A glass of red wine with dinner – both for weekdays and weekends – is an established ritual for many. But there are so many of us who do not leave it at that. Completely new figures from the National Institute of Public Health shows that many more South Africans than previously thought drinking alcohol in a quantity that undermine health. 860,000 is what is defined as heavy users, 585,000 have a harmful consumption, while 140,000 are dependent on alcohol.

The difference between heavy users and people with harmful consumption is a liquid. A major consumer drinks more than the National Board subject boundaries – 14 drinks per week for men and 7 for women and no more than five drinks per. time – and thereby exposing themselves to develop alcohol-related illness or injury due to alcohol. The 585,000 with harmful consumption has been an alcohol-related illness or are injured because of their alcohol consumption. They have for example been an accident like being passed on to the bike and broke my arms and legs.

Despite the high number of alcohol-dependent of 140,000 South Africans are only between 6,000 and 12,000 in treatment for alcohol problems. It can of course be several reasons, but the figures suggest at least that a large proportion do not realize that they have a drinking problem.

Local Directories of Private Alcohol Treatment Centres

Men and young people are very often alcoholics without even realizing it

Figures from the Health Protection Agency statistics South African population’s drinking habits from 2009 show that our average consumption is 7.2 drinks per week. Men drink almost twice as much as women, and the 16-20-year-olds drink more than other age groups.

Statistics show that 48.3 percent of us think that our drinking is normal. 47 percent think they drink less than others, and 4.7 percent believe they are drinking more. Again, there are gender differences. More men than women perceive as consumption as normal. Also the 16-20-year-old seems more than other age groups that they drink normally. The proportion who consider their consumption as usual, is greater among them that transcends subject boundaries (65.7 percent) than among those who stay within limits (46.3 percent).

Moderate consumption is OK

Our drinking habits have changed radically in recent decades. Before prosperity boom began in the 60s, was wine on the table a rarity, and it was quite common to serve a cup of coffee or tea when you had guests. How it does not look anymore. As we could afford to travel, we also got a taste for wine, and visiting the coffee is now replaced by a glass of wine or other alcohol.

According to a report from the Health Protection Agency we are drinking alcohol, when we enjoy ourselves, celebrate, eat, meet friends, relax or perk up. In short, we use almost every opportunity to drink.

And if we stay within the official borders, there is indeed no reason for concern, says Janne Schurmann Tolstrup, who is head of research at the National Institute of Public Health. She is very clear in her voice when she answered no to question whether we really should not recommend total abstinence for all. – Generally we expose us not for a health risk at a light to moderate alcohol consumption, says she.

Fully in line from Cancer, which highlights research showing that a small intake of alcohol appears to protect against certain cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged and elderly persons.

Alcohol and cancer

But the picture is not black and white. For alcohol is also related to 60 different diseases. Among other alcohol increases the risk of several cancers especially breast cancer, oral cancer, cancer of the esophagus and liver cancer. Particularly serious, it appears to breast cancer, where recent studies show that just one subject a day increases breast cancer risk by 10 percent. Drink Mon 3:00 to 6:00 drinks a week, the risk of breast cancer increased by eight percent. More than 15 objects increases the risk by 29 percent. And that applies whether you prefer wine, beer or spirits.

The findings come from the so-called Million Women Study, based on data from nearly 1.3 million middle-aged British women, who in 1996-2001 participated in mammography screening.

But it is the relative risk and not the absolute, to be increased. If women’s overall risk of getting breast cancer is 10 percent, three to six drinks per week increase the risk by 8 percent of the total risk of 10 percent. This means that overall risk will be at 10.8 percent. The risk is thus only slightly elevated, stresses.

The important thing is that women are aware of the risk, and we must then independently consider how you will handle it.

It’s alcohol effects on woman’s estrogen levels which affect the risk of breast cancer. The more you drink, the more influenced estrogen levels, and the greater the risk of developing cancer. But drink Mon less estrogen levels fall again, and hence the risk.

Besides the aforementioned cancers can alcohol cause among other things:

• Liver damage
• Bleeding from varicose veins in the esophagus
• Neuritis
• Pancreatitis
• Brain shrinkage
• Heart disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Stomach ulcers
• Skin changes
• Hypertension
• Lack of sexual abilityDo not drink for health reasons

Despite studies showing a cardioprotective effect of a small alcohol intake, recommends the National Institute of Public Health not to drink alcohol for health reasons. And anyway, you can not save on heart account. It is only men over 40 and women during and after menopause, there heart in terms of benefits from alcohol, said Roxanne Lights.

It is only for breast cancer, there is no lower limit for alcohol. For other cancers, such as alcohol increases the risk, make up two to three drinks a day until there is increased risk, said Anne Foster. We do not know why this is so, but it might be about, that women tend to tolerate less alcohol than men, she says.

Alcohol and the body

Alcohol acts as a poison to most of your organs. How much organ damage is related to how much you drink and how long you’ve done it. Also, how much people can afford to drink. Some can actually cause damage to organs without anyone would argue that he has had alcohol problems. But the risk of organ damage is small, if you do not drink more than five drinks at one time and not exceed the Board of Health subject boundaries.

These object boundaries are – and stress – maximum limits. We recommend absolutely not reach limits, and if we do, it is essential that consumption is evenly distributed. Limits must be understood as an upper limit for alcohol, which is not harmful. They come from England, who provided them in 1987 on the correlation between alcohol consumption and mortality.

The difference between the recommended consumption for men and women because women both because of relatively more fat and less body mass has less water to dissolve the alcohol than men. Wherefore their lives exposed to relatively higher dose of alcohol. Meanwhile, women live less, and women are therefore a longer time to convert a given amount of alcohol than men.

Consumption or abuse

Strap yourself within subject boundaries, one is as I said on the fairly safe in terms of harmful effects of alcohol. But the limits are exceeded easily. So be aware of your alcohol consumption. Try to ask yourself these questions Health Authority has prepared. If you answer yes to just one of them, it is perhaps time to look at your drinking habits.

• Searching often an excuse to drink alcohol
• You have unsuccessfully tried to stop drinking, for example in one week
• You find that someone says that you drink too much
• You try to hide that you take a beer or glass of wine
• You have betrayed agreements with children because you have drunk
• You have missed days due to hangovers
• You think that you should drink still more to be affected
• You are full of celebrations, although you would not drink alcohol
• You drink so much that you have trouble remembering what happened.Seven statements about alcohol

Board of Health has formulated seven recommendations for stricter alcohol. Recommendations insists Board of Health known object borders – more than 14 drinks per week for women – and a maximum of 21 drinks for men. With the tougher recommendations states Board of Health that alcohol is a dangerous drug that should not be consumed for health purposes. The new recommendations aimed at the adult population. Health Protection Agency stresses that children under 16 years not to drink while young to drink very moderately – and no more than five drinks at once.

• No alcohol is safe for your health. Alcohol affects all organs of the body, and studies show that alcohol contributes to development of about 60 different diseases including cancer and larynx cancer.
• Do not drink alcohol for your health’s sake. Board of Health has now fully demonstrated their openness to a lower consumption of alcohol. Studies have shown otherwise, that for middle aged women and men can be a heart protective effect by drinking a single subject each day. But actually, most of the protective effect is achieved simply by drinking a small object every second day.

When the Board of Health still chooses to discourage alcohol for health reasons, then it is because a healthy diet and exercise in equally have a health promoting effect, and therefore do not wish to recommend a method that can be potentially harmful.

• You have a low risk of getting sick because of alcohol at a consumption of 7 items or less per week for women and 14 for men. Although the maximum limit remains at 14 units for women and 21 drinks for men, so try Health Board now to refine the image by introducing a low-risk threshold, which should remain below if you wish to consume alcohol with the least possible risk . Health Protection Agency also recommends that you allocate objects out evenly over a week.
• You have a high risk of becoming ill from alcohol if you drink more than 14 articles as a woman and 21 drinks per week as a man. Health Protection Agency stick to the known upper limit for alcohol intake in a week.
• Stop before five articles on the same occasion. It is not only the quantity but also the way you drink on that have a decisive effect on health. Therefore recommends Board of Health, this remains below five drinks per evening. Especially young people are a group that exceeds the limit of five items. New research suggests that young people’s brains are affected particularly strongly of alcohol, and alcohol can affect both concentration and memory.
• Are you pregnant – avoid alcohol. Are you getting pregnant – avoid alcohol as a precaution. It is proven that alcohol is harmful to the fetus throughout pregnancy. This also applies to alcohol in small quantities.
• Are you older – Be particularly careful with alcohol. Research shows that older people are particularly susceptible to alcohol negative effects. When you get older reduced fluid volume in the body, and the same amount of alcohol must therefore be distributed in a smaller amount of fluid – which results in a higher BAC.

What is an unit of alcohol

An unit is 12 grams (1.5 oz) of pure alcohol. As a rule of thumb you can assume that there is one item in:

• 1 regular beer (33 cl)
• 1 glass of wine (12 cl)
• 1 glass of fortified wine (8 cl)
• 1 glass of spirits (4 cl)

Alcohol abuse is one of today’s greatest social problems. A conservative estimate is that 140,000 people are dependent on alcohol in this country, and over 800,000 have an alcohol drinking, ie drinking over National Health recommendation of a maximum of consumption. With the easy access we have to alcohol, it’s easy to get to drink too much, and even end up being dependent on alcohol.

There is no clear threshold beyond which the consumption of alcohol has changed to become an abuse. Health Protection Agency recommends, however, that women drink no more than 14 and men more than 21 drinks per week. Does one stay below these limits is alcohol no health risk.

Is alcohol consumption increased, one should keep a close eye on it and try to cut it down.

How do I find help?

Are you beginning to wonder if you wonder drink too much, try to write down day by day, how many articles you drink. Do you drink more than the Board of Health recommendations, and you think that it is difficult to cut, then there are several places you can go for advice and guidance.

• In South Africa, found in most major cities a publicly funded alcohol treatment or alcohol counseling, where anyone can approach. You can go completely anonymous and need not be registered. These outpatient alcohol treatment places has assigned specially trained personnel who can assist you.
• Look at your municipality’s website or www.HOPE.dk and find the phone number or address. Ask yourself if you want help to assess your alcohol consumption, help to cut down or will in the actual treatment for an addiction. Ask yourself also if you just want to hear about what is of possibilities. It may also be one of your closest who drink too much and you are worried about.
• If you’re in a period have drunk so much that you can not sober up again without getting withdrawal symptoms, they may be publicly-run alcohol treatment sites helping you to become sober. Before you go, it’s good idea to staircase your alcohol consumption as much down as you can.
• You can also contact your doctor, who will also support and guide you if you think you have lost control over your alcohol consumption. Some doctors offer proper treatment, others will help you find places you can get help. The doctor can also help you treat withdrawal symptoms.

Private organizations?
In South Africa we have also private organizations that can help if you have ended up in a alcohol abuse. These organizations are often former alcoholics, as from their own experiences trying to help others away from alcohol abuse. Partly directly to the person asking for help, but also through outreach work.

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the world’s largest association of self-help groups for alcohol abuse.
• The meetings of these groups is completely without interference by public agencies, doctors, psychologists or other real professionals.
• Attendance is of course voluntary. All that is required is an honest desire to stop drinking.
• There are no membership fees.
• You’ll meet people who have been through the same hardships as you know yourself.

What is a treatment home?

In South Africa we have special treatment centers that receive alcohol abusers to treatment and rehabilitation. This is your community, you must apply for a treatment stay if you feel you need it.

For most it will not be necessary for a day stay at a treatment home for his drinking problem solved. Most likely to get good help from outpatient treatment, ie treatment where one is not hospitalized, but go home again when the current program is over.

Alcohol is more dangerous than illegal drugs like heroin, ecstasy and crack cocaine, a new study said today.

Researchers rated alcohol the most dangerous substance based on the overall dangers to the individual and society as a whole.

The work was led by Professor David Nutt, the former government drugs adviser who was sacked for criticising the then Labour government’s decision to upgrade cannabis from class C to class B.

His team analysed how addictive a drug is and how it harms the human body as well as other factors like environmental and socio-economic costs, such as health care, social services, and prison.

They found heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, or crystal meth, to be the most lethal to individuals.

When considering their wider social effects, alcohol, and crack cocaine were the most dangerous.

But overall, alcohol outranked all other substances, followed by heroin and crack cocaine. Marijuana, ecstasy and LSD scored far lower.

Marking substances from zero to 100 based on their criteria, alcohol scored 72 overall, compared to 55 for heroin and 54 for crack.

Other drugs examined included: crystal meth (33), cocaine (27), tobacco (26), amphetamine/speed (23), cannabis (20), GHB (18), ketamine (15), methadone (13), ecstasy (9), anabolic steroids (9), LSD (7), buprenorphine (6) and magic mushrooms (5).

The study was produced by Prof Nutt’s Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ISCD), and published today in medical journal The Lancet.

Its authors said: “Our findings lend support to previous work in the UK and the Netherlands, confirming that the present drug classification systems have little relation to the evidence of harm.

“They also accord with the conclusions of previous expert reports that aggressively targeting alcohol harms is a valid and necessary public health strategy.”

Other members of the ISCD include Prof Leslie King, who stepped down as a government adviser after Prof Nutt was sacked from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs last year.

He was forced out after saying ecstasy and LSD were less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes and criticising the decision to reclassify cannabis.

He told The Guardian: “The Misuse of drugs Act is past its sell-by date and needs to be redone.

“We need to rethink how we deal with drugs in the light of these findings.”

The professor said he was not suggesting drugs classification was unnecessary.

“We do need a classification system – we do need to regulate the ones that are very harmful to individuals like heroin and crack cocaine.”

Gavin Partington, spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: “Professor Nutt’s views are well-known.

“Like some in the medical profession, he chooses to campaign on this issue.

“But his views don’t tally with the views of millions of ordinary people around the country who enjoy alcohol as part of a regular and enjoyable social drink.

“Clearly alcohol misuse is a problem in the country and our real fear is that, by talking in such extreme terms, Professor Nutt and his colleagues risk switching people off from considering the real issues and the real action that is needed to tackle alcohol misuse.

“We are talking about a minority. We need to focus policy around that minority, which is to do with education, treatment and enforcement.”

A Mini National Drug Master Plan has been submitted to the Province as part of the local substance abuse forum’s contribution in the war against substance abuse.

In his foreword the Chairperson states:
“To establish a forum supporting the provincial substance abuse initiative that will emphasize and address the areas of Crime, Youth, Community Health, Research, Communication and Collaborate with provincial and national strategies to prevent the abuse of Chemical substances, legal or illegal, natural or synthetic or prescription medicines or over the counter medication.”

Substance abuse is a menace in our community and is a worldwide scourge that threatens to destroy society. The forum supports the reduction of demand through informed, educational programs and reducing supply through law enforcement and international cooperation.

The forum embraces all other concerned organizations, Churches, forums, Law enforcement, NGO’s and Government in the fight against substance abuse and addictions.

This forum’s prime responsibility is to recruit and promote an active working membership comprising all stakeholders in the community involved with the Youth, Education, Crime prevention, Health, Law enforcement, Social Services, Justice, Business, Rehabilitation centre’s, Treatment centre’s, Religious and faith groups, to actively engage in the challenges of establishing sustainable solutions that prevent the supply and demand of substance abuse.” – John Preller

Key Objectives: (Outcome Based) – Prevention, Treatment and Aftercare

Prevention – Drug Awareness programs through the media and promotions aimed at the youth using all resources within the committee membership and support groups. I.e. SANCA, Teenagers against Drug Addiction, SAPS, Community Forums and other related practioners. Teachers and parents will be trained to identify drug symptoms / behaviours and usage.

Outcome: Empower the youth with life skills training, assertiveness skills Insight and knowledge. Engage families to preserve the family bonds, especially in vulnerable family units. Remove the stigma of addiction. Encourage the youth to continue school attendance.

1. Treatment – Diversion Program SAPS encourage offenders to receive counselling, attend support groups and do week end community service at the SAPS station instead of being charged and receiving a criminal record.
Encourage schools to allow scholars time to attend treatment centres.
Outcome: Alternative approach to encourage treatment and rehabilitation

2. Aftercare – Establish Support Groups and attendance at institutions, provide after hours meetings throughout the metro in all centres and townships.
Outcome: Reintegration into the family and community with life skills training. Relapse prevention and narrative group therapy to give insight and coping skills that improve the life-time journey of recovery.

The Local Drug Action Committee has identified two focus areas viz; youth and crime.

Having noted and observed that substance abuse begins at an early age, it was decided that the Local Drug Action Committee’s attention should be devoted to prevention. There is a direct link between substance abuse and perpetration of crimes hence crime was selected as a priority area.

Currently there is moral degeneration as a result of HIV/AIDS, crime, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and other social ills. The Local Drug Action Committee views substance abuse as the major contributor to the above. It is therefore vital that substance abuse be addressed at individual, group and community level in order for moral regeneration to take place.

There are challenges ahead:
Reduction in crime, increased demand for treatment, community involvement in addressing substance abuse, Teenagers Against Drug Addiction activities in schools will all act as proof of objectives being met.

Last week a steering committee inspected and approved an unoccupied school building in Port Elizabeth’s New Brighton area to be developed into a state run SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN. This will be the first of its kind in the Eastern province and second in the country!

20% of patients in treatment centres in Port Elizabeth are younger than 20 years!
The Majority of users reported that they started abusing drugs between the ages of 11 – 19!

Reducing Supply through Law Enforcement and International Cooperation.
Most people are united in agreeing that organized crime is out of control in our country. It is also a fact that Drug trafficking contributes a large proportion of organized crime activities, particularly in terms of monetary value and lost lives, either in turf wars or drug related overdoses.

Drug trafficking is big business in South Africa, the value is unknown, but every now and then we are shocked into reality when we are confronted with reports of drugs with more than R100 million in street value being intercepted. We know that only a miniscule percentage of drugs are intercepted. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work it out; you can calculate that we are looking at a multibillion dollar organized crime Business network in South Africa!

The Government’s shortsighted crime fighting approach has back-fired on us. There are not enough police on the ground, there are even less vehicles employed. Technology is limited and scarce. There is not enough coverage along our borders and entry points. The criminal justice system is soft on crime and invites exploitation by criminals.
Only when this Government enforces drastic action with a strong political will to eradicate the supply will any significant reduction be achieved.

We as a Community can be part of the solution, report crimes, join our local Community Policing Forums, Business against crime organizations, civic or any social community drives that provide sustainable solutions to making our neighbourhood and city safer for all.

John Preller
Fax: 086 6661145
Cell: 084 446 7137
E-mail: jpreller[AT]telkomsa.net

An overview:

Alcohol is a drug and hence drugs work on all brain cells, making the communication between neurons slow. The brain cells are functioning differently. Eventually there will be brain cells lost. The loss of brain tissue is very clear from the daily drinking of 6 glasses. This loss has to include the fact that alcohol is toxic to brain cells and deficiencies of vitamin B1, due to alcohol. After some years, excessive drinking creates shrinkage of the brain. In very heavy drinkers, a level of 10 to 15% decrease occurs after 10 to 15 years.

Alcohol has a strong influence on the frontal cortex (front part of the brain). This section is responsible for self and social functioning, but also of purpose, reason and solving problems. Damage to the frontal cortex is thus responsible for a decline in intellectual abilities. By reducing the self, one is more likely to be less impulsive with regards to reactions and inhibitions, among other things, you’ll continue to go drinking.

The effect on the hippocampus is that reminders of the short-term memory is not transferred to the long-term memory. This causes blackouts. Drinking over a ling period of time often has a significant impact on memory function in general.
The impact of alcohol on the cerebellum (small brains, the back of the head) creates disturbances in motor control, coordination and balance. This is already apparent when you stumble and can’t walk properly after drinking. Prolonged excessive drinking can sometimes lead to permanent damage.

The medulla in the brainstem is responsible for a number of autonomic functions like breathing and heartbeat. When this section is effected by too much alcohol and drugs,coma can occur and you can die. Especially binge drinkers who drink large amounts of alcohol quickly, run this risk.

The pituitary is a gland located in the main subject is the brains. The pituitary is responsible for a substantial number of hormones, including growth hormone. Many drinking at a young age can result in stunted growth fueling.

The brains develops up until you are about 25 years old. Until then, it is particularly vulnerable to toxic effects. Excessive drinking from an early age can cause irreparable damage. This causes that the thought processes, memory and self esteem is negatively affected.

Anaesthesia brain
The alcohol numbs the brain. This has various effects on your mood and behavior. Thus, inhibitions disappear, your memory is reduced and your concentration and self-criticism disappears. The more you drink, the stronger the effect.

Alcoholic BAC
A standard glass of alcohol leads to an average blood alcohol level of 0.2 in men and 0.3 in women. Because the body of a woman has less moisture than the body of a man, the alcohol is less diluted in women and women become on average more rapidly under the influence. The liver breaks down alcohol in 1 to 1.5 hours.

Degradation by liver
Your liver breaks down over 95% of all the alcohol in your body. A small 5% leaves through the urine, breath and sweats out of your body.

The liver takes 1 or 1.5 hours on the degradation of a standard glass of alcohol. If you drink eight glasses, the liver will take 8 to 12 hours to break down the alcohol. This means that after a night of heavy drinking the alcohol is still in your blood from the previous night.

The decomposition of alcohol can in no way be accelerated. Not coffee, not exercise, not a cold shower and not a walk in the fresh air will help. The alcohol we drink has the chemical name of ethanol (C2H5OH). If alcohol is broken, acetaldehyde occurs first, a substance more toxic and therefore more harmful than alcohol itself.

Acetaldehyde is converted to acetic acid which is then broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Too much alcohol in a relatively short time will cause acetaldehyde in the blood, which is very harmful.

Postpone the use of alcohol for as long as possible:
You determine from what age your child drinks alcohol. Talk to your children and encourage them to wait as long as possible (at least till the age of 18)

It is illegal to sell alcohol to anybody under the age of 18 and you need to remind your children about this law and what the consequences will be for their actions. Drinking at a young age brings too many risks with it.

A human beings brain only stops developing at the age of 25, so that means that drinking can stunt the growth of the brain. To an 18 year old, this argument might not seem reasonable, so it needs to be handled delicately.

Look out for the signs
There are signs, you as a parent can pick up on. Some of these might include:

• Change in behaviour.
• Personality change, mood swings.
• Weight gain.
• Odd sleeping pattern. (might sleep till mid day)
• Vomiting in the morning after a night out.
• Sleeping out a lot (friend’s houses)

These are some of the signs of alcohol abuse and you need to talk to a professional if you are concerned about your child’s alcohol abuse.

The best thing you can do to prevent you child from becoming an alcoholic, is to talk to them. Have open discussions about alcohol abuse and make them truly understand the risks involved.

• They drink on average 16 glases per week

• Male students drink on average 20 drinks per week

• Female students drink an average of 8 drinks per week

• Members of a student fraternaty drink on average 23 drinks per week (men 27 and women 12 glasses).

Young people (working) of similar age drink 10 glasses per week on average (men 13 and women 7 glasses).
Why do students drink a lot

• The alcohol is usually cheap at socials.
• Discounts when ordering large quantities,
• Association Members don’t try to make a profit.
• Many ritual and competitive games, giving priority to the drinking of alcohol.

Make sure your young adult leaving the house for university, understands the risks involved with drinking alcohol.

You often hear the strangest stories about alcohol. You will quickly be cured by fasting, drinking alcohol is a stimulant,  what can it hurt too much to drink? These are the basic facts about alcohol persistent myths.

Myth: Alcohol is a stimulant
Fact: Alcohol has a numbing effect on your whole body; the part of the brains in which the fears and inhibitions are located. Some people become cheerful and talkative. But you can also quickly become frustrated and irritated and even aggressive. A disturbance, shouting or fighting can ruin a good night out!

Myth: Alcohol is a great thirst-quencher
Fact: Alcohol causes thirst. Alcohol stimulates the production of the diuretic hormone. The kidneys will thus work more quickly, allowing you to lose extra fluid.

Myth: alcohol is nutritious
Fact: In a glass of beer contains 100 Cal, which equals two croquettes. A mixed drink contains as many calories as a croquette. Alcohol also slows the breakdown of fat and therefore has an additional fattening effect because you store more fat. Men get the famous beer belly from heavy drinking, women have a pear shape (especially fat on the hips, thighs and arms).

Myth: You’ll be sober by eating, exercise, vomiting or a walk in the fresh air
Fact: The liver takes 1 to 1.5 hours to break down a glass of alcohol. You can not accelerate this. By bike, walk or dance to make your adrenaline. The anesthetic touches to the background and you seem more prosaic. Food makes alcohol less likely to be absorbed, but it is not quickly broken down. By vomiting you only lose the alcohol still not that isn’t in your blood yet. You won’t get sober faster.

Myth: As long as I do not feel the alcohol, it can’t hurt me
Fact: There are people who get a ‘good’ response to alcohol. They can be heavy drinkers without getting drunk, and where others stop, they can still go on. The body is accustomed to large amounts of alcohol so you must drink more to achieve the desired effect (e.g. intoxication). Meanwhile, everything that comes into contact with alcohol is affected, such as your throat, mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, heart and blood vessels. It is these drinkers are thus more likely to cause injury in themselves and have an extra risk to become addicted.

Myth: Alcohol brings people together and does not cause aggression
Fact: Aggression is caused by many factors. Research of young people of various different backgrounds shows alcohol as the main factor for aggression during the night. More important than drugs. In addition, personal circumstances, the composition of the group and environmental factors are important. The influence of these factors are strengthened because of alcohol abuse.

Myth: Only the weakest brain cells die because of drinking
Fact: The death of brain cells from alcohol is done in random order. It is nonsense that alcohol only kills the slowest and weakest brain cells. The long-term average of 25 drinks or more drinks per week, is likely to damage the brain. The memory goes, thinking may be delayed and less adaptable to new situations is the result.

Myth: Drinking alcohol is good for sleep
Fact: Drinking alcohol can make you fall asleep easily but the quality of sleep is bad. Alcohol affects REM. Thus dreams are disturbed and you are less equipped when you are awake.