Alcohol Screening
What is an alcohol screening?
Alcohol Screening for the disease has become a mainstay of today’s preventive health care. Increased screening enables clinicians to step in early to prevent and treat a wide range of public health problems before they become too serious. Deciding whether a particular screen is warranted, choosing the best one for an individual patient, and administering it in a cost-effective way are key issues for clinicians to address.
- No more than 1 drink a day for women
- No more than 2 drinks a day for men
One drink is a:
- Bottle of beer (12 ounces)
- A glass of wine (5 ounces)
- Shot of liquor (1.5 ounces)
For most adults, moderate drinking doesn’t cause any serious health problems. And if you don’t drink at all, there’s no reason to start!
When is Drinking Considered a Problem?
Drinking is a problem when it begins to causes trouble with: your relationships, school or work, or how you think and feel. If you have a drinking problem, it’s important to see a doctor right away. You can improve your health by drinking less or not at all. Use this tool to see if your drinking habits put you at risk.
Drinking only in moderation or not drinking at all can help you:
- Lower your blood pressure
- Lower your risk of injury, heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, and liver problems
- Lose weight
- Save money
Don’t drink at all if you:
- Are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Are under age 21
- Take certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines (check the medicine label)
- Are recovering from alcoholism
- Have a health condition that can be made worse by drinking (like the liver disease)
- It’s also very important to avoid drinking if you plan to drive a car or use a machine (like a lawnmower).
Suggestions to Help You Reduce or Stop Drinking.
- Set a drinking limit. For example, you may decide to have no more than 3 drinks per week.
- Write your drinking limit on a piece of paper.
- Write down every time you have a drink for 1 week. This drinking tracker card can help.
- Take a day off from drinking – Choose a day each week (for example, Tuesday) when you will not drink.
- Don’t drink when you are upset – If you have a bad day or are feeling angry, don’t reach for a drink. Try taking a walk, calling a friend, or seeing a movie. Find healthy ways to manage stress.
- Avoid places where people drink a lot – Stay away from bars and other places that may make you want to drink.
- Learn new skills to help you change your drinking habits – Planning ahead can help you manage situations when you might be tempted to drink too much. Plan ahead of time how to say “no” if someone offers you a drink. Practice these strategies to handle an urge to drink.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home – This way you won’t be tempted to go over the drinking limit you set for yourself.
- Make a list of reasons not to drink – Make a list of reasons to drink less or quit. Keep this list in your wallet, bag, or on your fridge. Look at it when you have an urge to drink.
- Are you looking to lose weight – Then calculate how many calories are in your drinks and then how much money you are spending on alcohol.
Use these tips to talk with someone about cutting back or quitting drinking.
What about the cost of Alcohol Screening?
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010, health care plans must cover screening and counseling for alcohol misuse. Depending on your insurance, you may be able to get these services at no cost to you. So, if you have strong concerns about a loved one’s drinking? Have them consider an Alcohol Screening.
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September 17, 2024
