Moderate drinking is acceptable. Individuals can consume alcohol on a daily basis.
According to the Center of Disease Control, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that if you choose to drink Alcohol beverages, do not exceed 1 drink per day for women or 2 drinks per day for men. “A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol, which amounts to 12-ounces of beer, 8-ounces of malt liquor, 5-ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).”
Yet, alcohol is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation as reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. With an estimated 80,000 alcohol-related deaths each year in the United States, almost everyone is affected including the 53% of U.S. adults who have been exposed to alcoholism in the family and the 2.8 million American who are children of alcoholics.
While in a conversation with a young man who consumes a little more than the recommended amount of alcohol on a daily basis, he responded to the question, why do you drink by saying, “it helps with my depression.”
A person who experience depression will consume much more than the recommended amount, as one drink may momentarily relieve or numb the feelings of depression, and the need to consume more is prevalent. So it is safe to say that a person who experience depression can easily consume more than 1 or 2 drinks per day.
Dr. Charles Chapman Sledge, FASAM, is the chief medical officer at Cumberland Heights, a nationally recognized alcohol and drug treatment center located in Nashville, Tennessee. During his tenure at Cumberland Heights, Dr. Sledge has helped guide many patients into recover and is responsible for streamlining the detox and rehabilitation process. A nationally recognized addiction treatment specialist, Dr. Sledge believes the physical and mental processes of recovery go hand in hand.
Dr. Sledge answered the following questions regarding alcohol during an interview.
Q: CDC provides a recommended amount of alcohol men and women can consume a day. Is there such a reality of consuming alcohol moderately?
A: At Cumberland Heights, we recognize that most people maintain the ability to enjoy alcohol in moderation. The CDC’s Dietary Guidelines represent a recommended limit that is not to be exceeded. Obviously, those recommendations don’t apply to everyone. For example, no one is recommending alcohol use for adolescents, pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, people with plans to drive, and those who cannot limit their alcohol use effectively. For people with alcoholism, the ability to moderate and control the use of alcohol is lost.
Q: CDC indicates that women can consume 1 drink per day and a man 2 drinks per day, standard is (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. If men and women decide to consume 1 or 2 per day, will this consumed amount eventually affect their health?
A: A “standard” drink consists of 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1.5 oz. shot of liquor. It should be noted that the CDC’s recommendation is a limit of alcohol use in a single day, not an average over several days. But there is medical evidence that even moderate alcohol use can increase health risks, such as breast cancer, motor vehicle accidents, violence, and injuries from falls. Heavier drinkers have a greater risk of liver disease, heart disease, sleep disorders, depression, stroke, bleeding from the stomach, sexually transmitted infections from unsafe sex, and several types of cancer. They also may have problems managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions.
The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse have identified levels of “at risk drinking” beyond which health problems including alcoholism are much more likely. “At risk” drinking levels for men are more than 4 drinks in a single day or more than 14 drinks in a week. For women, “at risk” drinking is more than 3 drinks in a day or 7 drinks in a week.
I would assert that there is no safe level of alcohol use for anyone with a history of alcoholism or drug addiction.
Q: Alcohol suppresses feelings of depression for a short time. What alternative do you provide individuals who use alcohol to self-medicate depression?
A: Alcohol can provide temporary relief from psychological symptoms such as depression or anxiety, but this is a risky strategy over time. In susceptible individuals, this “self-medication” can result in the development of alcoholism. There are many healthier coping strategies for “the blues” that can be utilized, including exercise, proper nutrition, accepting the support of friends and family, and even helping others. Of course, counseling and medication can be essential tools in effectively dealing with depression.
Q: Could you provide a brief insight of how you streamline the detox and rehabilitation process?
A: Alcohol dependence is a chronic medical illness and must be treated as such. The detox phase of treatment safely manages the withdrawal from alcohol. Detox does not alter the course of the disease, and ongoing treatment is necessary. That treatment can occur in a residential or outpatient setting. Successful treatment must address the biological, psychological, and social aspects of recovery. Alcoholism is never cured, and ongoing abstinence requires continued participation in recovery-oriented activities.
Q: How old is the youngest person you have treated for alcohol addiction?
A: At Cumberland Heights, we have treated adolescents as young as 14 for alcohol dependence. The earlier the age of onset of substance abuse, the more likely and more rapid is the development of addiction.
Q: Was the result of their addiction environmental, genetics, or both?
A: Alcohol and Drug Dependence are strongly influenced by genetics. Multiple genetic factors are involved in the development of addiction. Some of these genetic factors are very predictive of addiction, like the teen with an inherent tolerance to alcohol and an immunity to hangovers. Drinking is a much more euphoric experience for them, and they are much more likely to continue to drink. Likewise, there are genetic factors that protect from the development of addiction.
Environmental circumstances are critically important as well. Behavior modeled by family and peer group is a strong determinant of a child’s behavior. Societal influences regarding the permissiveness of substance use influences behavior, and media is an important factor.
In short, the interaction between genetic susceptibility and developmental / environmental factors results in brain changes that produce addiction.
Q: Say a parents has a teen who is an alcoholic, does your treatment involve the parents?
A: An essential component of the treatment process at Cumberland Heights is the Family Program. Outcome research has long demonstrated the value of family involvement. This is especially true for adolescent addiction treatment. Successful treatment of a teen absolutely requires participation of the entire family.
Thank you Dr. Sledge.
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