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Alcohol Use Screening: Overview

09 October, 2023

A woman drinking a glass of alcohol

The consumption of excessive alcohol can lead to different kinds of consequences. This can cause accidents, injuries, health issues, and even affect other people. Fortunately, people or organisations can include alcohol use screening to prevent potential causes. The screening is a valuable tool to monitor people who may be at risk for alcohol abuse. Thus, it allows professionals to take early interventions. This can help people struggling with alcohol to recover and eliminate drinking habits.

Uncontrolled alcohol use compromises the way people control and make informed decisions. This screening is important to help identify and address any liquor-related problems. As such, the screening particularly uses the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) to assess drinkers. Additionally, other methods may be applicable. This can be saliva, urine, hair or blood tests, and a breathalyser test. This article will present more about the screening, its benefits, and the types of methods it uses.

What is Alcohol Use Screening

Alcohol use screening is a method used by many professionals to assess alcohol-related problems. Usually, the screening administers a series of questions to gather information. The questioning may be in person, over the phone, or even through an online consultation. The assessment covers any aspect of alcohol use. This can be the excessiveness of use, drinking habits, and any adverse effects due to drinking alcohol.

As such, the person answers the queries, and the conductor gives a score. Thus, it is important that the drinker gives the right and precise information about the case. Also, it is vital that the conductor is trained professionally, as the scoring is crucial. Once the screening is complete, the total score will determine the result of the assessment. A high screening result means that the person is a heavy drinker or has serious drinking habits.

The result can also classify a person as to whether low-risk, risky, or high-risk to alcohol. This can help professionals give reliable advice to people struggling with alcohol consumption. Early detection or intervention is important for drinkers. This is crucial in providing good health outcomes and preventing negative effects.

Accuracy of the Screening

The screening is accurate and reliable due to the following reasons.

  • It has a consistent questionnaire approach that is tested and validated.
  • The questions have undergone a series of research and have been studied by professionals.
  • With the queries, it covers every aspect of alcohol use. This can be how often and how much a person drinks and the negative effects of it.
  • Trained professionals also administer the screening. Thus, it ensures a proper way of conducting the assessment and provides reliable results.
  • It is also a vital approach to contribute to the accuracy of other screening methods.

A professional providing guidance to a person

Types of Methods in Alcohol Use Screening

Aside from alcohol use screening, there are numerous methods to monitor liquor consumption. These approaches can contribute to the conciseness of the screening and provide a reliable result. One method is getting a saliva sample. This screening can give the most recent monitoring of alcohol use. It can identify people who drink within the last hours.

Another is the urine sample. This approach is like the saliva method, which can detect alcohol within a few hours of consumption. Nevertheless, it provides a more monitoring window than oral fluid tests. Also, a hair sample is a beneficial tool for screening. This can monitor alcohol intake from the most recent and over an extended period. This is possible because of the substances in the hair follicle.

Furthermore, a blood sample can be used for screening. This can give a more accurate and reliable result. Meanwhile, for people who prefer a non-invasive method for screening, a breathalyser is a perfect tool. It measures the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) with the breath sample of the person. This can provide a prompt result and a convenient way to check alcohol use.

Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Recognising early signs of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is important for prompt intervention. One sign is the strong thirst for alcohol. This is when people find it hard to avoid drinking alcohol. Another symptom can also be the loss of consumption control and the longer sessions of drinking. As such, people can feel a high level of tolerance to liquor.

Moreover, a sign can be negligence or loss of interest in doing daily work and meeting with other people. Another significant symptom is the awareness of the negative effects of drinking but continuously consuming it. This can be health issues or potential accidents.

A woman using a BACtrack breathalyser to monitor alcohol use

The Benefits of Taking Alcohol Use Screening

Alcohol use screening provides a lot of benefits to the drinker and the community. Firstly, it allows for the early monitoring of potential alcohol problems. With the screening, professionals can help and support the drinker to recover and eliminate the use of it. Secondly, the assessment can provide self-awareness. This can give insights about the effects of liquor and what it can do to the body and other people.

In addition, the screening can permit a personalised and customisable approach to recovery. This can help the person to have a more effective treatment and get rid of drinking alcohol. Also, with the evaluation, people can have more access and reach to support and therapy. They can consult medical professionals and ask for support from their families and loved ones.

Moreover, the assessment can give information on the prevention of accidents or harm to other people. With heavy drinkers being aware of alcohol use, they may become more responsible for drinking. Hence, people may recognise their attitude when using alcohol and practice control over it. This way, it can create a healthy lifestyle and well-being for all.

Best Approach for Recovery

There are many practices for alcohol recovery. It is crucial to seek medical attention or help. The professionals can give specific advice and recommendations for eliminating alcohol use. Also, partaking in a rehabilitation activity can aid in recovery. These provide counselling, therapy, exercises, and other measures.

It is crucial to establish a support system, which may consist of family members, friends or support groups. This system can serve as a source of motivation and encouragement for the individual to continue with their rehabilitation plan. Furthermore, it is important to create an achievable plan that can help the individual stay focused on meeting their goals.

Conclusion

There are many unfavourable effects of drinking excessive alcohol.  It can cause health problems, accidents, and potential harm to other people. Hence, it is important to seek a method to reduce or eliminate alcohol use. The alcohol use screening is a beneficial tool to monitor liquor-related issues. With a series of validated questions, professionals can identify heavy drinkers and provide prompt intervention. As such, this can eliminate the potential adverse result of utilising alcohol.

Nevertheless, there are many methods to complement and contribute to the accuracy of the screening. It can be with the use of saliva, urine, hair, or blood. There is also a less invasive option to detect alcohol, which is the breathalyser. As such, it is vital to recognise the benefits of taking the screening for the safety of all. It is also equally important to know the signs of AUD to have a quick intervention.

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