Alcoholism among GLBT people | Just because someone in your family has an alcohol problem, that doesn't mean you necessarily will. And just because you have had a problem with alcohol in the past, that doesn't mean you can't overcome it. Many people, both gay and straight, with alcohol problems have quit drinking and gone on to have happier and healthier lives.
Scope of the alcohol problem | Researchers use the term "alcohol problems" to refer to any type of condition caused by drinking which harms the drinker directly, jeopardizes the drinker's well-being, or places others at risk. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 14 million people in the United States-1 in every 13 adults-have alcohol problems, though most do not realize or acknowledge it. It is additionally estimated that 43% of U.S. adults (76 million people) have been exposed to alcoholism in the family--they have a parent/guardian, spouse or other family member who is or was an alcoholic or a problem drinker.
Do GLBT people have more alcohol problems than heterosexuals? | Studies from the 1970s and 1980s led many to the conclusion that rates of alcoholism were higher among GLBT people than in the overall population-sometimes citing rates of alcoholism in the GLBT community as 30%. However, most of these studies were seriously flawed, drawing participants from gay bars and other locations in which people who drink are overrepresented. More recent and reliable studies have been conflicting, but there is some evidence that GLBT youth and possibly GLBT adults have more alcohol problems than the overall population. Read about health studies of the GLBT communities.
 For most people, there is little harm in consuming small amounts of alcohol. In fact, dozens of studies from around the world have found that, compared with abstainers, moderate drinkers have significantly lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease and a significantly reduced risk of stroke. Alcohol apparently protects the heart in two ways--by boosting artery-clearing "good" HDL cholesterol and by reducing the risk of blood clots that can trigger a heart attack.
But what exactly does "moderate" drinking mean? Total amounts might be smaller than you think. On average, the benefits outweigh the risks only when women have no more than one drink a day, men no more than two a day. A drink is: - a 12-ounce bottle of beer;
- a 5-ounce glass of wine;
- or a 1½-ounce shot of liquor
Depending on the circumstances, alcohol problems can result from even moderate drinking, for example when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medicines. Additionally, it is important to weigh the potential benefits of moderate drinking with the potential risks of becoming addicted, particularly if many members of your family have had significant alcohol problems.
The health problems caused by drinking too much | Habitually exceeding the average daily limit of one or two drinks a day is associated with a broad range of health risks. Those risks cancel out alcohol's ability to protect the heart soon after you cross the moderate line. In fact, immoderate drinking can actually harm the heart, not only by raising blood pressure, but also by weakening the heart muscle and triggering abnormal heart rhythms. Alcohol intoxication is the leading cause of traffic fatalities in the United States. Both men and women commonly report that they take greater sexual risks when they have been drinking, leading, in a worst case, to HIV infection. The following is a partial list of other alcohol-related health problems: - cirrhosis (permanent scarring) of the liver
- high blood pressure
- increased risk of throat, esophgus, liver, and breast cancer
- ulcers
- dementia
- sleep disturbances
- depression and other emotional problems
How do I know if I have an alcohol problem? | People with alcohol problems often answer "yes" to one or more of the following questions: - Do you believe that in order to have fun you need to drink?
- Do you turn to alcohol after a confrontation or argument, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings?
- Do you drink more to get the same effect that you used to get with smaller amounts?
- Do you drink alone?
- Have you had trouble at work or in school because of your drinking?
- Have you made promises to yourself or others that you'll stop getting drunk?
- Have your family or friends have complained about your drinking?
- Have you been late to or absent from work because of hangovers?
- Do you drink even when you don't feel well?
- Has your doctor told you that you have health problems related to drinking?
- Have you tried to quit drinking?
 Some people with alcohol problems who are not physically addicted are able to quit or cut down without help. The following are suggestions that people have found helpful:
- Write down your reasons for wanting to quit or cut down
- Get support from your friends
- Keep no liquor in your home
- When you drink, sip slowly and take a break of one hour between drinks
- Eat food when you drink
- Pick a day or two each week when you will not drink at all and think about how you feel physically and emotionally on these days-when you succeed and feel better you may decide to quit for good
Very often, people are not able to quit cold turkey on their own. A variety of treatments exist for alcohol dependence including self-help groups (like Alcoholics Anonymous--and there are GLBT AA groups), medication, detoxification and rehabilitation on either an in-patient or out-patient basis. If you chose to enter a treatment program, be sure that the program is supportive of you as a gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered person. If you are struggling with homophobia or spending time educating those around you, you will not be able to focus on your recovery. There are treatment programs specifically for GLBT people, and many "mainstream" treatment programs are now GLBT friendly.
Don't give up! Many people do not cut down or give up drinking all at once the first time they try. Just like with dieting, it is not easy to change. That is okay. If you do not reach your goal the first time, try again. Remember to get support from people who care about you and want to help. Do not give up! | |
