In the USA the rate of women abusing alcohol and prescription drugs has doubled in the past 10 years and one in four children in the USA live with an alcoholic parent. Alarming statistics. especially when alcoholic parents are more likely to be less productive, injure themselves and others and neglect the emotional needs of their children.
Often a secret, alcoholics rarely admit the problem and often skillfully hide their habit from loved ones and colleagues.
- A preoccupation with wanting to drink.
- As the tolerance for alcohol increases, higher doses of alcohol are needed to maintain the original level of intoxication and desired effect.
- Cravings hinder unsuccessful attempts to abstain.
- Withdrawal symptoms surface between 6 to 72 hours from last drink including sweating, restlessness, nausea, stomach cramps, disturbed sleep, anxiety, agitation, and depression.
Heavy drinking can also lead to severe heath problems. Symptoms include high blood pressure, enlarged heart, liver cancer, painful inflammation of the liver, intestines, pancreas and stomach, impotence/gynecological problems, loss of memory and impaired learning.
If you have a colleague who you suspect has a problem, here are a few suggestions for how to help:
- Remain non judgmental, offer care and support, for example at an appropriate time mention your concern.
- Offer to help her with seeking support from professionals like a Doctor, EAP or specific substance abuse programs, for example, Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Stress the benefits of intervention and therapy, that it does get results and that it could make all the difference to your colleagues well-being and to those close to them affected.
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