the impact of alcohol on australias health status

Question 1

alcohol misuse

Answer 1

relates to the excessive consumption of alcohol and includes alcohol and binge drinking
an alcohol use disorder is not required for negative health outcomes to occur

Question 2

alcoholism

Answer 2

when a person cannot stop drinking once they start or have a constant desire to drink
long term, chronic issues

Question 3

binge drinking

Answer 3

in australia, is consuming more than 4 standard drinks in one sitting
short term health concerns

Question 4

alcohol leads to

Answer 4

• mental health issues
• liver disease
• cancer
• overweight/obesity
• injuries
• prenatal/infant health outcomes

Question 5

alcohol - overweight/obesity

Answer 5

• alcohol contains kilojoules (energy) which can cause weight gain if not used up
• over time, overweight/obesity is a risk factor for many other conditions

Question 6

alcohol - cancer

Answer 6

• when alcohol is metabolized, a chemical is released that can damage DNA and lead to possible tumors
• largely influenced by the amount of alcohol a person drinks

Question 7

alcohol - liver disease

Answer 7

• alcohol is filtered through the liver
• excessive consumption causes inflammation and scarring
• this can lead to the liver not functioning properly and toxins can remain in the body
  this can lead to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

Question 8

alcohol - injuries

Answer 8

• those under the influence are more likely to take risks and act impulsively
• drink driving, which can increase the risk of being involved in a car crash
• displaying aggression which can lead to a physical fight
• judgement and motor control are negatively affected by alcohol use, contributing to falls and road related injuries

Question 9

alcohol - mental health

Answer 9

• those affected by alcohol can change eg. become more aggressive
• this can put a strain on relationships and increase the risk of mental health issues such as depression
• associated outcomes including suicide and self harm
• alcohol is a depressant and people with depressive syptoms are more likely to misuse alcohol
• problem drinkers are more likely to have mental health issues and peopke with mental health issues are more likely to rely on alcohol for ‘relief’

Question 10

alcohol - prenatal/infant health outcomes

Answer 10

• drinking while pregnant can increase the risk of premature birth, low birthweight and can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
• alcohol passes easily from the mothers bloodstream into the developing foetus’ bloodstream and can interfere with the development of critical organs and structures