Dry out and Tune in

Dry out and Tune in

Those taking part in Dry July have a golden opportunity to check in on their drinking habits, while supporting an important cause.

For the past couple of years, the three-month period following Dry July has seen a rise in the number of people contacting The Salvation Army Bridge, the army’s alcohol and drug addiction treatment programme. While this increase cannot be proven to be a result of some Dry July participants reviewing their drinking behaviours during their month of abstinence, Salvation Army Addiction Services National Director Lynette Hutson suspects some Dry Julyers are seeking information or advice.

She says Dry July’s support of cancer patients and their families through people fundraising by abstaining from alcohol for the month is an innovative and worthy charitable project.

“It also gives participants the chance to pause and take stock of their drinking behaviours and seek advice if they are concerned their drinking is becoming detrimental to their health or their relationships,” she says.

Results from the Ministry of Health’s most recent national health survey for 2014/15 showed 18 per cent of the adult population are hazardous drinkers, or have a pattern of drinking at a level that risks harm to their physical or mental health and has negative effects on a person’s relationships. The rate was 34 per cent for 18-24-year-olds.

A small proportion of people will move on to become moderately or severely dependent on alcohol, where they lose control of their drinking, normally with extremely high costs to their health, relationships and finances.

“While the number of New Zealanders reaching this point may be anywhere between three to 10 per cent of the adult population, depending on the method of diagnoses, acknowledgement of harmful drinking and taking early action can avoid a great deal of heartbreak, illness and even catastrophe later on,” Lynette says.

To reduce long-term health risks, women should drink no more than two standard drinks per day; and men, three standard drinks, with two days alcohol-free per week. To reduce the risk of injury, women should limit themselves to four standard drinks on any single occasion and men should drink no more than five. There is no known safe level of drinking at any stage of pregnancy.

People concerned about their drinking should talk to their doctor or contact an addiction treatment provider.

Bridge provides a free and confidential service providing education and advice for those wanting to control their drinking, as well as intensive residential addiction treatment.

ENDS

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