Your Health

WHEN DRINKING BECOMES A PROBLEM

Anton Kosov, M.D., Lake Regional Health System

Story by ANITA HARRISON

oes in the water, cold beer in your hand — that might be music to your ears on a hot summer day.

But how do you know if you are depending too much on alcohol to make the good times roll? And what do you do if you suspect that you, or someone else, has a problem with alcohol?

“It’s not an easy conversation,” says Anton Kosov, M.D., a physician at Lake Regional Clinic - Laurie. “But it’s a necessary conversation. If someone cannot control their use of alcohol, that indicates alcohol use disorder, a medical condition that likely won’t get better without treatment.”

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. No matter how severe it is, though, there are treatments that can help.

WARNING SIGNS

Among the possible signs that someone has alcohol use disorder:

• They’ve had times when they drink more or longer than intended. • They’ve tried more than once to cut back on drinking or stop altogether, but they couldn’t. • They continue to drink even though it’s causing problems with friends, family, work or school. • They’ve cut back participating in, or have stopped doing, favorite activities so they can drink more. • They’ve more than once done things while drinking — such as driving, swimming, using machinery or having unprotected sex — that put them at risk for serious harm.

• They find they have to drink more than they once did to get the effects they want.

WHAT’S AT RISK

“Alcohol use can destroy someone’s health,” Dr. Kosov says. “It can lead to fights, falls and tragic traffic crashes. It also can destroy a person’s mental health and relationships.”

Chronic alcohol use can lead to: • Heart disease and high blood pressure • Liver disease

• Certain cancers

• A weak immune system • Cognitive problems • Mental health problems HOW TO STOP DRINKING

“The first step is for the person to recognize and admit they have a problem,” Dr. Kosov says. “Take a good, long look at the warning signs. If even one of them is true, it signals the need to seek help.”

The second step is to ask for support.

“That may mean talking to family and friends, as well as to your doctor,” Dr. Kosov says. “Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you quit drinking. Your doctor also can refer you to a mental health therapist who can help you identify any underlying causes for your alcohol use and better ways to deal with them.”

You also may want to join a mutual-support group like Alcoholics Anonymous. These kinds of groups are available in most communities. “It’s not an easy conversation, but it’s a necessary conversation. If someone cannot control their use of alcohol, that indicates alcohol use disorder.”

READY TO GET HELP?

Find a primary care provider at lakeregional.com/providers. Choose “family medicine” or “internal medicine” for the specialty.

Anita Harrison is the Public Relations Assistant Manager at Lake Regional Health System

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; HelpGuide; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

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