Substance Abuse

Did you know that alcohol is the UK's favourite drug? It's also the most common drug used by sailors. However it's not the only drug that can be harmful if misused. Any form of drug misuse can affect a sailor's health, making them unfit to serve.

Our favourite drug

Alcohol: it's very sociable, delicious and legal. So what's the problem?

  1. 3% of cancers
  2. 15% of traffic deaths
  3. 25% of men taken to hospital
  4. 26% of drowning
  5. 39% of deaths in fires
  6. 65% of suicides

So at what point does alcohol become a health problem?

The health experts say that alcohol is fine in moderation: to celebrate, as a gift or to socialise. But in excess, and used to solve problems or forget them, it's likely to lead to problems.

Units of alcohol

To spot problem drinking, it helps to know how much someone is drinking - not how many drinks, because they vary in size and strength, but how many units of alcohol are contained in them?

A single pub measure of spirits contains one unit. That's in England and Wales. Measures are 25% larger in Scotland and Ireland and are often a great deal bigger abroad and in your own home!

Half a regular lager contains one unit or so, but some strong lagers contain over twice that amount. Average strength bitters and ciders are similar.

Alcopops are just as alcoholic as other drinks, although they may not taste like it. A small (200ml) bottle of one of the weaker alcopops contains one unit - most contain 1.5 or more.

A small glass of weak wine (say 8%) would contain one unit of alcohol. Wines from cooler climates such as Germany are generally lower in alcohol.

A regular 175ml pub measure of average wine would come in at about 2 units. So a bottle of wine would be seven to ten units.

As a general rule of thumb, a unit is the smallest drink you can, for example a small glass of wine, a half of beer or cider, an English pub measure of spirits or a small bottle of alcopop.
 

Can they handle it?

There's no such thing as totally risk free drinking, but the government advises that above 14 units a week for women and 21 for men the risk increases.

Problematic drinking: three categories

Most young people drink more than the recommended limit. Also drinking in the Navy is seen as a way bonding sailors. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of problematic drinking: hazardous, harmful or dependant.

Hazardous drinking - Even occasional binge drinking and drunkenness can leads to fights and accidents

Harmful drinking - Regular drinking can lead to physical, social, work related and financial problems.

Dependant drinking - Drinking throughout the day in order to function is a real addiction with mild to severe withdrawal symptoms.

The real price of a pint

If a sailor new the true cost of drinking, they're more likely to drink responsibly.

  1. Alcohol-related illness costs the NHS £1.7 billion a year
  2. Two-thirds of crime dealt with in the Navy is alcohol related
  3. Alcohol stays in a woman's body longer than a man's
  4. The average body takes an hour to get rid of one unit of alcohol
  5. Alcohol affects all the major organs in the body

Alcohol-related illness, crime and inefficiency are a major and increasing cost to the NHS, police and industry. Drinking amongst young sailors affects discipline, efficiency, personal fitness and is linked to a high incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Alcohol stays in a woman's body longer because their bodies are smaller and contain less water, which endangers the liver.

 

The personal costs

Alcohol can have serious effects in four areas of a sailor's life - Liver, Lover, Livelihood and Law.

'Liver' stands for what alcohol can do to the body.

Most Navy drinking accidents come from hazardous drinking: falling down the stairs, poor decision making, severe hangovers and dehydration. But long-term harmful or dependant drinking can:

Damage heart and lung efficiency, muscle, and the immune system (making someone prone to infection)

Increase recovery time from illness and injury

'Lover' stands for what alcohol can do to relationships.

Excessive drinking often results in personality changes. These can damage relationships with colleagues, friends and family. It can also cause tragic consequences, such as domestic violence or debt.

With longer term heavy drinking men can experience "a feminising effect" leading to impotence, sterility and enlarged breasts.

'Livelihood' stands for issues at work.

Alcohol can create a range of problems, from poor performance due to hangover, to mistakes and errors of judgement that affect personal safety and operational effectiveness.

'Law' stands for legal problems.

A study of military personnel sentenced to be detained at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) highlighted that 75% had committed alcohol related offences.

In civilian life, at least two-thirds of murders, stabbings and beatings are alcohol-related, and a third of all murder victims were drunk when they died.

The 'misuse rules'

If someone admits to an alcohol misuse problem, they should talk to a MO, who may suggest treatment. Individuals who are misusing alcohol can also be identified by the Divisional System. An informal warning will be issued and the benefits of the Early Intervention Programme will be considered.

If alcohol misuse continues, further action should be taken; this includes a formal warning and further medical treatment. The responses to this treatment should be monitored.

If the behaviour persists, the next stage is advanced treatment and if appropriate, major disciplinary action. Advanced treatment is defined as admission to hospital, care under the supervision of Departments of Community Mental Health or attendance on a rehabilitation program. Although the aim is to facilitate a return to duty, if alcohol misuse continues it may result in a medical discharge.

Drug taking: Effects and causes

Can you tell?

Sometimes it's possible to recognise someone using drugs just by looking at them.

  • Wearing sunglasses when there's no sun
  • Frequently going sick for a couple of days
  • Regularly trying to borrow money
  • Unusually irritable and aggressive
  • Loss of appetite

All of these behaviours could be drug-related, including wearing sunglasses to hide dilated or constricted pupils and borrowing (or stealing) money to maintain an expensive habit. But remember, things aren't always as they seem, so never jump to conclusions. Always find out more, if you have your suspicions - there may be other reasons for these behaviours.

 

Types of drugs and their effect

There are four main groups of drugs, each with a different effect on the brain. Misusing any of them will impact a sailor's fitness to serve.

Hallucinogens - distort the way you hear or see things. They include:

  • Cannabis
  • Ketamine
  • LSD and magic mushrooms.

Depressants or sedatives - slow down brain activity and make you feel calm or drowsy. They include:

  • Gases, glues and aerosols
  • GHB 'liquid ecstasy'
  • Tranquillisers
  • Alcohol (the most frequently used depressant)

Stimulants- provide a 'rush' by increasing brain activity. They include:

  • Anabolic steroids
  • Cocaine and crack cocaine
  • Ecstasy
  • Poppers
  • Speed

Analgesics or painkillers - reduce the sensation of pain. They include:

  • Aspirin
  • Paracetamol
  • Opiates such as morphine and heroin

Why do they do it?

Almost everyone takes some kind of drug legally, and some people will have tried illegal ones. But why do they do it?

  • To feel confident and excited
  • To relax or cope with stress
  • To reduce pain
  • To change perceptions
  • To be sociable or because of peer pressure

Navy Policy Navy boundaries

Do sailors know what the Navy allows?

For any safety-critical duties, such as range work, guard duty or handling machinery sailors should have zero alcohol in their bloodstream whatsoever. Otherwise, the rule is the same for driving a car. If sailors have over 80mg of alcohol in their blood they are unfit to drive and therefore unfit for duty.

The Royal Navy has a zero tolerance approach to any illegal activity. If a sailor gets caught breaking the rules, he or she faces administrative action.

Seek advice from the Divisional system or contact your MO if you have any concerns.

For further information visit:

http://units.nhs.uk/

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

http://www.lastrounds.co.uk/web_links/alcohol_awareness_links.html

http://www.talktofrank.com/

http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Royal Navy Controlled Drinking PDF