A simple test: Am I drinking too much?
In a previous post, I discussed whether drinking is a sin. It is a difficult question to answer—and one that requires some self-examination.
In this post, I’d like to share a tool you can use to determine not whether your drinking is a sin, but whether your drinking is a risk to your health.
It may surprise you that drinking can threaten your health. You might say,
“Of course, everyone knows that really heavy drinkers can develop Cirrhosis of the liver. But, for most people, drinking is not that bad for you. And a little bit of red wine might even be healthy.”
But that would be wrong. Drinking is a risk (period). And that risk increases as the amount of alcohol increases.
What kind of risks? Here are a few reported in a government report called “Rethinking Drinking”. (Scroll down to take a simple test that will tell you how risky your drinking is).
Fatalities and injuries. Alcohol is a factor in about 30 percent of suicides, about 40 percent of fatal burn injuries, about 50 percent of fatal drownings and of homicides, and about 65 percent of fatal falls. Around 29 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities involve alcohol. About one-third of injuries treated at trauma centers are alcohol-related. In addition, a significant number of sexual assaults involve alcohol use.
Health problems. Half of liver disease deaths in the United States are caused by alcohol, and alcohol-associated liver disease is increasing, particularly among women and young people. For every 10 grams of alcohol consumed (less than 1 standard drink) per day, a woman’s chance of developing postmenopausal breast cancer increases by around 9 percent. Individuals who carry certain gene variants associated with alcohol-related flushing (e.g., the ALDH2-2 variant) are at an elevated risk of esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption. Research has also shown that alcohol misuse increases the risk of liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, depression, and stomach bleeding, as well as cancers of the oral cavity, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, liver, colon, and rectum.
Birth defects. Prenatal alcohol use can result in brain damage and other serious problems in babies. The effects are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASD, and can result in lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems. Because there is no known safe level of alcohol for a developing baby, women who are pregnant or might be pregnant should not drink.
Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol use disorder can make it difficult to control the amount of alcohol a person drinks.
Personal Problems. Frequent alcohol misuse also is linked with problems, such as losing one’s driver’s license, poor school or work performance, or having relationship troubles.
A simple test can help you determine if your drinking is risky. Go to this webpage to take a short, interactive questionnaire that will help you assess your level of risk.
Below are the questions, if you are interested.
You can also attend a Resilient Recovery Meeting to think about your drinking. Register for the next online meeting here.
