Help 4 Addiction
Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation
If you suspect a loved one has an addiction, but you’re not sure, these tips could help you spot what’s really going on.
Addictions can be hard to spot, particularly if it is in a friend or family member you don’t see that
often. We have plenty of advice on how to stage an intervention – or even just get them to talk
about it – available in our pages. However, that’s not much help when you don’t know what’s going
on.
Have you received a dual diagnosis in addiction recovery? Here’s what you need to know.
The term dual diagnosis is used to describe a variety of medical issues. Primarily, it was created to deal with describing a co-existing mental health problem and alcohol or drug addiction. It might be called a dual disorder. It might also be called a co-occurring condition. Whatever you want to call it, it makes addiction recovery 10 times more difficult than it would be on its own. [Read more…] about What Does It Mean to Have a Dual Diagnosis?
If you are struggling with an addiction and you live in England or Wales, help is available.
Addiction services come in all different shapes and sizes. Depending on where in the UK you live, you could have access to medical help in combating your addiction. If you live in England or Wales, you come under NHS England and Wales territory. This means you have access to NHS services to help you recover from addiction. There is also a range of private options in addiction to recovery within the UK. [Read more…] about Addiction Services in England and Wales: What Help is out there?
Never mind Nightmare on Elm Street, trying to avoid chocolate and candy apples at Halloween is difficult for us binge eaters.
There is a temptation around every corner, sometimes coming towards us inside a plastic pumpkin. Halloween is known as a time of frivolity, of pound-store scares, and of chocolate heaven. For foodies, this is fine. For those of us prone to binge eating disorders, we have too many memories of Halloween candy being a foundational trigger that led to worse things. [Read more…] about Halloween: A Binge Eater’s Worst Nightmare
This article has been medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever, a world-leading addictions specialist.
It is estimated that around 30% to 89% of alcoholics suffer from a degree of thiamine deficiency. Are you worried and scared because you might have a high risk of brain disease? Do you feel you have already started exhibiting the symptoms? Are you wondering if it is even serious at all?
Thiamine deficiency is not one to joke with. If you heavily consume or abuse alcohol, the concern is needed. Contemplating addiction treatment can be hard. We at Help4addiction use evidence-based treatment methods to ensure the complete recovery of our patients. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Thiamine is an essential vitamin in the body for converting carbohydrates into glucose, fuel for the body. The body uses the glucose produced by thiamine as an energy source which goes a long way to help the growth, development and efficient function of cells.
Thiamin belongs to the family of B vitamins and is popularly known as Vitamin B1. Its functions are essential for the smooth operation of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
A deficiency in it for prolonged periods could lead to severe damage to the nervous system, heart and brain. However, in optimum quantities, it does not just help the body operate smoothly but also reduces health complications such as the reduction of Diabetic complications, the risk of heart failure, and significantly affect the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Below are some of the primary sources of thiamine:
Dairy products, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of thiamine. However, when taken in large quantities, they can become substantive sources of the vitamin. Therefore, it is recommended that meals have at least 20% of the DV to make them a high nutrient source. As long as individuals consume foods with at least 20% of the DV, they will get all nutrients in suitable proportions.
The body stores thiamine in low quantities, so it is essential to keep refuelling through meals. If an individual is not eating much or eating well and is perhaps throwing up the food they eat, the probability of the person suffering a deficiency is very high. This is usually rare, though, considering that thiamine is found in many foods we consume. So as long as the individual is eating, they might not experience the deficiency.
Thiamine deficiency can sometimes lead to more severe illnesses and irreversible health consequences. When the deficiency persists for a long time and is not dealt with, it interferes with the healthy function of the individual’s heart, circulatory system, nervous system, and brain.
In difficult mover situations, the damage is irreversible, and the individual may have to live with it. An example of such a situation is when it leads to alcohol-related brain damage.
Not many individuals are at risk of thiamine deficiency in today’s world due to all the advancements that have been made medically, agriculturally and technologically. There are many healthy food sources for individuals in today’s world as compared to centuries ago. Supplements are available to make sure we meet our required nutrient intake. As long as individuals are on a healthy diet, they will be good unless they have certain health conditions.
Some of the health conditions that may put an individual at risk of a thiamine deficiency include:
Aside from health conditions, another factor that might lead to thiamine deficiency and has usually been found to be the underlying cause of thiamine deficiency is alcohol. Alcoholism and alcohol dependency remain significant causes of thiamine deficiency today.
Although illnesses have been shown to affect thiamine in the body by either causing increased excretion of low absorption, alcohol does have similar and, in some cases, more significant effects. Ethanol which is the type of alcohol used for alcoholic beverages significantly affects gastrointestinal absorption of thiamine. When Alcohol is consumed excessively, it causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which affects the body’s ability to absorb vitamins through the stomach’s lining.
This leads to a deficiency of the vitamin in the body at levels so significant that if nothing is done about it, it could be dangerous for the individual. Approximately 80% of chronic alcohol users have the deficiency since they cannot absorb enough of the vitamin or their bodies are impaired in their utilisation of it for the good of the body.
Some studies investigating thiamine deficiency have discovered that the absorption of thiamine varied among individuals who abuse alcohol, with some not being able to absorb any thiamine at all. In addition, the chronic use and abuse of alcohol have also been linked with the development of the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.
Thiamine deficiency can come with several symptoms. The general symptoms associated with thiamine deficiency are so subtle that they can easily be overlooked. Symptoms include
Thiamine deficiency is sometimes known as beriberi. Depending on the symptoms present in the individual, it can be grouped into two major types; dry beriberi and wet beriberi.
This type of beriberi is sometimes referred to as paralytic beriberi. Individuals with this type of beriberi suffer from damage or dysfunction to their nervous system, leading to numbness or tingling sensations in the legs and arms and exaggerated reflexes. If these symptoms are not treated, the individual could eventually end up paralysed and die in much more extreme situations. Symptoms that are usually exclusive to dry beriberi include:
Dry beriberi is sometimes referred to as Cerebral Beriberi because of its brain-damaging effects. It is also associated with Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s Psychosis. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is cerebellar dysfunction. When this condition is not treated, it deteriorates further into Korwsakoff’s Psychosis.
An individual experiencing combined symptoms from both conditions is described as having the Wernicke – Korswasakoff Syndrome (WKS). With the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, the individual has amnesic symptoms, experiences confusion and constantly experiences loss of recent and working memory. In some situations, these symptoms are accompanied by seizures, although this is quite rare. This condition has been significantly associated with alcohol abuse.
This type of beriberi is sometimes called cardia beriberi, as it affects the heart and circulatory system. It can lead to heart failure and cause the weakening of the capillary walls, which can cause pain. It is characterised by
There is potentially a third type of beriberi which is the Gastrointestinal Beriberi. As the name implies, this type of beriberi has to do with the stomach and intestines. It is predominantly characterised by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and lactic acidosis and was first prescribed as recently as 2004.
General treatment of thiamine deficiency or beriberi can be done by simply reintroducing thiamine into the body. Therefore, the treatment is done in these two main ways.
Dosage: The usual dose is between 25mg and 100mg for those with mild thiamine deficiency, taken once a day. The usual dose is 100mg taken 2 or 3 times daily for those with more severe deficiency.
Things to Note
Although thiamine deficiency is not common, it is still hazardous if it does occur. For example, suppose you regularly consume alcohol and experience the symptoms listed. In that case, it might be on the safer side to visit your health practitioner and make sure everything is fine. However, do not downplay it; it’s too risky. It is always better to consult with a medical professional and nutrition expert to ensure you’re not deficient in essential nutrients.
However, if you are not the one but know a significant other in that situation, encourage them to seek help. We at Help4addiction provide evidence-based treatment and counselling for those in need. Feel free to contact us today to assess the alcohol-related health risks.
This article has been medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever, a world-leading addictions specialist.
Alcohol poisoning is also known as alcohol overdose. It is a state in human beings where too much alcohol is found in the bloodstream, consequently affecting the proper functioning of the brain. Therefore, one may suffer from mild to severe impairment. As a result, standard functions such as breathing, heart rate are affected. In the worst case, some victims of alcohol poisoning end up dying.
Medically, the degree of intoxication is in an individual’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). The more drinks one takes, the higher the BAC. When the BAC reaches between 0.13 to 016, it is alcohol poisoning. BAC Past 0.30 is life-threatening.
Most people confuse intoxication and alcohol poisoning, but there is a significant difference. While they share many symptoms, the effects and signs of alcohol poisoning are severe compared to the movements of general intoxication.
Alcohol poisoning results from the rapid consumption of alcohol in a short time. Too much alcohol in the body leads to a higher alcohol concentration in the bloodstream leading to severe impairment.
Binge drinking is among the leading causes of alcohol poisoning. In binge drinking, excessive alcohol consumption takes place in a short time. For drinking to be considered a binge, the BAC must exceed 0.16. This habit is rampant among college students. The glorification of excessive drinking has excited college life, and students being young will probably throw caution out of the window.
While taking alcohol, it is hard to determine your BAC level. A person has to take a trip to a medical facility to have their BAC measured. Due to differences in alcohol tolerance levels among different people, it is difficult to predict an individual’s BAC level that is in the range of alcohol poisoning. For most people, the rate at which the body eliminates alcohol is approximately one drink per hour. The alcohol tolerance limit varies from one person to the other. The variance depends on several factors that affect alcohol tolerance, as discussed below.
It is worth noting that various factors determine the variance of the level of intoxication among different people. Some of the factors include:
Women are more vulnerable to alcohol effects compared to men. This is because the absorption and metabolism of alcohol are different in women compared to men. In addition, the fact that women generally have less water than men of similar weight makes them achieve higher alcohol concentrations in their blood.
As people grow old, the ability of the body to tolerate alcohol reduces. In addition, the ability to metabolise alcohol lowers with old age. Therefore, the alcohol remains in the system for a long. As a result, after taking a drink, older people will have difficulty walking or holding a conversation compared to younger people.
The less a person weighs, the more they are affected by alcohol. This is because the amount of weight determines the amount of space in the system that alcohol diffuses. Thus, those with less body weight will have a higher alcohol concentration in their body compared to those with higher body weight.
Certain drugs have harmful interactions with alcohol. In some instances, alcohol may significantly lower the effectiveness to the point of making them ineffective. Some of the problems related to alcohol interaction with medications include:
Worse still, mixing alcohol and medications can cause the following complications.
The more a person takes alcohol, the higher the BAC. The faster the drink is taken, the faster a person gets drunk. The body has a way of breaking alcohol down, the rate being approximately one bottle per hour. It therefore follows, more rapid rate of consumption will overwhelm the body, lowering the alcohol tolerance level.
Taking alcohol on an empty stomach leads to the rapid absorption of alcohol in the gut. However, with a full stomach, the absorption of alcohol in the system is low and hence higher tolerance.
There are different alcohol types, including beer, wine, whiskey, and rum, among others. As many as they are, they come with additional alcohol content, some stronger than others. The higher the alcohol content, the more a person will have a higher alcohol concentration in their system. For instance, one bottle of beer cannot be the same as the effects of a bottle of whiskey, which has higher alcohol content.
Any amount of alcohol consumption will have effects. What matters is the intensity of taking alcohol which determines the variance of impact from one person to the other. While some people can control their drinking, others are unable to control their drinking. One glass of alcohol may cause minor damage, but drinking too much on a single occasion or over a long period can seriously affect a person’s health.
As earlier observed, the intensity of effects of alcohol depends on tolerance ability. Those who have higher tolerance can drink more than those with lower tolerance. Depending on a person’s alcohol tolerance level, the effects can vary from minor complications to life-threatening ones.
Alcohol poisoning, which has the most severe effects, has the following symptoms:
Over time, drinking too much alcohol can cause serious health effects. As the habit grows, you find yourself finding it hard to stop. Cumulatively, someone can suffer the following:
1.Brain Damage
Alcohol disrupts the brain’s communication system. In turn, the proper functioning of the brain is affected. The disruptions can change behaviour and emotions, affecting clear thinking and good coordination. For example, slurred speech is a tell-tale sign of drinking too much.
2.Digestive glands
Too much alcohol affects the digestive system by abnormally activating digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas. These enzymes can lead to pancreatitis, which is inflammation. Over a long time, pancreatitis can cause serious health complications.
3.Liver damage
The liver is the organ that breaks down harmful toxic substances from the body, including alcohol. Extended use of alcohol interferes with the proper functioning of the liver. It causes chronic liver inflammation and diseases. It can lead to a dangerous condition known as liver cirrhosis. As the liver is affected, its function of detoxification fails.
4.Sugar levels
As the pancreas is affected, its function of regulating insulin and response to glucose is affected. With a damaged liver and pancreas, a person runs at risk of low blood sugar and hypoglycemia. Consequently, a damaged pancreas prevents the body from producing the needed insulin, leading to hyperglycemia or excess sugar in the blood. The net effect is suffering from diabetes, a lifestyle disease.
The effects of alcohol on an individual depend on weight, age, medication, and alcohol tolerance. All the above factors can only alter the BAC levels of different people. Regardless, consumption of alcohol has effects on anyone who consumes it.
No single person is immune to alcohol poisoning. Taking too much alcohol too fast will result in alcohol poisoning. As you get used to drinking alcohol frequently, the body may build tolerance. At some point, the tolerance stops increasing. You reach a point where you think you are not getting drunk and keep drinking to the dangerous end of passing out.
Mistakenly, some people may interpret the ability to tolerate more alcohol as immunity, but that is not the case. The result is the toxic effects reaching dangerous levels.
Commonly, you find people treating intoxication by splashing cold water on the face or forcing intoxicated people to drink water or milk. At times, they are put to sleep. But, in most cases, the intoxicated recover after some time as the body detoxifies.
Despite the similarities in general intoxication and alcohol poisoning symptoms, one can easily distinguish between the two. The symptoms of alcohol poisoning are severe, and one needs to pay keen attention. When you observe the following symptoms in a loved one: uncontrollable vomiting, skin becoming cold, and passing out, you should consider that as alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning is a serious condition that necessitates immediate medical attention. If left untreated, alcohol poisoning can be fatal to the extent of causing death. Therefore, people should follow the following steps should be followed in a case of suspected alcohol poisoning:
There are two recognised methods of testing the amount of alcohol in the system or blood alcohol content:
As the alcohol gets absorbed, it moves through the bloodstream to the lungs. At the lungs, it evaporates, and as breathing out takes place, it is ejected. So if a person blows into a Breathalyzer, it can estimate the BAC in the breath.
So far, this is the most accurate method of testing BAC. First, a small amount of blood is drawn with a needle. It is then analysed for the BAC. However, the accuracy of the BAC will be high within 6- 12 hours from the consumption of alcohol.
Anyone who takes excessive alcohol in a short amount of time can be a victim. However, young people are more likely to engage in excessive drinking. Younger people, especially college students acting under peer pressure, are most likely to engage in binge drinking.
Apart from college students, people between the ages of 18-35 years tend to fancy life partying and drinking alcohol. At this age, some have just reached the legal age of drinking or have moved out of their parent’s home. Unfortunately, this secured freedom with little caution can lead young people to engage in harmful habits such as overdrinking.
Unexpectedly, minors are also at risk of alcohol poisoning. The kids at a stage of exploration and discovery can unknowingly consume alcohol if kept within their reach. Therefore, it is advised that parents should keep drink out of reach of kids or in locked places.
Sadly, thousands of deaths following alcohol poisoning are reported every year. However, these deaths can be prevented if the correct measures are taken to address this problem.
If you must drink, do it responsibly. It is important to place limits on the amount of alcohol you can take on a single occasion. Some people may argue about possessing a high tolerance level, but the results are always catastrophic after reaching dangerous levels. Even if not for anything else, drinking alcohol responsibly is important as excessive alcohol consumption impairs coordination and judgment.
To drink moderately and avoid binge drinking, you can apply some practices that increase tolerance levels, including eating well before drinking, playing drinking games, drinking slowly over an extended time, and drinking water between the drinks.
To protect minors from alcohol poisoning, parents should keep alcohol out of reach of children. In addition, the parents should lock cabinets where liquor is stored. If possible, adults should avoid taking drinks in the presence of children.
Most importantly, educating family members, especially teens and young adults. They should be made to be aware of the dangers of alcohol poisoning and how to prevent it.
In this day and age, society cannot ignore the problem of alcohol. Every year, thousands of deaths are caused by alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is no longer a problem of those who drink only, but even family members and friends who do not drink alcohol are affected.
Young people being the most affected, they to be educated on the dangers of alcohol poisoning. In addition, society should employ concerted to discourage young people from engaging in behaviours that may lead to alcohol poisoning.
Finally, people should be educated on how to handle those suspected of alcohol poisoning and to call for medical assistance immediately for treatment.
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