Risky drinking can affect you and your family. This section has helpful information on health and alcohol issues relevant to the veteran community. Take particular care with alcohol if:

• You have heart disease, high blood pressure or are gaining weight
• You are on medication or other drugs
• You have a physical health or social problem made worse by alcohol
• You experience depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• You have trouble sleeping
• You experience irritability or mood swings
• Your family has a history of alcohol-related problems
• You are an older person
• You're going to drive or use machinery

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Sleep
Relationships
Alcohol and Ageing
Medication
Physical Health
Mental Health

Disturbed sleep is something that many veterans know about. While some veterans believe that alcohol may help them to get to sleep quickly, it really just 'knocks you out' without producing restful sleep. About 2-4 hours after getting to sleep, you may wake up. Worse, it is difficult to get to sleep again. We know that alcohol disrupts the later part of the sleep cycle and can lead to night sweats and early morning waking.

Hints for a Better Night's Sleep

1. Don't use alcohol to help you sleep
2. Only go to bed when you are tired
3. Keep the bed for sleeping and sex. If reading helps you get to sleep, keep it to a maximum of 20 minutes
4. Try relaxation and breathing exercises if you can't get to sleep, or get up and do something else
5. Get into a sleep routine and pattern - get up at the same time every day, even on weekends
6. Don't nap during the day
7. Avoid coffee and cigarettes before bedtime
8. Hunger can stop you from sleeping - a light snack before going to bed can help
9. Don't look at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night
10. Insulate your bedroom against random outside noises and block out light
11. Keep your bedroom at at even temperature - not too hot or cold
12. Warm milk or drinks like Horlicks may help stimulate sleep
13. Don't save your 'think time' for bed - make a list and look at it the next day
14. Exercise every day

If you are thinking about cutting out alcohol, it will take some time before your sleep improves.

You can find more information about the effects of alcohol on sleep in the Guide to Low-Risk Drinking.

Click here to view the Guide to Low-Risk Drinking.

Veterans have told us that one of the main reasons for doing something about their drinking is to improve, or even save, their relationships with their partner, family or mates.

Many veterans who would regard themselves as moderate drinkers, may at times drink in ways that could cause problems for themselves and others leading to social, family and psychological problems.

Alcohol misuse and problem drinking can have a major impact on family, friends and community. It often contributes to violence and conflict in families. And the amount of money spent on alcohol may place additional financial pressures on families.

Veterans not in relationships

Veterans who are lacking close family involvement, or are living by themselves, can feel isolated. For some, regular drinking becomes a way to structure their time and the likelihood of developing risky, high-risk or dependent drinking habits increases. Also, preparing regular nutritious meals may not be a priority and this further increases the risk.

Click here for more information, advice and assistance.
Click here for information on how to help someone with their drinking.

For many older veterans and war widows, alcohol is not always seen as a potential health problem. Many believe in fact that it has some health benefits. Even though most older veterans have told us they have cut down on their drinking, it is still important to be aware of the impact of alcohol on your health as you get older.

Click here for more information about alcohol and health.

Most veterans are aware that they can't knock it back the way they used to and if they do, then they certainly feel the effects. Both the health considerations and the impact of alcohol change as you get older. From about middle-age your body doesn't handle alcohol like it used to. You've got less water in your body to absorb the alcohol, so more stays in your bloodstream, affecting you faster than it used to.

A number of other factors make alcohol consumption riskier for older people, as identified in the National Alcohol Guidelines.

These include:

• a much higher use of medications which may interact with alcohol
• a higher risk of falls in older age which may be further increased by alcohol
• driving ability may be influenced by the effects of ageing and the risk may be further increased by alcohol

Click here to view our fact sheet on alcohol and older people.

Alcohol can have harmful effects when combined with medication. Your medication may not work as well, or not at all, if you drink. Alcohol can be particularly dangerous when used with other drugs that have similar effects, such as sleeping pills and anti-depressants. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the possible effects of alcohol on your medication.

Alcohol and Medication

Just one drink may cause interactions with some medications. It is important to always check the labels and pamphlets that come with medication and herbal preparations and carefully check for possible interactions with alcohol.

Areas of possible concern are:

Antidepressants and other medications prescribed for the management of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety or PTSD, may cause a range of side-effects when combined with alcohol;

• antihistamines, which may cause drowsiness in combination with alcohol;
• benzodiazepines like Valium, Normison, Serapax, Mogadon. Like alcohol, they may slow your thinking down and make you drowsy.
• medicines that already contain alcohol, thereby increasing the amount of alcohol consumed;
• some cough medicines that contain antihistamines, codeine and alcohol;
• drugs for high blood pressure or angina, which can cause dizziness when combined with alcohol;
• medications to lessen the risk of blood clotting and stroke, as drinking can affect the control of blood clotting;
• some medications used for epilepsy, arthritis, and diabetes;
• arthritis medicines, which may cause stomach upsets in combination with alcohol;
• some antibiotics.

To talk to a DVA Pharmacy Advisor, contact your DVA State Office on 133 254.

Click here to view our fact sheet on alcohol & medication.

Like most people, veterans have a strong interest in being or becoming healthy, particularly as they get older.

Alcohol has a range of short-term health effects and can have a negative impact on:

• The brain
• Stress levels, sleep patterns and sexual function
• The gut and pancreas
• The heart and the circulatory system

Over time, alcohol at sufficient levels increases your risk of developing:

• Cancer
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Brain cell damage and memory loss
• Alcohol dependence

Click here to view our fact sheet on the effects of alcohol on the body.

History of Alcohol Related Problems

People with a family history of alcohol-related problems are more at risk of having difficulties with alcohol (These include parents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins).

Regular alcohol-free days are highly recommended to help people avoid alcohol-related problems by breaking the drinking pattern.

Driving or Using Machinery

Your drinking may be risky if you are about to engage in activities involving risk or a degree of skill such as driving, operating machinery, flying or water sports.

Click here to view our fact sheet on alcohol and injury.

Health Benefits

Many veterans believe that alcohol has health benefits.

While studies suggest that low-risk drinking (1-2 drinks per day) may reduce the risk of heart disease in older people, doctors do not advise non-drinkers to take up drinking for heart health! A healthy lifestyle is a smarter choice. Not smoking, increasing exercise and improving diet - a combination of these has more benefits than low level drinking.

Beer, like other alcoholic drinks, is high in calories and it contains no nutrients or vitamins. Too much of any alcohol can lead to obesity.

Click here for information about low-risk drinking.
Click here to view our fact sheet on the health benefits of alcohol.

The relationship between alcohol misuse and other mental health conditions is complex. For many veterans problems with alcohol are long standing and co-exist with other mental health problems.

Alcohol dependence is second only to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the most commonly accepted mental health disability amongst veterans by DVA. Problem drinking is also a significant factor in other accepted disabilities.

Some veterans have used alcohol to deal with the symptoms of PTSD and the symptoms of poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, low mood and poor concentration.

Most vets who have tried to control these symptoms of PTSD, or anxiety and depression, with alcohol know it only provides temporary relief. In fact, most veterans and their partners would agree that alcohol usually makes the symptoms worse. Counselling for PTSD, anxiety and depression, is a better option. There are also alcohol and PTSD programs available.

Click here to find help

Alcohol dependence or even problem drinking can often make it difficult to assess and treat co-existing mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders, and PTSD.

Click here to view our fact sheet on the effects of alcohol dependence.

Long-term alcohol misuse can be a cause of a number of mental health conditions such as alcoholic psychosis, alcohol dependence syndrome and alcohol-related dementia.

Click here to view our fact sheet on the effects of alcohol on mental health.

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