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In This Issue: } When Does Alcohol Abuse

Become Alcoholism?

} Helping Kids Say “No” to Drugs and Alcohol

} Recognizing the Signs of Alcoholism

} How Genetics Can Influence Your Risk of Drug and Alcohol Addiction

You might know someone like Terry. She has a good job and always makes time for her family and friends. She even does volunteer work at her children’s school. In short, she’s a really great person.Terry also abuses alcohol.It’s not easy to pinpoint the moment when someone starts having a problem with alcohol. Instead of clear lines, there are shades of gray between social drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism. For some people, abuse begins before they – or their family – know it’s happening.In Terry’s case, one glass of wine after dinner turned into four. To keep her family from worrying, she hid the empty wine bottles. Covert behavior like this is one sign that someone has a drinking problem.

Knowing your limitsFor men, experts define heavy drinking as more than two drinks per day on a regular basis. For women, it’s an average of more than one drink per day. But it may still be hard to tell when drinking has become a problem.Drinking is common in our culture, and some people do it without harmful effects. For others, drinking escalates until they lose their health and put themselves and others in danger.The reasons for these differences are complex. People with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to have addiction problems. So are those who face depression or some other mental illnesses. Your upbringing and social environment may also make a difference.

Alcohol Awareness

When Does Alcohol Abuse Become Alcoholism?Heavy drinkers may appear to function day to day yet still be putting themselves and others at risk. Learn how to recognize problem drinking.

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Alcohol Awareness

Losing control

Alcohol abuse on a small scale can lead to full-blown alcoholism. People who continue to abuse alcohol often find they have to drink more to get the same effect. This warning sign of alcoholism is called tolerance. In time you may need a drink just to feel normal. These signs add up to dependence – a hallmark of alcoholism.It’s best to uncover problems before they get that far. Your drinking may be putting you at risk for alcoholism if:You know alcohol is damaging your relationships and your health, but you drink anyway.You repeatedly neglect important work and family functions – for example, missing your kids’ events or deadlines at work.You have legal troubles, such as getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or being drunk and disorderly.

Getting help

The effects of alcoholism can be devastating. Heavy drinkers are more likely to have heart disease, liver disease, depression and several types of cancer. Family and work relationships usually suffer. And of course, drinking too much alcohol on even one occasion can lead to injuries or death from a car crash, drowning or other type of accident.When Terry’s family realized she was losing control of her drinking, they persuaded her to get help. Your doctor is a good place to start finding the counseling or treatment you need. You can also contact the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Helping Kids Say “No” to Drugs and AlcoholBelieve it or not, your kids listen when you tell them about the hazards of substance abuse. Learn to talk to them about the dangers.

Teens have a way of making their parents feel pretty useless at times. But whether you know it or not, you are the biggest influence in your children’s lives when it comes to drugs and alcohol. About 2 out of 3 kids ages 13 to 17 say that one of the main reasons they don’t do drugs is that their parents would be disappointed in them.

Here are some ways you can help your kids avoid tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs:

Know their friends.Teens are usually offered drugs by friends. Get to know your children’s friends and their parents. Ask where your kids are going when they leave the house, who they’ll be with, and what they’ll be doing. Let them know you’ll be checking on them.

Be involved.The “danger zone” for drug use is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. So try to be there when your children get home from school. If you can’t be there, call. Get them involved in supervised after-school and summer activities. Bored kids are more likely than others to get in trouble.Talk to your kids about drugs.Tell them often that you don’t ever want them to use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. Listen, too. If you’re a good listener, your child is more likely to talk to you about drugs.Establish rules.Set a curfew and enforce it. Let your kids know what the consequences will be if they drink or do drugs. Reward good behavior.

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Be a good role model.Kids learn a lot by watching their parents. If you have a substance abuse problem, get help so you can set a good example for your children.Teach your kids how to handle peer pressure.

One strategy kids can use to stay clear of drugs and alcohol is REAL: Refuse, Explain, Avoid, Leave.} Refuse. A simple “no” often works.

} Explain. A teen might say “I can’t risk getting kicked off the team” or “Smoking makes me sick.” Be firm but polite.

} Avoid. Teens can decide to stay away from parties where drugs are likely to be used.

} Leave. If teens are feeling pressured, they can learn to just walk away. Or they can suggest another activity, such as playing a sport or going to a movie.

Alcohol Awareness

Recognizing the Signs of AlcoholismDo you worry that you or someone you love may have a drinking problem? Learn how to recognize the signs of alcoholism.

Having a glass of wine with dinner every night or drinking a few beers at a ball game doesn’t mean that you have an alcohol problem – does it? Drinking in moderation – up to one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men – may be no cause for concern. But unless you examine your drinking habits, how can you be sure?

It can be hard to tell how alcohol is affecting your life. For one thing, people often have a hard time admitting they drink too much. But ignoring how you use alcohol can do serious harm to your health.

Why worry?Heavy drinking raises your risk of certain types of stroke and cancer. It also can cause other diseases and conditions, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, malnutrition, and problems with your immune system.Your alcohol use also can put others at risk. For instance, drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome – a range of various birth defects. It can also cause serious physical, mental, and behavioral problems for your baby. Drinking and driving puts everyone on the road in danger.

A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02 percent can impair driving skills. If a 160-pound man drinks just two beers, his BAC will be twice that amount, or 0.04. Driving starts to be impaired at this level. Smaller people can reach this level by drinking even less.Review your riskAt every age, men are more likely than women to have drinking problems. Alcoholism also runs in families. However, having a parent with alcoholism doesn’t always mean you’ll have it, too.Have a heart-to-heartAsk friends and family about how they view your drinking. They may have noticed that you’re anxious or depressed. Or they may see that you’re not sleeping well, you lack self-esteem, or you’re not doing well at work. Plus, you may have been in traffic accidents or gotten tickets because of your drinking. These are all possible signs of a drinking problem.

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Alcohol Awareness

Ask yourself these questions:

} Have I ever felt I should cut down on my drinking?} Have people annoyed me by criticizing the amount of

alcohol I consume?} Have I ever felt guilty or bad about my drinking?} Have I ever had a drink first thing in the morning to

steady my nerves or get rid of a hangover?} Even one “yes” answer may be a sign of a drinking

problem. More than one “yes” makes it more likely that your drinking is a problem.

Reach for recoveryTalk with your doctor if you’re worried about your drinking. Alcoholism can be treated with therapy. Sometimes medication is prescribed for withdrawal and cravings.Successful recovery depends on abstaining from alcohol for the rest of your life. This sounds like a tall order, but avoiding events with alcohol and keeping alcohol out of your home can help. So can the support of your family and friends as well as others who are recovering from alcoholism.

How Genetics Can Influence Your Risk of Drug and Alcohol AddictionYour family history offers important insight into your risk of becoming addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

It’s easy to think about inheriting the positive traits of your relatives. After all, who wouldn’t want the gene that gave Mom her perfect smile or Uncle Mike his all-star skills on the basketball court?

But what if your dad – or his dad – lived much of his life with an alcohol problem? Evidence shows there is a link between genes and substance abuse. In fact, an estimated 40 percent to 60 percent of what makes a person vulnerable to addiction is linked to genetics.

You might be worried that genes linked to alcoholism may have been passed on to you. But keep in mind there are ways you can reduce your risk.

What’s the connection?When it comes to alcohol, research has found that some genes affect both how much people consume and their risk of becoming dependent on it. Other genes affect dependence alone. Statistically, children of alcoholics are about four times more likely than the general population to have an alcohol problem in their lifetime.These numbers might suggest that your fate is set if there’s a history of drug or alcohol issues in your family. But it isn’t. No single factor – including your genetic makeup – determines your risk of addiction. Many things come into play, and they often interact. In general, the more risk factors you have, the greater the danger.

Some of these factors include:} Mental health. Disorders such as depression raise

your risk.} Environmental factors. Risk goes up when you’re

around others who have substance abuse problems. The lifestyles of your parents and other family members are a strong influence.

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© 2012 United HealthCare Services, Inc.UHCEW571621-000

} Age at first use. The earlier you start using drugs or alcohol, the greater your risk of becoming addicted to them.

} Method of administration. Smoking a drug or injecting it raises the odds that you’ll get hooked.

Protect yourself

} Discourage underage use. Alcohol use by minors and the use of illicit drugs (by anyone) are illegal and should be avoided. Talk with your kids about the risks. And be a good role model.

} Drink in moderation – if at all. If you choose to drink, it’s best to have no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman, or two drinks a day if you’re a man. Be aware that drinking in moderation may be harder for someone who has a family history of alcoholism. Avoiding alcohol entirely may be the best policy for some people.

} Talk with your doctor. He or she can tell you more about your risk of addiction or help you if you think you have a problem.