Alcohol Support
Many individuals enjoy alcohol responsibly but exceeding the recommended 14 units per week can impact our lives negatively. If you have concerns about your drinking, worry about someone else, or suspect alcohol dependence, support is available to guide you.
Alcohol Services in Sandwell: Your Partner in Recovery
Services Offered:
- Advice and Information
- One-to-One Sessions or Groupwork
- Support with Accessing Services: Housing, employment, benefits advice, and health services
- Peer Support and Mutual Aid
- Family and Carer Support
- Safe Reduction Planning
Providers: Cranstoun and DECCA
Your Wellbeing Matters:
Take the First Step
Recognising concerns about alcohol is the first step toward positive change. Whether you’re seeking advice, support, or recovery options, Sandwell’s Alcohol Services are here for you.
Assess Your
Drinking
Cranstoun’s Alcohol Audit Tool
Use Cranstoun’s Alcohol Audit Tool to assess your drinking habits and potential health risks.
Alcohol Dependence
Warning Signs
Withdrawal Symptoms: If you experience withdrawal symptoms, seek professional advice rather than abruptly stopping drinking.
GP Support
Your general practitioner can provide advice and discuss available support.
Embark on your journey to wellness – Your local support team awaits.
How much are you drinking?
Embracing a healthier lifestyle involves mindful choices, and one significant aspect is our relationship with alcohol. Excessive alcohol intake can impact our health, strain relationships, and diminish our overall quality of life. We believe that knowledge empowers, and understanding alcohol units is a key step toward responsible drinking.
What is an Alcohol Unit?
A unit is a standardized measure that indicates the amount of pure alcohol in a drink. Each unit is equivalent to 10ml or 8mg of pure alcohol. By keeping track of your units, you gain insight into your drinking habits and can make informed decisions to minimize associated risks.
Recommended Guidelines:
While there’s no entirely safe limit for alcohol consumption, the advice from the UK’s Chief Medical Officer suggests that adults, both men and women, should aim to stay within a weekly limit of 14 units. Distributing these units across three or more days helps maintain control over your alcohol intake.
Visualizing 14 Units:
To put it into perspective, 14 units roughly translate to about 6 pints of 4% beer or 6 glasses of 13% wine. Knowing these equivalents helps you gauge and manage your alcohol consumption effectively.
Tools for Your Journey:
Explore tools like the NHS Drink Tracker to monitor your drinking habits. Consider maintaining a drink diary for a more in-depth understanding.
Our partners at Cranstoun offer an Alcohol Audit Tool that can assess if your drinking habits might be affecting your health.
Seeking Professional Help:
If you ever experience withdrawal symptoms when abstaining from alcohol, it’s a sign that dependency might be a concern. It’s recommended not to quit abruptly, and seeking professional advice is crucial. Learn more about alcohol withdrawal symptoms here.
We believe in fostering a community dedicated to informed choices and healthier living. By understanding and managing your alcohol consumption, you contribute to a happier, healthier you.
Remember
Your journey to wellbeing starts with small, mindful steps.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general guidance. For personalised advice, consult with a healthcare professional.
How to reduce the risks
While there’s no safe limit for alcohol, exceeding the recommended 14 units per week makes the risk of various health conditions worse. These include but are not limited to mouth, throat, stomach, and breast cancer, liver disease, and depression. Remember, the more you drink and the more frequent the sessions, the greater the potential impact on your health.
Find out more about the risks of drinking on the NHS Guide
Tips for Safer Drinking
Reducing the risks associated with alcohol consumption involves mindful choices and moderation. Consider the following tips:
- Avoid Binge Drinking: Binge drinking, defined as consuming 8 units for men or 6 units for women or more in a single session, poses significant health risks.
- Poses significant health risks. Pace Yourself: Slow down your alcohol intake and mix alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic alternatives.
- Adhere to Unit Guidelines: Spread your drinking across three or more days per week, incorporating alcohol-free days in between.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Even if you don’t exceed the unit guidelines, cutting down your alcohol intake by just a few drinks per week can significantly reduce health risks. Consider the following strategies:
- Choose Lower % Drinks: Check the alcohol content (ABV) on the bottle or can; lower percentages are preferable.
- Opt for Smaller Servings: Swap a pint for a bottle or a double for a single serving.
- Explore Alcohol-Free Alternatives: Embrace the growing variety of alcohol-free alternatives available.
Tools for Support
Discover helpful tools and resources to assist you in moderating your drinking habits below:
Seeking Professional Advice:
Should you experience withdrawal symptoms when abstaining from alcohol, it may signal dependency. It’s crucial not to quit abruptly. Seek professional advice for personalized guidance. Learn more about alcohol withdrawal symptoms here.
Your journey towards safer drinking is a personal and empowering one. At Healthy Sandwell, we encourage informed decisions, moderation, and a commitment to your wellbeing.
Remember
Small changes today pave the way for a healthier tomorrow.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general guidance. For personalized advice, consult with a healthcare professional
Drinking and pregnancy
Understanding the impact of alcohol is crucial for couples planning to conceive, expectant mothers, and those caring for new-borns. Read on to make informed choices for a healthy pregnancy and the wellbeing of your child.
Before Pregnancy:
The journey to conception is an exciting time. One crucial piece of advice for couples is to steer clear of alcohol. Research suggests that alcohol can affect both males and females attempting to conceive. While the exact safe limit is uncertain, it’s recommended to avoid alcohol altogether during this period.
During Pregnancy
Alcohol and pregnancy are an incompatible mix. When you consume alcohol during pregnancy, it travels from your bloodstream through the placenta to your baby. Since a baby’s liver is still developing, exposure to alcohol can significantly impact their growth. Drinking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and may lead to long-term learning and behavioural issues. Heavy drinking can result in Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), causing poor growth, facial abnormalities, and developmental challenges.
After Pregnancy
Caring for a new-born comes with responsibilities, and alcohol intake must be approached with caution. If breastfeeding, be mindful that alcohol in your system can pass to your baby through milk. Their underdeveloped liver struggles to process alcohol, potentially causing health problems. Even if not breastfeeding, moderation is key when your baby is small.
Support Services:
If you’re seeking support to give up alcohol during pregnancy, local services are available. Contact Healthy Sandwell for advice tailored to you. Additionally, don’t hesitate to speak to your midwife or doctor if you have concerns about your drinking and its impact on your pregnancy.
The journey to parenthood is a unique and transformative experience. Making informed choices regarding alcohol is a crucial step towards ensuring the health and well-being of both you and your baby. For personalised guidance and support, reach out to local services or healthcare professionals. Here’s to a healthy and happy pregnancy journey!
Worried about someone else?
If you’re concerned about a friend or family member’s drug or alcohol use, you’re not alone. The following information can help you with this challenging situation, offering tips on how to approach the conversation and providing resources for your own support. Remember, expressing your concern comes from a place of care and understanding.
How to Talk About Drugs and Alcohol:
Prepare for the Conversation
- Educate yourself about the substances involved. Visit Talk to Frank for valuable information.
- Choose an appropriate time and place. Avoid times of intoxication and ensure privacy.
Start the Conversation
Use “I” statements to express your worries and feelings.
- "I'm concerned as we've noticed you've had a few hangovers lately, and we miss our family time together."
- I've noticed you don't seem like yourself, and I'm worried about you."
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Encourage open dialogue.
- "How do you feel about your drinking?"
- "How do you feel about drugs?"
- "What are some positives and negatives you see in drinking/using drugs?"
Listen
- Allow them to express themselves without judgment. Be attentive to underlying issues such as depression or trauma.
Be Patient
- Recognize that discussions on this topic may evoke defensiveness. Assure them of your support and give them time to process the conversation.
Get Help
- Suggest seeking professional assistance. Ask, "Do we need to get some help with this?"
Taking Care of Yourself
Before you can effectively support someone else, it’s crucial to care for your well-being. Helping others can be emotionally draining, and these organizations can offer support:
- Adfam:
- A national charity dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by drugs and alcohol. Visit Adfam for empowerment and resources.
- Al-Anon Family Groups
- Provides support to those affected by someone else’s drinking. Visit Al-Anon for assistance, regardless of whether the person is still drinking or not.
- Cranstoun
- Offers advice and support to adults impacted by someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use. Explore their services at Cranstoun.
