HELP & ADVICE

Do I have a problem?

Sometimes it is difficult to know whether you're OK or if you have a problem that can be helped with some support from someone.

Government guidelines

The government assesses alcohol use as problematic if you are drinking more than 21 units a week and female or more than 28 units a week and male. What they mean is that consistent use of over this sort of amount is likely to damage you over a long period of time.

Our point of view

However there is another way of looking at this. You have a problem with alcohol or drugs if they are causing you problems as below:

• Social - your family can't cope with your use for example.
• Legal - your use gets you into trouble with the law.
• Financial - self explanatory, is your use costing you more than you can afford?
• Physical - can you feel the damage you are doing?
• Psychological - are you less able to deal with all the stresses and strains of life without drink or drugs, do you need them to get through the day, are you less able to function than you used to be?

So from our view if you have answered yes to any of the above then your drug or alcohol use is causing you a problem. And problems are best dealt with rather than left?