The Menninger Clinic



Holidays often illuminate alcohol abuse: Be wary & safe

With the holidays upon us, it is not unusual to see friends and family consuming more alcohol than perhaps they might during other times of the year. Unhealthy behavior often results. Accident rates increase during this time of year, in large part due to drunk driving, a fall, a physical fight or simply drinking too much and developing alcohol poisoning.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of alcohol during the holidays in our society takes its toll on our physical and emotional health, as well as on our families, as drinking too much often affects others outside of ourselves.

Chuck Marsico, a chemical dependency counselor at MPI Treatment Services in Oakland, California, states, “Many individuals simply drink too much! These individuals are at higher risk for developing alcoholism, which is a chronic, progressive and possibly fatal disease.”

Like food portions, Americans often have a skewed view of drink portions. A drink is typically measured by the following: 1 5-ounce glass of wine, 1 12-ounce beer or 1 ounce of 80 percent-proof hard liquor. Think of the parties you’ve attended. Most agree the alcohol flows freely. “An adult can consume two drinks a night and not be considered an alcohol abuser,” Marsico says. “The problem arises when individuals consume the allotted two drinks a night, but each drink consists of much larger quantities than what is considered ‘normal drinking.’”

Alcohol has been used for centuries for events such as holidays, celebrations or just to relax. The rates of actually developing alcoholism however, have increased over time in large part because of the availability of the substance. Most individuals do not know, or do not believe, that alcoholism is a disease similar to diabetes or cancer.

Signs & symptoms of alcoholism

  • Drinking more to achieve the same effect (also known as tolerance)
  • Physical effects if alcohol is not consumed, such as headaches, dehydration, shaking or sweating
  • Emotional effects if alcohol is not consumed, such as depression, irritability and obsessive thinking about using
  • Blackouts or passing out
  • Personality changes when drinking
  • Vomiting from drinking
  • Inability or unwillingness to stop drinking, even if loved ones, courts or employers ask you to
  • Using despite personal, social or physical consequences
  • Drinking large amounts and not acting or looking intoxicated

Using more than intended
Often people go for several months without drinking or they only occasionally consume a drink. But on a night like New Year’s Eve they will consume so much alcohol that they will exhibit some of the above symptoms. If you are concerned about someone’s alcohol use, it is important to know the frequency the person experiences symptoms of substance abuse. Drinking more than the allotted amount on a daily or even weekly basis is cause for concern. And, “saving up” drinks in order to drink six beers on a Friday night is reason for alarm.

Most individuals do not want to keep drinking after a couple of drinks, according to Marsico. But for many individuals, three, four and five drinks are the norm. “People are surprised to learn that drinking that much, even if they don’t have serious consequences as a result of their drinking, is, indeed, drinking too much. This abuse of alcohol can lead to alcoholism later in life,” Marsico explains.

Donna Yi, MD, Associate Chief of Staff and Clinical Director at the world-renowned Menninger Clinic in Houston, observes alcohol abuse or dependence in many of her clients. “Alcohol problems are associated with higher rates of mental illness than the general population…Most often this is associated with depression and anxiety disorders,” Dr. Yi said. “Women in particular are prone to greater sensitivity to alcohol effects, have higher blood alcohol levels than men if drinking the same amount and suffer more harmful effects sooner.” Dr. Yi also notes that when people drink too much their REM sleep is suppressed and total sleep time is decreased. The physical and emotional effects can be devastating, and sadly, individuals may not know it for several years.

The Professionals in Crisis Program serves individuals such as doctors, lawyers, business people and educators who are experiencing problems with alcohol or other drugs along with major depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety, to name a few of the common coexisting illnesses. Because a substance abuser often denies his/her illness, talking to a loved one who is experiencing any of these problems begins with “care and concern rather than judgment and criticism, as people feel shame and guilt about their actions,” according to Dr. Yi.

The Menninger Clinic also treats adolescents who have dual diagnosis disorders, which is the term used when an individual is experiencing a mental health problem in conjunction with substance abuse. The Compass Program is one of the few programs in the U.S. that treats clients in the 18 to 30 age range who are experiencing problems with substance abuse and depression, anxiety or other disorders that can cause individuals to not fulfill their potential. The Menninger Web site provides articles related to substance abuse and descriptions of the treatment programs.

When a family’s attempts to urge their loved one into treatment fail, they often will hire an interventionist to help. Vaughn Howland, LCSW, based out of the Washington, DC, area, who has been conducting interventions for over 20 years, states that individuals do not need to hit bottom in order to get into treatment. “No one goes willingly (into treatment) because they are motivated,” Howland says. “If they were motivated, they wouldn’t need treatment!” His Web site offers assistance to individuals who are concerned about how to approach a loved one who is drinking too much.

Tom Tazalaar, director and founder of Alcohol Exposed, an organization devoted to educating individuals about the effects of alcohol, believes the alcohol industry has contributed to the rates of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Similar to the tobacco industry, alcoholic beverage manufacturers “don’t put labels on alcoholic beverages that alert consumers to what the affects are if one consumes too much,” he says. “Studies in France where alcohol is consumed with cultural regularity have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol is good for the heart,” he says. “What you will not hear is that France also has the highest level of mortality for liver disease.”

Tazalaar says, “I believe that decisions regarding consumption of alcohol are personal decisions. I made a commitment years ago not to preach, only to teach and let the dynamic substance of ethyl alcohol be the teacher.”

It is important to understand alcohol and it’s effects and recognize and dispel the myths. With all the sites on the Internet, educating oneself can be accomplished with ease. Some of the major sites that individuals can use are The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Copyright © 2004 The Menninger Clinic.