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Alcohol Addiction And Prevention

Concerned About Your Use of Alcohol?
Now you can Assess your Alcohol use.

State employees and their family members can now participate in a free, anonymous, confidential alcohol use screening tool to determine if your drinking is harmful or putting you at risk. You can participate in the screening via either a website or telephone.

To participate in the online screening, click here:

To participate in the telephone based screening, from a touch tone telephone, call: 1-877-788-4173.

The following topics were chosen to provide you with more information about alcohol and its use.

Alcohol and Your Health: Where Do You Draw the Line?

Alcohol and Medications
More that 150 commonly used medications may interact harmfully with alcohol. These interactions can cause further illnesses, injury or even death. For more information click on the following links: click here: and click here:

Women and Alcohol
Overall, women drink less than men, but achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and become more impaired than men after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol. Women appear to be more vulnerable than men to many adverse consequences of alcohol related organ damage, interpersonal violence and to trauma resulting from car crashes. For more information, click here:

Alcohol and Your Heart
Studies have shown that moderate drinkers - men who have two or fewer drinks per day and women who have one or fewer drinks per day - are less likely to die from one form of heart disease than are people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink more. For more information
click here:

Alcohol Problems and Psychological Trauma
During periods of high stress and anxiety, the rate of alcohol consumption greatly increases. People with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are more likely than others with similar backgrounds to have alcohol use problems both before and after being diagnosed with PTSD. People with alcohol use problems often also have PTSD. For more information click here: http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/specific/fs_alcohol.html
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa03.htm

Alcohol and HIV/AIDS
People with alcohol use disorders are more likely than the general population to put themselves at risk for HIV infection. People with HIV are more likely to abuse alcohol at some time during their lives. For more information, click here:

Alcohol and Special Populations
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, nationality and economic status. In general though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. For more information, click here:

Alcohol and Cancer
According to a recent Washington State University study, cancer patients who drink excessively may shorten their lives. The study found that drinking too much can double the weight loss that typically occurs with cancer. That weight loss, which include deletion of body fat, can cut down on survival time. For more information, click here:

Alcohol Use Among College Students
Recent news articles suggest that drinking on today's college campuses remains problematic, particularly binge drinking. According to a recent study by the federal government, nearly 500,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured while under the influence of alcohol. For more information, click here:

Alcohol Problems Across the Generations
The disease of alcoholism may be inherited. You are at increased risk if a first degree relative (mother, father, sister or brother) has an alcohol problem. For more information, click on the following links: click here: and click here

Alcohol and the Workplace
Research has shown that employees who use alcohol or drugs at work are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in an accident. Alcohol and drug related problems are one of the top four reasons for the rise in workplace violence. According to a study from the University of Buffalo, workers who drink are 2 times more likely to call in sick the next day. For more information, click here:

Risk Factors for Alcohol Problems

There are no safe drinking levels for women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, breastfeeding or for individuals who have been treated for an alcohol problem.
Individuals taking medication and those with a medical or mental health conditions should check with their doctor or pharmacist before drinking any amount of alcohol
Individuals with a family history of problem drinking or alcoholism have an increased risk for developing alcohol problems.

At Risk Drinking Levels

For men: more than 4 drinks a day and more than 14 drinks a week.
For women: more than 3 drinks a day and more than 7 drinks a week.
For individuals age 65 and over: more than 1 drink a day.

One Drink Equals:

1 12oz bottle of beer or wine cooler
1 5oz glass of wine
1 1.5oz of 80 proof liquor

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Misuse and Addiction

A large number of people get into serious trouble because of their drinking. One out of every 13 adults misuse alcohol or are alcoholic.

Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12 month period:

Failure to fulfill major work, school or home responsibilities;
Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as driving a car or operating machinery;
Having recurring alcohol related social or legal problems such as:
- Being arrested for driving under the influence
- physically hurting someone while you are drunk
- being a victim of violence yourself
- arguments with or a separation from your spouse or other family members
- strained relationships with your co-workers
- absence from or lateness to work with increasing frequency
- loss of your job due to decreased productivity

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a disease that includes 4 symptoms:

Craving - A strong need or compulsion to drink
Loss of control - the inability to limit your drinking on any given occasion
Physical Dependence - Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety that occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
Tolerance - The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high".

Alcohol Misuse and Alcoholism Treatment

Alcohol use disorders and other alcohol problems are treatable. Treatment options include brief interventions, medication, counseling, self-help groups and inpatient treatment.

For help in getting started with your treatment, contact our EAP program at 1-800-451-1834

For help in finding treatment resources in Maine, contact the Maine Office of Substance Abuse at 1-800-499-0027 or on line at http://www.maine.gov/bds/osa/treatment/services.htm

Treatment resources can also be found through the federal government's office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They can be located on-line at: http://www.findtretment.samhsa.gov

State of Maine Employee health insurance benefits include treatment for alcohol/drug misuse and addiction. The services include:

Crisis intervention

Individual treatment

Group treatment

Inpatient and outpatient assessment and treatment

Alternate care, such as partial hospitalization

Inpatient treatment

Follow-up and aftercare

These services are coordinated through Anthem Behavioral Health Services. Anthem can be contacted at 1-800-755-0851.

State of Maine Employee Health Insurance Program benefits for mental health and substance misuse and addiction under our point of service plan include:

Inpatient substance abuse - Up to 31 days per member per calendar year. Two days of day treatment count as one inpatient day.

Coverage is 100% with pre authorization from Green Spring.

Coverage is 90% after the deductible if you self refer yourself into treatment without contacting Green Spring first.

Outpatient substance abuse - Up to $1,500. per member per calendar year.

Coverage is 100% with preauthorized from Green Spring

Coverage is 90% after the deduct able if you self refer yourself without contacting Green Spring first.

For Questions or more information about your benefits, contact the office of Employee Health and Benefits at 1-800-422-4503 or 287-6780