Substance Misuse

Question 1

Alcohol (I) - what do you know?

Answer 1

• Problem drinking - Regularly having more than the recommended guidance of alcohol
• Maximum 14 units of alcohol per week (males/females)
• Dependance features include - Tolerance, craving, drinking despite complications eg liver problems, withdrawal
• Withdrawal symptoms include: Insomnia, anxiety, headache, agitation, delirium tremens, confusion, delirium, seizures

Question 2

Alcohol (II) - what do you know?

Answer 2

Alcohol effects:
* GI eg gastritis, pancreatitis, liver disease
* Cardio eg hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, CVD
* Neurological eg Wernicke’s/korsakoff (thiamine deficiency), seizures
* Macrocytic anaemia
* Osteoporosis
* Erectile dysfunction
* Cancer eg oral, bowel, liver