What is Not-At-Risk Drinking?

Looking for alcohol in Del Mar or Carmel Valley? You can find large amounts of it for purchase in the grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, bars, gas stations, mini marts and  liquor stores, throughout the north coastal areas.

Some people can ignore the multimillion dollar advertising campaign to get you to either order or pick up the alcohol for consumption, while other are seduced into purchasing alcohol regularly and enjoy evening drinks with their friends and family.

Still others will purchase alcohol daily to keep themselves from needing to enter a detoxification and treatment program,  in full alcohol withdrawal with shakes and the possibility of a life threatening seizure. Which one are you?  Are you safe from the risks of becoming the daily drinker, or the alcoholic?

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has examined the scientific literature to determine what constitutes not-at-risk drinking.  The staff at NIAAA examined the physical, mental, social and legal risks associated with drinking and identified the amount men and women can drink without increased risk.  Based on their analyses, the NIAAA recommends that:                      
--Men should consume no more than 4 standard drinks per day and no more than 14 standard drinks per week.
--Women,  who process alcohol differently than men, should consume no more than 3 standard drinks per day and no more than 7 standard drinks per week.
--People 65 years of age and older should not drink more than one drink per day.

A standard drink equals a 12 oz. beer or cooler, 8-9 oz malt liquor, 5 oz of talble wine, or 1.5 oz of 80 proof spirits.  Depending on the type of spirits and recipe, one mixed drink can equal from one to three or more standard drinks.

People who exceed the recommended daily limit have engaged in binge drinking.  

Of the people who HAVE NOT exceeded the recommended daily and weekly limits in the past year  (72% of the U.S. population over age 18), less than 1 in 100 will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

People who HAVE engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous 12 months (16% of the U.S. Population over the age of 18), 1 in 5, or 20% will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

 People who exceed both the limits recommended  for daily and weekly use, which is 10% of the U.S. population over the age of 18, 50% or 1 out of 2 people will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

Finally, people who exceed the recommended weekly limit but never binge drink (2% of the U.S. population over the age of 18) about 1 in 12 or 8% , will eventually meet the diagnostic criteria for either alcohol abuse or dependence.

If you want to be safe and reduce your risks for becoming alcohol dependence, don't exceed the daily (a binge) or weekly limit. This is no guarantee, however that trying to reduce the consumption will work,  as there are genetic as well as environmental risks factors that lead to continued use despite consequences.   If you have tried to reduce your consumption and been unsuccessful, you are not alone. Alcoholism is often described as having an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. The overconsumption, fueled by the obsession to continue drinking, can lead to blackouts, personality changes,a loss of self esteem, physical problems, and problems with family, friends, employers and the law.

If  you or someone you love is unable to consistently control the amount of alcohol they are drinking, seek help now by using the assessments on our website, www.lastingrecovery.com,  to  to determine if you have a problem. There are solutions.  If you would like more information, give us a call at 858-453-4315.

Judy Saalinger, Ph., D., MFT, CAS

Binge Drinkers Tend to Forget Aspects of Being Drunk

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Binge drinkers tend to forget the negative aspects of getting drunk and focus on the pleasant memories, which may help explain why they continue to drink despite instances where they get sick, black out, or have other problems.

The Independent reported Sept. 10 that Theodora Duka, a researcher from Sussex University, said that studies show that alcohol affects memory selectively, and that many binge drinkers don't remember the worst aspects of their drinking experiences.

"The effects of alcohol on mood are known contributors to its use and abuse. It is less known how its effects on memory and inhibitory control add to alcohol being and addictive drug," said Duka, a Sussex University professor. "Material acquired in an intoxicated state is less effectively retrieved in a sober state. Thus people who abuse alcohol forget the consequences of intoxication during periods of abstinence."

Studies show that memory degrades significantly as alcohol builds up in the body. Experts say that relatively little is known about the impact of alcohol on memory, but believe that it could be one of the most important aspects of addiction.

"The effect of alcohol to weaken control processes intuitively appears to be the most important contributor to the development of alcohol addiction, since alcohol addiction is perceived to be an inability to control drinking," Duka said. "Alcohol facilitates memories for emotional events experienced before intoxication -- mostly positive -- and impairs memories for emotional events experienced after intoxication -- often negative -- biasing memory to positive effects of alcohol, and support [for] further drinking."