Essential information for patients and carers regarding alcohol information and useful contacts

Transcription

1 Essential information for patients and carers regarding alcohol information and useful contacts Ladywell Building Alcohol Specialist Nurse G W. Design Services,, All Rights Reserved Document for issue as handout.

2 Alcohol Specialist Nurse Services in Salford This booklet is designed to provide some information that may help you Introduction It has been identified by the team looking after you that you may be drinking more than the government guidelines for sensible drinking. Adult men and women staying within the recommended limits are unlikely to harm their health. As soon as they drink at above the daily limit they run increasing health risks. The number of units in a drink depends on what you are drinking, how strong it is and how much there is. Don t be fooled - lots of drinks have higher alcohol content than these examples. If you are pouring your own drink you are likely to get more in the glass than a pub measure. If you would like to know more about alcohol and its effects please contact the Alcohol Specialist Nurse Service based at Salford Royal Answer phone service available You will be given advice and support regarding the best options for your needs. This may involve: l Appointment with Alcohol Specialist Nurse (ASN) at the hospital. l The option to attend educational group to held at Salford Royal. l Referral to Salford Alcohol Services. Units = A UK unit is 10mls or 8 grams of pure alcohol A large glass of wine 250ml (14% ABV) = 3.5 UNITS A 25ml pub measure of spirit (40% ABV) = 1 UNIT A 330 ml bottle of alcopop (5% ABV) = 1.7 UNITS A pint of super strength lager (9% ABV) = 5.1 UNITS 1 G W. Design Services,, 2

3 Frequently asked questions What are the effects of alcohol on the body and mind? Alcohol is a drug that depresses the brain. We all know the cheeriness that can come with the first drink, but alcohol can actually cause severe depression. Aggressive, irrational behaviour, arguments, violence, depression, nervousness, chronic anxiety, unknown fears, hallucinations, serious psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, dementia (wet brain) Chronic coughing, throat cancer (cancer of the larynx) Frequent colds, reduced resistance to infection, increased risk of pneumonia and tuberculosis Liver damage leading to breakdown and cirrhosis and liver cancer Duodenal ulcer Trembling hands, tingling fingers, numbness, loss of sensation in the fingers, peripheral neuritis Impaired sensation leading to falls and numbness causing skin damage Numb, tingling toes, peripheral neuritis Alcohol goes everywhere that blood goes. It effects every system in your body. Blackouts (alcohol amnesia), serious memory loss, damage to nerves Facial deterioration, puffy eyes, drinkers nose, looking older (especially women) Cancer of the oesophagus Weakness of heart muscle, heart failure, anaemia, impaired blood clotting Vitamin deficiency, haemorrage, severe inflammation of the stomach, vomiting, diarrhoea, malnutrition Inflammation of the pancreas Impaired kidney function, urinary infections In men, impaired sexual performance, impotence. In women, unwanted pregnancies, risk of giving birth to deformed, retarded babies, or low birth weight babies What sort of help can I get in Salford? Reducing harm Talking treatment You may not be ready to Talking to a trained counsellor stop drinking, but you might can sometimes help you work want to stay healthier and out why you have an alcohol reduce the harm that alcohol problem and help you sort it is doing to you. Some people out. It may also help you look need treatment to stop their at other things that can stop problems getting worse. you making progress. Tips for cutting down or stopping Keeping a drink diary of what you drink and when. When you have an accurate picture begin to cut down by small amounts. If you usually drink super strength cider at 7.5% try reducing down to a 5% cider, it may take a little while to get used to this but it can have a dramatic effect on your mental and physical health if you achieve this. Complementary therapies Sometimes treatments such as acupuncture and shiatsu massage can help you feel better when coming off alcohol. Numbers can be found in the local phone book. G W. Design Services,, 3 4

4 What is detox and what help can I get regarding relapse prevention? Detox This is when you stop drinking altogether. If you are medically ill this will be done as part of your in patient treatment. You will be discharged when medically fit and if a detox is required you will be assessed as an outpatient for the best treatment options for yourself: l Residential detox l Home detox l Outpatient detox Relapse prevention You may require support on discharge, again this will be assessed to see what level you require: l Phone support / advice ASN services l After treatment support as an out patient with ASN (via appointment) l Referral to Salford Alcohol Services l Various self help groups e.g. AA Useful contacts Alcohol specialist nurse service Salford alcohol services Alcoholics anonymous Drink Line Samaritans Support for the children of drinkers Frank Al-Anon Windsor drop-in centre Churchill way, Salford Useful websites Notes 5 G W. Design Services,, 6

5 G W. Design Services All Rights Reserved 2015 This document MUST NOT be photocopied Information Leaflet Control Policy: Unique Identifier: MED33(15) Review Date: July 2017 This is a stock item: STOCK CODE WZA456 G For further information on this leaflet, it s references and sources used, please contact Copies of this information are available in other languages and formats upon request. If you need this interpreting please telephone In accordance with the Equality Act we will make reasonable adjustments to enable individuals with disabilities, to access this treatment / service. InterpretationandTrans@srft.nhs.uk Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, consent will not be required from living patients from whom tissue has been taken for diagnosis or testing to use any left over tissue for the following purposes: clinical audit, education or training relating to human health, performance assessment, public health monitoring and quality assurance. If you object to your tissue being used for any of the above purposes, please inform a member of staff immediately. Salford Royal operates a smoke-free policy. For advice on stopping smoking contact the Hospital Specialist Stop Smoking Service on Stott Lane, Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD Telephone If you would like to become a Foundation Trust Member please visit: for-members If you have any suggestions as to how this document could be improved in the future then please visit: for-patients