Module 4, alcohol & the role of pharmacists

Question 1

Explain the Australian alcohol guidelines & highlight certain age & population group guidelines…

Answer 1

Purpose:

• to enable Australians to make informed choices about their drinking & health
• To enable health professionals to provide evidence-based advice on drinking & health
• 1 standard drink= 10g of alcohol

Question 2

What is a standard drink?

Answer 2

• 10g of alcohol
• 1 nip= 30mL of spirits in 1 SD
• Regular beer (4.9%)= 1.5 SD
• a glass of wine (9.5%-13%)= 1.8 SD

Question 3

What is the recommended maximum consumption?

Answer 3

• healthy men & women; no more than 2 standard drinks on any day reduces risk of harm from alcohol related disease or injury over a lifetime
• drinking no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion

Question 4

What are some activities that involve risk or a degree of skill?

Answer 4

• to avoid the risk of harm to the drinker & others, do not drink alcohol before or during such activities
• very low levels of alcohol can affect judgement and performance
• in occupational settings, blood alcohol levels are stipulated by legislation and/ or company policy

Question 5

What are the legal blood alcohol limits?

Answer 5

• the law allows a BAC of up to 0.05 while driving, for full license holders
• however, there is evidence of impairment at lower blood alcohol levels
  
  • crash risk is increased 5 fold at 0.05
  • olders drivers should avoid drinking for several hours before driving

Question 6

What is the aim of the alcohol think again campaign/ initiative?

Answer 6

• aims to reduce the risk of alcohol- related harm over a lifetime
• to reduce the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking
• increase womens intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy/ BF
• allows parents and young people to make informed choices about delaying initiation to alcohol use

Question 7

What are some health problems caused by alcohol?

Answer 7

• short term effects
  
  • depresses the CNS
  • sleep problems
  • stomach problems
  • heart & circulation problems
• longer term effects
  
  • cancer
  • liver problems
  • dementia
  • heart disease & stroke
  • sexual problems

Question 8

How do you get hangovers?

Answer 8

• the liver breaks down alcohol to acetaldehyde
  
  • its build up causes flushing, N, V
• hangovers are a result of this as well as:
  
  • dehydration
  • nausea from gastric irritation
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • tiredness & hunger from reduced blood glucose

Question 9

Describe dependence & tolerance…

Answer 9

• to become dependent on something, a person muct use it regularly
• a mild degree of dependence on alcohol is common in the Australian population
• everyone who drinks over time, even at low levels acquires some physiological tolerance

ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

• exists in varying degrees
  
  • may be associated with withdrawal sxs when drinking stops
  • may have difficulty in limiting drinking on any one occasion
• for those with sever dependence
  
  • should seek medical help to withdraw under supervision

Question 10

What are the guidelines for women who are or might soon become pregnant?

Answer 10

• should not consider drinking at all
• most importantly, should never become intoxicated

Effect on unborn child:

• alcohol in a womans blood stream enters that of her unborn child, and this may affect the child from conception onwards
• episodes of drinking above the guideline levels considerably increase the risk to the unborn child
• heavy bouts of drinking maximise that risk
• lower levels of drinking at which alcohol may cause harm to the child are not known yet

Question 11

Explain the effect of alcohol on prescription medicines…

Answer 11

• alcohol interacts with many prescribed and OTC medications, including most medications used for mental health problems
• alcohol can be dangerous, or even lethal, when used with medications or other drugs, legal or illegal, that depress the CNS
• examples of medicines likely to interact with alcohol:
  
  • general anaesthetics
  • anti infectives
  • anticoagulants
  • antidepressants
  • antidiabetic meds
  • sedating antihistamines
  • anti- psychotic medicnes
  • anti-seizure medicines
  • anti-ulcer medicines
  • cardiovascular medicines
  • pain relievers
  • sedatives

Question 12

What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Answer 12