Substance misuse Flashcards
How is units of alcohol calculated?
(% (ABV) x mls ) / 1000
What is the recommended weekly unit intake for women
14
What is the recommended weekly unit intake for men
14
Name 2 screening questionnaires for alcohol dependence
- CAGE
2. AUDIT
Define hazardous drinking
A pattern of drinking which brings about the risk of physical or psychological harm
Define harmful drinking
A pattern of drinking that is causing physical/ mental damage to health
Define alcohol dependence and 7 features of alcohol dependence
A set of behavioural, cognitive, and physiological responses that develop after repeated drinking:
- Primacy of alcohol
- Compulsion
- Narrowing of drinking repertoire
- Continual withdrawal symptoms
- Drinking to prevent withdrawal
- Tolerance
- Reinstatement after abstinence
Like 5 investigations you would request for a patient who is dependent on alcohol and why
- FBC: macrocytic anaemia, MCV raised
- LFTs: chronic hepatitis
- Gamma GT: raised
- Serum B12, thiamine and folate levels: reduced
- Blood alcohol/ alcohol breath test
What is the recommended amount of units for a pregnant women?
Abstain altogether in the first trimester
No more than 2 units after this
Units calculation:
- How many units of alcohol in a 250ml glass of 14% wine?
- 330ml bottle of 5% lager?
- 3.5
2. 1.65
Give 5 social/ psychological risk factors for problem drinking
- Drinking within the family
- Early drinking or nicotine use
- Depression as a cause of drinking
- Poor coping strategies to stressful life events
- Low socio-economic status
Give 5 health problems that can result from alcohol dependence
- Liver cirrhosis - fatty liver disease
- Mental health issues i.e. Wernicke’s, Korsakoffes, Delerium tremens, Alcohol induced dementia
- Malnutrition
- Poor CVS health: htn, high cholesterol, IHD, AF
- Obstetrics: fetal alcohol syndrome, miscarriage
- Increased risk of head and neck Ca: mouth, larynx, pharynx oesophagus
Give 5 dysmorphic facial features for fetal alcohol syndrome
- Ptosis
- Thin upper lip
- Flat nasal brigde
- Smooth philtrum
- Epicanthic folds
- Short palpebral fissure
- Microcephaly
Give 5 physical features of fetal alcohol syndrome
- Small, & underweight babies
- Hypotonia
- Mental retardation, behavioural and speech problems
- Cardiac, renal and ocular abnormalities
List 4 types of non-pharmacological treatment to help support patients with alcohol dependence
- Techniques to control drinking i.e. set weekly limits, don’t buy rounds
- Support groups i.e. AA
- Psychological therapy: cognitive behavioural therapies, behavioural therapies
- Inpatient detoxification
A patient comes in for planned alcohol detoxification name 2 medications that will be given to him?
- Benzodiazepine: chlordiazepoxide
2. Pabrinex: thiamine (B1)