
Addiction Support
On this page you will find information about our Addiction Support, and details about how we can support you, and those you care about, through dependency issues.
Explore what alcoholism and alcohol dependency are, as well as how and where you can seek help and support.
On this page you will find information covering the following topics:
Alcohol abuse occurs when a person is not dependent on alcohol, but is drinking enough to cause themselves physical or psychological harm.
Alcohol addiction (or dependence) can occur if a person drinks frequently or drinks large amounts of alcohol. You may be dependent on alcohol if you have experienced ONE or more of the following symptoms during a year:
Current UK guidelines:
Men: 3-4 units a day
With a maximum of 14 units a week
Women: 2-3 units a day
With a maximum of 14 units a week
One drink is not necessarily one unit, for example:
The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) Questionnaire
Standard MAST:
0-3 points = normal drinker
4 points = borderline score
5-9 points = 80% associated with alcoholism
10 or more = associated with alcoholism
Almost everyone drinks alcohol occasionally, but social drinking can easily become alcoholism. People will have numerous problems as a result of their alcohol consumption, before they ask themselves – “am I an alcoholic?”
The NHS website has a number of interactive tools to help you track your regular alcohol consumption and determine the type of drinker that you may be. It also provides information and advice on how you could cut down on your intake of alcohol to the recommended levels.
You have an increased risk of developing illnesses such as:-
Family difficulties. Emotional, financial, and psychological distress, divorce, family break-up, loss of respect, occurs in families where one member has a problem with drink. The drinker usually denies or refuses to accept that alcohol is the problem.
Loss of job and income, career, friends, social standing, professional standing.
Women who drink heavily during pregnancy are at risk of having babies with foetal alcohol syndrome. This can result in babies with growth deficiencies, nervous system problems, lowered intelligence, and facial abnormalities. There is also evidence that pregnant women who drink 10 to 15 units a week are more likely to have underweight babies.
If you have a problem with alcohol it is best to go and see your GP as soon as possible. Below is a list of organisations that can also help you.
The Addiction Support Programme exists to support those with dependency issues. This service provides access to a fully qualified addiction specialist with many years of experience in the field, and all calls to the helpline are entirely confidential. For further details, visit our website.
Call the Pharmacist Addiction Support Programme in total confidence
Tel: 0808 168 5132
Or contact Pharmacist Support
Tel: 0808 1682 233
Email: info@pharmacistsupport.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
Tel: 0845 769 7555
Web: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
AL-Anon Family Groups
Tel: 020 7403 0888
Web: www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Mind – Guide to addiction and dependency support
Web: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/addiction-and-dependency/addiction-and-dependency-resources/
NHS Choices – Help and support for alcohol addiction
Web: www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/
This information was last reviewed on 19 July 2022.
On this page you will find information about our Addiction Support, and details about how we can support you, and those you care about, through dependency issues.
We provide direct psychological support for those who are experiencing mental health issues. You can access up to twelve free counselling sessions via phone, Zoom or for those within travelling distance to Altrincham, face to face.
Wellbeing can be affected by all manner of different things, for example: diet and lifestyle, workplace pressures and personal relationships.