Up to a third of young women with drinking problems may have an eating disorder. Heavy drinkers may concomitantly abuse other drugs, especially minor tranquillisers. Heavy drinking can give rise to phobic symptoms and may also be used to self-medicate for anxiety symptoms. Alcoholic hallucinosis may last weeks or months, but may disappear on stopping alcohol and re-appear if drinking starts again. Social Heavy drinking is associated with increased physical and sexual abuse.
Children have an increased risk of conduct disorder and delinquency.
There is an association between crime and drinking. Management Early intervention is essential as the majority of problem drinkers do not come into contact with specialist alcohol treatment services. This can lead to a reduction in consumption by about 25-35 per cent and a reduction in proportion of excessive drinkers of around 45 per cent. Such interventions may be carried out effectively in primary care and therefore there is a role for the community pharmacist. Specialist treatment services include community alcohol teams, in-patient alcohol units and residential therapeutic communities.