| Parenting Resources - Teen Substance Abuse: Alcohol |
Image by abundantlifeacademy via Flickr
Definition of Alcohol Use and Abuse
unknown/ks
In addition to alcohol dependence, experts are now defining alcohol use by levels of harm that it may be causing. This information is useful to determine possible interventions at earlier stages. The following categories of alcohol use and abuse use a definition of one drink as 12-oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz (a jigger) of 90-proof liquor.
Moderate Drinking. Moderate drinking, particularly red wine, appears to offer health benefits. Moderate drinking is defined as equal to or less than two drinks a day for men and equal to or less than one drink a day for women.
Hazardous (Heavy) Drinking. Hazardous drinking puts people at risk for adverse health events. People who are heavy drinkers consume the following:
- More than 14 drinks per week or 4 to 5 drinks at one sitting for men.
- More than seven drinks a week or three drinks at one sitting for women.
- Frequent intoxication in either gender.
Harmful Drinking. Drinking is considered harmful when alcohol consumption has actually caused physical or psychologic harm. This is determined by the following:
- There is clear evidence that alcohol is responsible for such harm.
- The nature of that harm can be identified.
- Alcohol consumption has persisted for at least a month or has occurred repeatedly for the past year.
The individual is not alcohol dependent.
Alcohol Abuse. People with alcohol abuse have one or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year:
- Failure to fulfill work or personal obligations.
- Recurrent use in potentially dangerous situations.
- Problems with the law.
- Continued use in spite of harm being done to social or personal relationships.
- a 2001 study, 55% patients continued to meet this criteria after five years but only 3.5% developed dependency, the next stage.
Alcohol Dependence. People who are alcohol dependent have three or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year:
- Increased amounts of alcohol needed to produce an effect.
- Withdrawal symptoms or drinking alcohol to avoid these symptoms.
- Drinking more over a given period than intended.
- Unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down.
- Giving up significant leisure or work activities.
- Continuing drinking in spite of the knowledge of its physical or psychological harm to oneself or others.
- one long-term study, two-thirds of these individuals continued to be dependent on alcohol after five years.