At-risk Alcohol Use

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• At-risk alcohol use, also called hazardous drinking, occurs when heavy alcohol drinking increases your chance of having health problems. Alcohol is found in beer, wine, liquor, such as vodka and whiskey, and other adult drinks. With at-risk alcohol use, your age, gender, and the amount of alcohol you drink at one time are considered. You may be drinking regularly or all at once (binge drinking). In men, at-risk alcohol use is having more than 14 drinks per week, or more than four drinks at one time. For women, it is more than seven drinks per week, or more than three drinks at one time. At-risk alcohol use may lead to other serious drinking problems, such as alcohol abuse or dependence.
  
  
• You will be diagnosed with at-risk alcohol use if you drink alcohol heavily and have other symptoms. These symptoms include having health, family, work, or legal problems related with alcohol use. You may have a close family member who has a drinking problem. You may have been given a screening test and found to be an at-risk alcohol user. Treatment for at-risk alcohol use includes medicines, such as glucose and vitamin supplements. Your caregiver may also suggest that you have counseling. Diagnosing and treating at-risk alcohol use as soon as possible may prevent a more serious drinking problem. It may also help prevent alcohol-related health conditions, work issues, and social problems.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Medicines used to treat at-risk alcohol use may cause side effects including headaches, nausea, or vomiting (throwing up). Other side effects include fast heartbeats, loss of appetite, anxiety, or drowsiness. If at-risk alcohol use is left untreated, you may develop serious drinking problems. These include alcohol abuse or dependence that may also lead to other more serious health problems. You may have high blood pressure, or liver and heart diseases. You may also have problems with your mood, friendships, and relationships. You also increase your chance of having accidents, harming others, or breaking the law. The earlier at-risk alcohol use is treated, the better the chances of preventing future problems. Your health, quality of life, and ability to function may decrease without treatment. Ask your caregivers if you are worried or have questions about your condition, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

Intake and output: Your caregivers may need to know the amount of liquid you are getting. They may also need to know how much you are urinating. Men 19 years old and older should drink about 3.0 Liters of liquid each day (close to 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about 2.2 Liters of liquid each day (close to 9 eight-ounce cups). Certain foods also contain liquid. You may need more or less liquid each day. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should have each day. Ask caregivers if they need to measure or collect your urine before you dispose of it.

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Medicines: Your caregiver may give you certain medicines to relieve your symptoms. These may include medicines to treat anxiety, sleeping problems, or the effects of alcohol.

• Glucose: This medicine may be given to increase the amount of sugar in your blood.
  
  
• Mineral and vitamin supplements: Mineral and vitamin supplements, such as Vitamin B1 or thiamine, may be given. They may help prevent other alcohol-related conditions that may affect the brain.

Tests: You may need any of the following:

• 12-lead ECG: This test, also called an EKG, helps caregivers look for damage or problems in different areas of the heart. Caregivers may need to prepare your skin by shaving off some hair, or cleaning it with a gritty lotion. Sticky pads are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. Each sticky pad has a wire that is hooked to a machine or TV-type screen. A short period of electrical activity in your heart muscle is recorded. Caregivers will look closely for certain problems or changes in how your heart is working. This test takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It is important that you lie as still as possible during the test. You may need this test more than once.
  
  
• Blood, urine, saliva, or breath tests: Samples of your blood, urine, or saliva are collected and sent to a lab for tests. Your breath may also be tested to check the levels of alcohol.
  
  
• CT scan:
  
  
  • This is also called a CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your brain. It may be used to look at bones, muscles, brain tissue, and blood vessels.
    
    
  • You may be given dye before the pictures are taken. The dye is usually given in your IV. The dye may help your caregiver see the pictures better. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell the caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish, or have other allergies or medical conditions.
  
  
• MRI: This test is called magnetic resonance imaging. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your head. An MRI may be used to look at the brain, muscles, joints, bones, or blood vessels. You will need to lay still during a MRI. Never enter the MRI room with an oxygen tank, watch, or any other metal objects. This can cause serious injury. Tell your caregiver if you have any metal implants in your body.
  
  
• Neurologic signs: Neurologic signs are also called neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. Caregivers check your eyes, your memory, and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested. This helps tell caregivers how your brain is working after an injury or illness. You may need to have your neuro signs checked often. Your caregiver may even have to wake you up to check your neuro signs.

Treatment options: Your may need any of the following:

• Counseling: Your caregiver may give you a short talk about the harmful effects of drinking alcohol heavily. This may include encouraging you, and helping you set goals to stop or control drinking alcohol. Your caregiver may teach you about problems that can occur if at-risk alcohol use is not treated. He may set limits, such as one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men.
  
  
• Detoxification: Your caregiver may need to put you in an alcohol detoxification program if your drinking problem becomes worse. This is done to flush out the toxic residues of alcohol present in your body. During detox, medicines are given to help prevent withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol. As you improve, your caregiver may slowly change how much detox medicines you are given.
  
  
• Respiratory support:
  
  
  • Oxygen: You may need extra oxygen to help you breathe easier. It may be given through a plastic mask over your mouth and nose. It may be given through a nasal cannula, or prongs, instead of a mask. A nasal cannula is a pair of short, thin tubes that rest just inside your nose. Tell your caregiver if your nose gets dry or if the mask or prongs bother you. Ask your caregiver before taking off your oxygen. Never smoke or let anyone else smoke in the same room while your oxygen is on. Doing so may cause a fire.
    
    
  • Ventilator: A ventilator is a special machine that can breathe for you if you cannot breathe well on your own. You may have an endotracheal tube (ET tube) in your mouth or nose. A tube called a trach may go into an incision (cut) in the front of your neck. The ET tube or trach is hooked to the ventilator. The ventilator can also give oxygen to you.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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