What is alcohol dependence? How is alcohol consumption measured? Is there a definition for “moderate drinking”?
To answer these questions and many more, WiRED International just completed a Quitting Alcohol for Health module, which explains:
- Alcohol dependence
- Consequences of alcohol drinking
- Factors affecting alcohol consumption (e.g., age, gender, family history)
- Health problems and alcohol drinking
- Alcohol-related diseases and injuries from falls or accidents
- Long-term effects of alcohol on the body’s organs
- Alcohol use disorders and their causes, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Addressing alcohol dependence is difficult and overcoming this disorder is often a long and demanding road. Alcohol dependence can lead to serious health, relationship, employment and legal problems.
While this module has been developed as an educational tool for everyone, it is especially relevant to the important work of community health workers (CHWs). As they perform their work in clinical and classroom settings, CHWS are likely to encounter people who are alcohol dependent. The new module will equip WiRED CHWs to recognize and understand alcohol dependence and to know general strategies to guide alcohol-dependent people away from alcohol.