Alcohol Awareness Week, led by Alcohol Change UK, runs from 1- 7 July this year. The week’s theme is understanding alcohol harm. It generates conversations about how alcohol can affect us as individuals, our families, friends, communities and broader society.
Drinking alcohol is connected with risks of developing certain diseases. These range from liver disease, to disease, not to mention different types of cancers.
Worldwide, 3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol. This represents 5.3% of all deaths. Alcohol harm is also linked to causing mental health and behavioural conditions. Such as depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders.
Having open conversations about alcohol harm and how to reduce it, can create a safe environment. This allows us to support people to make more informed choices about drinking.
At our counselling centres, we are support those who struggle with alcohol and substance misuse. Working in partnership with The Society of St James, in Portsmouth (PO1 – PO6), we have trauma informed counsellors offering 13 therapeutic sessions for clients.
The Society of St James has rehabilitation recovery programmes that can help you. Through them you can be referred for counselling at YOU Counselling Centres. The counselling sessions are free to access and we have specific locations. They offer a safe and confidential space for you to speak openly and honestly about the impact of substance misuse. This forms part of your recovery journey.
Drinking
Other tips on how to manage your alcohol consumption can be:
- Setting limits: Decide how many days a week you plan to drink and how many drinks you plan to have. For example, you might decide to only drink on a Friday night and could limit yourself to one or two drinks and then schedule yourself to be alcohol-free the rest of the week.
- Count your drinks: You can use an app on your mobile to help. Also, understanding how much alcohol counts as a “standard drink” may also help.
- Manage your “triggers”: If certain people, places or activities tempt you to drink more, then you can try to avoid these triggers. You may also want to remove certain alcohol products from your home.
- Find support: Ask for support from a family member, friend, healthcare provider, or support service to help with your choice to drink less.
