Teens and Family Dinners

Researchers from the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens who have family dinners fewer than three times a week - compared with those who have family dinners five or more times a week - were much more likely to use drugs and alcohol and have less academic success. Teens who say they have family dinners but that there are distractions at the table also have higher rates of substance abuse than teens who have frequent family dinners without interruptions.

September 23 2009 from the National Center of Addiction & Substance Abuse

A simple tip to reduce blood alcohol level

Slow down the speed of that first alcoholic drink to extend about one hour.

“If you skull the first drink, your blood alcohol level goes right up and your body will try to keep it there for the rest of the night”. If you slow down that first drink – you are less likely to drink as much throughout that evening. A simple piece of advice from David McGrath of NSW Health Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office.

The good news is that in Australia the quantity of alcohol consumed has fallen slightly since 2007-2008 to 9.95 litres per person per year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. By comparison the Irish drink more than 13 litres per person. Germans, French, Spanish and British drink approximately 11 litres per person per year.

These days, problem drinkers are more likely to seek help.

Help is available from government services.http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mhdao/index.asp

Abstinence is best

"The festive season seems to give licence to indulge in alcohol. Yet the many proven health risks far outweigh any suggested benefits for the heart."

Sue Radd, well known Hills District Nutritionist weighs up the pros and cons of alcohol in this informative article

http://sueradd.com/columns/foodcolumn04_10.pdf

Will alcohol make your brain a "pickled walnut" ?

The brain can be damaged by persistent over use of alcohol even though the user may not feel intoxicated. In what has been described as a "pickled walnut" effect, of globalised atrophy of the brain, MRI scans show a shrunken brain with extra fluid out it. Alcohol abuse can lead to vitamin B deficiency which may cause significant memory deficits. The quantity of alcohol required to cause serious damage is different for each person and genetic factors play a role. For some families the leading organ damaged may be the liver, for others it may be the heart or the brain. The results of current research were presented by Dr Daglish , Director of Addiction Psychiatry at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital a Health Care Symposium on 13th October 2009.