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Warning signs

Spotting the warning signs that your drinking or drug use might be getting the better of you can be the first step towards asking for help.

Does your drink or drug use:

  • Interfere with everyday responsibilities such as work or study, or your home life, family or parenting?
  • Mean that you regularly drink more than the recommended daily units?
  • Cause you to have arguments with your partner or problems in relationships?
  • Cause you to engage in risky behaviour such as unprotected sex or sharing needles?
  • Lead to trouble with the law, such as driving under the influence, stealing, disorderly behaviour, etc.?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then your drinking or drug use may be getting out of hand. It’s never too early to ask for help; most people wish they had come for help earlier. You can contact the Kingston Wellbeing Service to help you tackle the problem before it gets worse.

Daily units

Women should not drink more than two to three units
Men should not drink more than three to four units

Units in your drinks

  • A large glass of wine = two or three units
  • A pint of ordinary strength beer 3.6% = two units
  • A pint of 5% beer = around three units

Do you:

  • Need to drink, or take more and more drugs, to get the same effect?
  • Feel the urge to drink or use drugs as soon as you wake up?
  • Drink or take drugs to avoid the following withdrawal symptoms: nausea, rapid heart rate, shaky hands, blackouts, sleep problems, depression or anxiety?
  • End up drinking or taking more than you planned and feel unable to stop?
  • Frequently abandon activities that you used to enjoy and spend a lot of time planning and sorting your next drink, “hit” or “fix”?

If any of the above statements apply to you, contact us now.