About
Local Resources
•
Alcohol
. Health Services
Tri County Mental
offices in
Lewiston
Oxford
Farmington
Rumford
Bridgton
call toll free: 1-888 - 304-4673 or
web: www.tcmhs.org
TCMH accepts MaineCare and many
other insurances; sliding fee scale too
overuse
What are the signs?
What can I do
to feel better?
Community Concepts
Offers school-based counseling for
students at Leavitt, Oxford Hills, Auburn,
Lewiston, Poland and Mt. Ararat
Call (207) 795-4065 or email
[email protected]
•
•
•
Evergreen Behavioral Services
Farmington, (207) 778-0035
or web: http://www.fchn.org/ebs
Call 211 (Free call!) for a list of local
medical and behavioral health
providers
•
Call your physician’s office
and ask for an appointment
Community Concepts, Inc. www.community-concepts.org
Tri County Mental Health Services www.tcmhs.org
With support from
Maine Health Access Foundation www.mehaf.org
next steps...
The double-edged sword
called Alcohol.
This is America - many adults use alcohol when
relaxing after work, enjoying a ball game, entertaining friends and celebrating holidays.
Alcohol may become a problem when:
*You have more than 14 or more drinks per
week for or 4 or more drinks per day if you are
male;
*You have 7 drinks per week or 3 or more
drinks per day if you are female;
A “drink” equals one 12 ounce beer, one “shot”
of hard liquor, or 1/5th of a regular bottle of
wine.
If you drink a six-pack every Friday night, that
is not low risk drinking, because you drank 6
drinks on one day.
What about professional help?
Substance use counselors help people with
alcohol issues reduce or stop drinking. You
don’t need to already have stopped to see a
counselor! Contact a counselor if you are
concerned about your use.
There are no silver bullets but counselors who
use motivational enhancement and cognitive
behavioral counseling are able to help people
identify and overcome triggers to use, and help
you figure out how to live and even enjoy life
without using. Medication assisted therapy can
reduce the painful cravings people have when
stopping drinking.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Counselors are your coaches to help you
learn to reduce or stop.
Tips to stay a low risk drinker:
Keep track of how much you drink.
Count and measure. Memorize the standard drink sizes so you can make a drink
accurately and know how many you are really consuming.
• Set goals. Tell yourself you will only have one drink and stick with it.
• Pace and space. Sip slowly. Have no more than one standard drink an hour. Alternate between a
non-alcohol drink, like water or soda.
• Include food. Don’t drink on an empty stomach; food helps alcohol absorb slower.
• Find alternatives. Fill your time with healthy relationships, passionate hobbies and activities that
don’t include alcohol.
• Avoid triggers. Certain people, places become associated with drinking. Recognize your triggers
and create ways to avoid them.
Important Note: If you are already over-using alcohol, or can’t stop drinking once you start, these tips may not be for
you. You may be a high risk drinker and need other strategies including stopping. See the screen tool in this brochure.
•
•
Quick alcohol abuse screen
1. Have you ever felt you should cut down
on your drinking or drug use?
Yes
No
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing
your drinking or drug use?
Yes
No
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your
drinking or drug use?
Yes
No
4. Have you ever had a drink or used drugs
first thing in the morning to steady your
nerves or get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?
Yes
No
How to score: Count up the number of
“Yes” answers.
What does my score mean?
A score of 0 or 1 means no apparent
problem.
A score of 2 or more is “clinically
significant.”
You may be at risk of problem drinking or
dependence. The authors of the screening
questions would recommend that you
contact your health care practitioner or a
substance use counselor about your
drinking.