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Alcohol and Cocaine

Alcohol and Cocaine. Meg Wright. PREVALENCE IN SCOTLAND. Alcohol - 50 % of men 30% of women consume more than recommended limit. Scotland has the 8th highest alcohol consumption rate in the world Many social, health and economic problems as a result. PREVALENCE IN SCOTLAND.

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Alcohol and Cocaine

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  1. Alcohol and Cocaine Meg Wright

  2. PREVALENCE IN SCOTLAND • Alcohol - 50 % of men 30% of women consume more than recommended limit. • Scotland has the 8th highest alcohol consumption rate in the world • Many social, health and economic problems as a result

  3. PREVALENCE IN SCOTLAND • Cocaine use in Scotland is the 3rd highest in Europe • 75% of cocaine users use alcohol - independently and also while using cocaine • Harm from using both is greater than using either separately

  4. EFFECTS of MIX Physical • Liver produces COCAETHYLENE • 30% increase in blood levels of cocaine if alcohol taken at same time or just before • Increase in heart rate and blood pressure • Increase load on the heart can lead to sudden cardiac death

  5. EFFECTS of Mix Psychological • Alcohol is a depressant, cocaine a stimulant – people feel they can drink more • More euphoric and rewarding leading to increased high • Feelings of wellbeing • Co-dependency

  6. EFFECTS of Mix Behavioural • Increase in physical violence • Increase in risk taking behaviours • Increase in impulsive decision making • Reduced memory and ability to learn

  7. Typical alcohol and cocaine user • Recreational – not seen as a problem, not taboo • Seen as a glamorous sociable activity • Educated/Aspirational/Affluent/Employed • Addiction related to lifestyle, culture, availability, pressures of work and status

  8. Outcome for users • Spiral into unemployment, debt, poverty • Breakdown of relationships • Child protection issues • Collapse of self-esteem • Criminal record • Poor health • Paranoia/anxiety/mental health issues

  9. Case Study • 37 year old male, employed • Consumes 32-35 units in one session • Started taking cocaine to “last the pace and keep awake” • Cocaine stopped him feeling depressed and worrying about money problems • Got arrested: “best thing ever happened to him” • Rude awakening; abstinent from alcohol and cocaine for last five months

  10. Case Study • 32 year old male, employed, homeowner • Strongly into image, appearance, suntan lounge • Spends £300-£600 a w/end on cocaine and alcohol • Takes116 units of alcohol and 2-3 grams of cocaine a weekend • “Don’t think you’re drunk, think you’re cool” • Involved in fighting - broken teeth, black eyes • Problems with work: Tired, depressed and paranoid • In alcohol counselling allied to motivational interviewing, stress management and anger management

  11. Case Study • 20 year old male from deprived area, unemployed • Drank heavily along with frequent use of cocaine • Motivating factor - boredom; the combination gave him a greater “buzz” • Made him feel happy and upbeat about his life • Began having seizures, which stopped immediately he ceased using cocaine • Still drinking, but not as heavily • Receiving counselling

  12. Conclusions • Potentially lethal combination within a relatively short period of time • Use of these two substances would appear to be increasing • Often used as part of a lifestyle and not as a response to deep underlying causes • Other problems e.g. criminal record, abuse, unemployment, tend to follow on from the use of the substances and not the other way around

  13. Conclusions • Important for assessment and screening to picks up dependency on both • Staff have to be empowered and trained to deal with both substances • More research has to be carried out into the combined effects of both and to treat them as their joint use increases

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