Alcohol Awareness Week starts today, and North Lincolnshire Council will be joining over 4,000 other community groups across the UK to raise awareness of the ways in which alcohol can affect individuals and the relationships with the people around them.
Many people drink alcohol for a variety of ever-changing reasons, including: to relax, to socialise, to de-stress, to have fun, to relieve boredom, to deal with feelings of loneliness, and to try and cope with or avoid problems. However, drinking too much and too often can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems with an individual’s physical and mental health.
Alcohol can negatively affect relationships too. It can heighten family tensions, cause conflict and is a factor in many cases of child neglect and domestic abuse. Alcohol is also strongly associated with mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
North Lincolnshire Council is emphasising the importance of speaking out about the impact that alcohol can have on relationships and highlighting the local supporting services that are available. Encouraging everyone to talk, and be prepared to listen more, about the way someone’s drinking is affecting you and those around you, and to consider making some changes for a healthier and happier life.
We Are With You in North Lincolnshire offer support and advice for those who want help with managing their alcohol intake and work alongside individuals to achieve their goals around their drinking.
It may be something as simple as some advice and information that is needed or may be a medically assisted detox to achieve abstinence or a planned reduction to gain more control over their drinking. They work with people in a variety of ways to explore their issues with alcohol and other associated problems and to start and look at alternative coping strategies.
A client after attending one of their alcohol groups said:
‘I would like to say that the relapse prevention group has been amazing…. I have got so much out of the sessions.’
Advice and support
The following organisations can offer support to those with alcohol and substance misuse.
• We Are With You is local organisation that offers confidential support to both the individual and people who are worried about someone else’s alcohol or drug use. Visit their website or call 08081 430640.
• Alcohol Change offers information about alcohol consumption and ways to make healthy changes. Visit their website and take the ‘Check your drinking’ quiz or download the free ‘Try Dry’ app which tracks an individual’s progress from cutting down on drinking or being totally alcohol-free.
• Drink Aware offers advice and support to help individuals learn about the impact that alcohol has on their lives and that of their family and tools they can use to make a change and healthier life choices. Visit their website.
• Find information about the benefits of cutting down on alcohol and calculate alcohol units on the Better Health website.
