{"id":135,"date":"2023-01-22T13:32:13","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T18:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/?post_type=chapter&p=135"},"modified":"2023-11-01T18:56:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T22:56:39","slug":"alcohol","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/chapter\/alcohol\/","title":{"raw":"Alcohol","rendered":"Alcohol"},"content":{"raw":"Many people turn to alcohol to deal with stress in their life. Statistics from 2021 reveal that 66% of Canadians aged 15 or older report consuming moderate amounts of alcohol at least once in the previous 30 days, i.e. one or two drinks.[footnote]Statistics Canada. (2021). Alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic: Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/210304\/dq210304a-eng.htm[\/footnote] In 2017, 11% of Canadians reported having had 5 or more drinks on the days they consumed alcohol.[footnote]Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf[\/footnote] By contrast, since the pandemic, this proportion increased to 18% according to 2021 statistics.[footnote]Statistics Canada. (2021). Alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic: Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/210304\/dq210304a-eng.htm[\/footnote] This is a significant rise, and is evidenced by a 2020 study on Canadians mental health and cannabis, alcohol and tobacco use that illustrated that 41% of those that described themselves as \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cextremely\u201d stressed during the pandemic increased their substance use<\/span>.[footnote]Health Canada. (2018). Canadian Tobacco Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTADS): 2017 supplementary tables. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/canadian-alcohol-drugs-survey\/2017-summary.html[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nThe data showed that risky use is more prevalent among young adults aged 18-24.[footnote]Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf[\/footnote] In fact, in a National College Health Assessment Spring 2016 survey of post-secondary students in Canada, 69.3% reported any use of alcohol in the past 30 days, and 35% reported having five or more drinks of alcohol at a sitting over the last two weeks.[footnote]Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nWhether you knock back a few cold ones every day after work or occasionally overdo it on the weekend, alcohol wreaks havoc on your overall health and wellbeing. Researchers have found that alcohol takes a psychological and physiological toll on the body<\/strong> and may actually compound the effects of stress<\/strong>.[footnote]Anthenelli R. M. (2012). Overview: stress and alcohol use disorders revisited. Alcohol research : current reviews, 34(4), 386\u2013390. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3860385\/[\/footnote] When used in excess, which most sources say means more than 8 drinks a week or one drink a day, people can experience a variety of alcohol use disorders, such as infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes, neuropsychiatric diseases, cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreas disease, and unintentional and intentional injury.[footnote]Rehm J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 34(2), 135\u2013143. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3307043\/[\/footnote] This is a large number of preventable<\/em> disorders directly related to the use of alcohol!\r\n\r\nIn January 2023, the Canadian Centre On Substance Abuse updated their Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health<\/a> to reflect their change in recommendations that they had in place since 2011. Previous recommended limits on alcohol were 10 drinks per week for women, and 15 drinks per week for men.[footnote]Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf[\/footnote] The new guidelines state that an individual will likely avoid alcohol-related consequences with 1-2 drinks per week, and anything above that will increase risk of health consequences such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAlcohol is classified as a depressant<\/strong>, even though the first few drinks of alcohol tend to induce relaxation, or a feeling of \u2018loosening up\u2019. It does this by causing our bodies to create an increased amount of serotonin and endorphins (feel-good chemicals).[footnote]Porter, W. (2019). Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins. Alcohol Explained. Retrieved from: https:\/\/alcoholexplained.com\/dopamine-serotonin-and-endorphins\/[\/footnote] This is the experience that people crave, especially when they feel stress and depressed; however, alcohol is a tricky substance as it can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Alcohol shifts our hormonal balance by causing higher amounts of cortisol to be released, thus changing the way the body perceives and responds to stress.[footnote]Badrick, E., Bobak,M., Britton, A., Kirschbaum, C., Marmot, M., Kumari, M. (2008). The Relationship between Alcohol Consumption and Cortisol Secretion in an Aging Cohort. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93,(3), 750\u2013757. Retrieved from: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1210\/jc.2007-0737[\/footnote] Cortisol impacts the brain\u2019s reward or pleasure systems, causing people to consume more and more alcohol over time to achieve the same effects.[footnote]Koob, G. (2006). Alcoholism: Allostasis and Beyond. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research. 27, (2), 232-243.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nAlcohol consumption, whether used chronically or acute binge drinking, weakens and depresses the immune system<\/strong> by contributing to an altered gut microbiota, setting the stage for increased inflammation.[footnote]Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/[\/footnote] In addition, alcohol has been found to suppress production of immunity cells such as B-cells and T-cells, as well as impair function of immunoglobulins in our saliva and gut,[footnote]Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/[\/footnote] diminishing the body\u2019s ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. In addition, alcohol damages the epithelial cells lining the intestines, further undermining the immune cells action of keeping harmful substances from being absorbed into the bloodstream.[footnote]Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/[\/footnote] We know that one of the liver\u2019s many functions is to detoxify poisons for our body. When our liver is inflamed, it cannot effectively cleanse our body of environmental toxins.\r\n\r\nMany people have risk factors that can cause them to use alcohol in a negative manner. People who do not handle stress well, who are impulsive, who tend towards negative emotions, those with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, those with a history of family alcoholism, and people who experienced childhood abuse or neglect have a higher potential for developing an alcohol use disorder.[footnote]Yang, P., Tao, R., He, C., Liu, S., Wang, Y., Zhang, X. (2018). The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities. Frontiers in Neuroscience.12:303. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnins.2018.00303\/full[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nAnother resource from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is \"Knowing your Limits with Alcohol: A Practical Guide to Assessing your Drinking<\/a>\"\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe CAGE questionnaire<\/strong> is used to show whether a person may have an alcohol use disorder. It consists of four questions relating to the use of alcohol[footnote]Cage Substance Abuse Screening Tool. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/johns_hopkins_healthcare\/downloads\/all_plans\/CAGE Substance Screening Tool.pdf[\/footnote]:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Have you ever felt you ought to C<\/strong>ut down on your drinking?<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Do you get A<\/strong>nnoyed by criticism of your drinking?<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Do you ever feel bad or G<\/strong>uilty about your drinking?<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Do you ever take an E<\/strong>arly-morning drink (eye-opener) to get the day started or to get rid of a hangover (\u201ca little hair of the dog that bit you\u201d)?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf a person answers \u201cyes\u201d, \u201csometimes\u201d, or \u201coften\u201d to 2 or more of the questions, they might have a problem with alcohol. Further evaluation by a health professional or trained alcohol use disorder counsellor might be needed. The CAGE questionnaire can also be Adapted to Include Drug use (CAGE-AID) by changing it to \u201cdrinking or drug\" use).\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

    Many people turn to alcohol to deal with stress in their life. Statistics from 2021 reveal that 66% of Canadians aged 15 or older report consuming moderate amounts of alcohol at least once in the previous 30 days, i.e. one or two drinks.[1]<\/sup><\/a> In 2017, 11% of Canadians reported having had 5 or more drinks on the days they consumed alcohol.[2]<\/sup><\/a> By contrast, since the pandemic, this proportion increased to 18% according to 2021 statistics.[3]<\/sup><\/a> This is a significant rise, and is evidenced by a 2020 study on Canadians mental health and cannabis, alcohol and tobacco use that illustrated that 41% of those that described themselves as \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cextremely\u201d stressed during the pandemic increased their substance use<\/span>.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

    The data showed that risky use is more prevalent among young adults aged 18-24.[5]<\/sup><\/a> In fact, in a National College Health Assessment Spring 2016 survey of post-secondary students in Canada, 69.3% reported any use of alcohol in the past 30 days, and 35% reported having five or more drinks of alcohol at a sitting over the last two weeks.[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

    Whether you knock back a few cold ones every day after work or occasionally overdo it on the weekend, alcohol wreaks havoc on your overall health and wellbeing. Researchers have found that alcohol takes a psychological and physiological toll on the body<\/strong> and may actually compound the effects of stress<\/strong>.[7]<\/sup><\/a> When used in excess, which most sources say means more than 8 drinks a week or one drink a day, people can experience a variety of alcohol use disorders, such as infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes, neuropsychiatric diseases, cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreas disease, and unintentional and intentional injury.[8]<\/sup><\/a> This is a large number of preventable<\/em> disorders directly related to the use of alcohol!<\/p>\n

    In January 2023, the Canadian Centre On Substance Abuse updated their Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health<\/a> to reflect their change in recommendations that they had in place since 2011. Previous recommended limits on alcohol were 10 drinks per week for women, and 15 drinks per week for men.[9]<\/sup><\/a> The new guidelines state that an individual will likely avoid alcohol-related consequences with 1-2 drinks per week, and anything above that will increase risk of health consequences such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Alcohol is classified as a depressant<\/strong>, even though the first few drinks of alcohol tend to induce relaxation, or a feeling of \u2018loosening up\u2019. It does this by causing our bodies to create an increased amount of serotonin and endorphins (feel-good chemicals).[10]<\/sup><\/a> This is the experience that people crave, especially when they feel stress and depressed; however, alcohol is a tricky substance as it can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Alcohol shifts our hormonal balance by causing higher amounts of cortisol to be released, thus changing the way the body perceives and responds to stress.[11]<\/sup><\/a> Cortisol impacts the brain\u2019s reward or pleasure systems, causing people to consume more and more alcohol over time to achieve the same effects.[12]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

    Alcohol consumption, whether used chronically or acute binge drinking, weakens and depresses the immune system<\/strong> by contributing to an altered gut microbiota, setting the stage for increased inflammation.[13]<\/sup><\/a> In addition, alcohol has been found to suppress production of immunity cells such as B-cells and T-cells, as well as impair function of immunoglobulins in our saliva and gut,[14]<\/sup><\/a> diminishing the body\u2019s ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. In addition, alcohol damages the epithelial cells lining the intestines, further undermining the immune cells action of keeping harmful substances from being absorbed into the bloodstream.[15]<\/sup><\/a> We know that one of the liver\u2019s many functions is to detoxify poisons for our body. When our liver is inflamed, it cannot effectively cleanse our body of environmental toxins.<\/p>\n

    Many people have risk factors that can cause them to use alcohol in a negative manner. People who do not handle stress well, who are impulsive, who tend towards negative emotions, those with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, those with a history of family alcoholism, and people who experienced childhood abuse or neglect have a higher potential for developing an alcohol use disorder.[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

    Another resource from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is “Knowing your Limits with Alcohol: A Practical Guide to Assessing your Drinking<\/a>”<\/p>\n

    \n

    The CAGE questionnaire<\/strong> is used to show whether a person may have an alcohol use disorder. It consists of four questions relating to the use of alcohol[17]<\/sup><\/a>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Have you ever felt you ought to C<\/strong>ut down on your drinking?<\/li>\n
    2. Do you get A<\/strong>nnoyed by criticism of your drinking?<\/li>\n
    3. Do you ever feel bad or G<\/strong>uilty about your drinking?<\/li>\n
    4. Do you ever take an E<\/strong>arly-morning drink (eye-opener) to get the day started or to get rid of a hangover (\u201ca little hair of the dog that bit you\u201d)?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If a person answers \u201cyes\u201d, \u201csometimes\u201d, or \u201coften\u201d to 2 or more of the questions, they might have a problem with alcohol. Further evaluation by a health professional or trained alcohol use disorder counsellor might be needed. The CAGE questionnaire can also be Adapted to Include Drug use (CAGE-AID) by changing it to \u201cdrinking or drug” use).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      1. Statistics Canada. (2021). Alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic: Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/210304\/dq210304a-eng.htm ↵<\/a><\/li>
      2. Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf ↵<\/a><\/li>
      3. Statistics Canada. (2021). Alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic: Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/210304\/dq210304a-eng.htm ↵<\/a><\/li>
      4. Health Canada. (2018). Canadian Tobacco Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTADS): 2017 supplementary tables. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/canadian-alcohol-drugs-survey\/2017-summary.html ↵<\/a><\/li>
      5. Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf ↵<\/a><\/li>
      6. Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf ↵<\/a><\/li>
      7. Anthenelli R. M. (2012). Overview: stress and alcohol use disorders revisited. Alcohol research : current reviews, 34(4), 386\u2013390. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3860385\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      8. Rehm J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 34(2), 135\u2013143. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3307043\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      9. Canadian Drug Summary. (2019). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Alcohol-2019-en.pdf ↵<\/a><\/li>
      10. Porter, W. (2019). Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins. Alcohol Explained. Retrieved from: https:\/\/alcoholexplained.com\/dopamine-serotonin-and-endorphins\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      11. Badrick, E., Bobak,M., Britton, A., Kirschbaum, C., Marmot, M., Kumari, M. (2008). The Relationship between Alcohol Consumption and Cortisol Secretion in an Aging Cohort. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93,(3), 750\u2013757. Retrieved from: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1210\/jc.2007-0737 ↵<\/a><\/li>
      12. Koob, G. (2006). Alcoholism: Allostasis and Beyond. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research. 27, (2), 232-243. ↵<\/a><\/li>
      13. Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      14. Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      15. Sarkar, D., Jung, M. K., & Wang, H. J. (2015). Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 37(2), 153\u2013155. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4590612\/ ↵<\/a><\/li>
      16. Yang, P., Tao, R., He, C., Liu, S., Wang, Y., Zhang, X. (2018). The risk factors of the alcohol use disorders-through review of its comorbidities. Frontiers in Neuroscience.12:303. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnins.2018.00303\/full ↵<\/a><\/li>
      17. Cage Substance Abuse Screening Tool. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/johns_hopkins_healthcare\/downloads\/all_plans\/CAGE Substance Screening Tool.pdf ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1861,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[49],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-135","chapter","type-chapter","status-web-only","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":57,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1861"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1110,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/135\/revisions\/1110"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/57"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/135\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=135"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=135"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/rebootyourresiliencywithselfcare\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}