoholic if he drinks heavily for a prolonged period. Some symptoms can appear over a period of weeks and months, but alcohol dependency usually occurs over a period of years, sometimes decades. Symptoms fall into two categories which can include any combination of the following:

Do you suffer from alcohol dependency?

Try this simple test If you have scored four points or more, this indicates that you may suffer from a dependence on alcohol at some level. Don't ignore this or feel bad, simply refer back to the section on safer drinking and use this guide to keep within the limits. Alternatively, make the first move to get help, advice and support from your GP, friends, a local group, helpline or agency. There are also useful contacts at the back of this book. Getting help Unfortunately, most men who drink too much are either unaware that they have a problem or refuse to admit it. If you or someone close to you is drinking in excess, contact the family doctor or a helpline for advice. It is worth trying to reason with the person when he's sober. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous offers advice and guidance for people with a drink problem and provide support for partners. In severe cases it may be necessary to admit an alcoholic to hospital for a period of detoxification with medication prescribed to control the withdrawal symptoms. Even then, long-term treatment to prevent a return to previous drinking habits is invariably required and can include behavioural therapy and psychotherapy. Occasionally the drug known as disulfuram is prescribed, which induces unpleasant side-effects when alcohol is taken. This online advice guide is an extract from the book TOGETHER, by kind permission of Patriic Gayle and Gay Times Books. The book itself is over 300 pages long and contains:

several chapters more useful advice and information

more in-depth information in some chapters

more pictures and tables

further contacts at the end of each chapter

a comprehensive listing of gay and health organisations Described by Qx magazine as a 'Gay Bible', Together Book is a practical reference work no bookshelf should be without.

Available from Prowler Stores and all good bookshops, or click the link below for price and ordering details.

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