Alcohol Dependence and Abuse - Assessment

If you or someone you know has alcohol dependence and develops severe confusion, seizures, bleeding, or other health problems seek professional medical attention.

All health professionals should routinely ask their patients about their drinking habits. They should get a history from the family if the affected person is unwilling or unable to answer questions and whenever possible a physical examination should be done to identify physical problems related to alcohol use.

Alcoholism carries many serious dangers including:

• Brain and nervous system complications:
    - Brain degeneration and dementia
    - Nerve damage
    - Severe memory loss
    - Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

• Cancers of the larynx, esophagus, liver, and colon

• Delirium tremens (DT's)

• Digestive tract disorders:
     - Esophageal bleeding
     - Liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver)
     - Pancreatitis
     - Poor nutrition because vitamins aren't absorbed properly

• Other complications:
     - Heart muscle damage
     - High blood pressure
     - Insomnia
     - Problems getting an erection (in men)
     - Stopping of the period (menstruation) in women
     - Sexually transmitted diseases
     - Violence

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects. The most serious is fetal alcohol syndrome, which may lead to mental retardation and behavior problems. A milder form of the condition that can still cause lifelong problems is called fetal alcohol affects.

Alcohol dependence and abuse can be assessed using one or more of the following assessments:

• A Mind Screen – multi-disorder behavioral health assessment which includes questions around current and past alcohol and other drug (AOD) habits as well as family AOD history.

• A toxicology screen or blood alcohol level (this can tell whether someone has recently been drinking alcohol, but it does not necessarily confirm alcoholism)

• Complete blood count (CBC)

• Folate level

• Liver function tests

• Serum magnesium

• Total protein

• Uric acid