Edit by: Brittni
My Result: High Risk
Your result scores show that you are addicted to alcohol and should start thinking on how to take charge of the situation before your health gets adversely affected. This is where your score puts you along with other Americans.
Age |
Gender |
% of Americans who drink as much as you. |
| Above 30 | Male | 4% |
| Below 30 | Male | 14% |
| Above 30 | Female | 1% |
| Below 30 | Female | 7% |
The USDA recommends that adult males/females should not drink more than 14/7 alcoholic beverages per week. Based on your test results, it seems that your drinking patterns are dangerous to your health. You need to change your lifestyle as well as consult an expert to get help.
How alcohol can turn your life into a nightmare:
Medical Issues — It’s an open secret that alcohol significantly increases the risk of countless diseases, especially liver diseases. According to the NIAAA fact sheet, drinking alcohol is responsible for at least 50% cases of liver failure in America every year. In addition, according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol increases the risk of cancers of breast, larynx, esophagus, and colon. It also makes you prone to medical issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, anemia, stroke, dementia, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, seizures, gout, infectious disease, nerve damage, and infertility.
Psychological Issues — In a study of patients hospitalized after an attempted suicide, it was found that alcoholics are 75 times more likely to be successful in ending their life as compared to non-alcoholics. Moreover, alcoholics are up to 20 times more likely to attempt a suicide as compared to others. Alcohol disrupts the normal functioning of human brain and predisposes the user to a number of psychological issues. According to NIAAA research, drinking alcohol increases the risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, personality changes and mood disturbance.
Social Issues — Higher rates of unemployment, greater chances of divorce and other marital issues, social withdrawal and loss of productivity are some of the social issues you might face. Moreover, alcohol abuse is clearly linked to workplace absenteeism as well as higher rate of crime. Since alcohol impairs your judgment, it can lead to road accidents as well as unsafe sexual activities. In short, alcohol not impacts your or your family’s life only, but can also impact the whole society.
How to cut back on alcohol intake:
Here are some tips to help you keep your spirits high.
- Set goals. Set small, achievable and realistic goals.
- Find motivation. Get your motivation from your family and friends. Communicate with them and seek help when necessary.
- You are missing a lot in your life. Think about the things you are missing because of your drinking habit.
- Identify and avoid the “trigger events”. If being depressed, lonely or anything else is making you drink more than usual, identify that trigger. Try to cope with that.
- Celebrate your success. Once you have achieved a goal, celebrate your success and reward yourself!
- Get help. Talk to a therapist or a doctor if you need some help. There is nothing to be ashamed of in doing that.
Our Recommendations:
It seems your drinking patterns are dangerous and you need to consult specialists for this matter.
Here are some recommendations for you.
- Talk to a therapist/alcohol counselor– You can talk to a therapist, doctor or an alcohol counselor about your problem. Therapists who specialize in overcoming alcohol addiction can help you set small, achievable and short-terms goals to assist you overcome addiction. Once this is achieved, you and your therapist can work together to achieve long-term goals like rebuilding damaged relations.
- Sessions with a psychiatrist/psychologist– According to a research, the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidities, like depression, among alcohol dependents can be as high as 92%. You can overcome your habit by consulting a psychiatrist or a psychologist. This is particularly useful if psychiatric issues like depression, anxiety and flash backs from your past are the reasons for your drinking habit.
- Community support: Joining Alcoholics Anonymous or other support groups can give you courage that you are not alone in this. These support groups help you get sober and support you overcome the hurdles in the way of giving up alcohol. Talking to people like yourself can help you cope with your issues in a better way.
- Indoor treatment facility: This method is for you if your drinking problem is getting out of hand and it has now started to affect your health and social life.
You can also use the Rehab locator to find a treatment facility nearby.
Page Sources
- http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/dietary_guidelines_for_americans/PolicyDoc.pdf
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
- http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12032973?dopt=Abstract
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10225498?dopt=Abstract
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921139/
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