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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I think I drink too much, how do I know ?

    Related Topics
    Addiction Alcohol Dependence
    Drinking more and more has crept up on me, I cannot do without a few drinks each night, do I have a problem ?
    • 1 answer
    • Dr Toni Metelerkamp
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  • Dr Toni Metelerkamp

    Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist

    Toni works with adults and couples, and specialises in diagnosing and treating anxiety (panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder), phobias, substance and gambling, addictions, suicide and … View Profile

    The Australian Government Department of Health and Aging publishes guidelines on alcohol use, and these guidelines are based on the notion that all alcohol consumption risks damaging your health.  To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol, the guidelines suggest the following limits:
    ·       For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day (which reduces your risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury over a lifetime)
    ·       Drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion (which reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion)
     
    There are two aspects to alcohol use/abuse. The first is consumption, that is how much you drink and how often. The second relates to your dependence on alcohol and its impact on your daily life.  A good self test for both these areas of drinking is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) which you can do online at http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=1860&cn=14  The test gives you a score on both consumption and dependence.  If you’re concerned with your scores talk to a professional who specializes in substance use. 

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