What is our Inquiry question?
How can we intervene with our clients alcohol health to prevent alcohol impelled complications?
What are our sub questions? (What do we need to find out in order to answer our inquiry?)
What long term effects can excessive consumption of alcohol cause?
- High blood pressure
- Addiction
- Mental/emotional problems
- Liver problems
What methods of reducing alcohol consumption have been proven effective before.
- Are there certain techniques?
- Strategies?
How can excessive consumption of alcohol affect emotional and mental wellbeing?
- Family
- Mental
- Wellbeing
Why did we choose this topic?
We chose this topic because not only can we help our client whom we know to live a healthier lifestyle, we can learn how we can avoid the problem the client is facing. We also chose this topic because there is a lot of research regarding alcohol health that will be beneficial in providing insightful ideas that we can improve and alter, or even spark an idea in our minds.
What do I need to know for this intervention to work?
For this intervention to work, I will need to know the lifestyle of my client. This will allow me to tailor the intervention exactly for the client. For example, I will need to do further research on the type of alcohol the client consumes, whether the drinks are measured exactly to the standard volume, the reason why he drinks, if he has any mental health problems which cause him to consume this amount, if his eating habits are impacted, what will occur if he doesn’t consume his 3-4 drinks a day, how his sleep is impacted and if there are any evident family problems that has risen from the consumption of alcohol.
Answers to above:
- Client consumes Black Label Whiskey
- He does not measure his alcohol
- He drinks to calm himself
- He does not have mental problems
- He eats normal amount, but consumes junk food with his drinks
- He will feel aggravated and overwhelmed if he doesn’t consume for one day
- He does not have good sleep
- His family has arguments after he consumes
Who do I need to liaise with to make this intervention safe, meaningful and possible?
I need to liaise with the teacher to make this intervention safe. This is because Mrs Litherland is knowledgeable in the HPE field and therefore will be able to assist us if the intervention is safe or not. Further, it will be good to research online if there are any precautions we need to take before we undertake the intervention. I will also have to liaise this intervention with my client quite a lot to ensure that it is meaningful to them, and so that they can get most of the intervention. Also, to ensure that we are backed up, we will need to research, to ensure we are giving our client the most meaningful intervention possible. Additionally, to make the intervention possible, I will need to liaise with my partner to ensure that we are organised and have planned our time, to fit in conversations with the client, and also to plan on how we will execute the intervention.
What resources do we need?
We will require the World Wide Web. This will allow us to access a wide variety of resources online, which can guide us on the intervention. I will need access to a device allowing me to contact the client and interview them, to do regular check-ups. Further, we will need to access Mrs Litherland, to ensure that we are on the right track for the intervention, and to provide us feedback throughout the semester,
How am I feeling about this action project at this point in time?
I feel excited to create a 6 week intervention for my client to improve their health, and therefore the people around them. I also am looking forward to researching the impacts of alcohol, as this is topic which I am passionate about. Further, I feel like I am giving back to the community (even though it is one person), as I am aiding thwho can better their health, which can have a positive ripple effect on others around the client.
Answers to Sub questions…….. (show research that supports your answers)
What long term effects can excessive consumption of alcohol cause?
Long term effects of alcohol include (Stop Teen DUI, 2019):
- “Disrupts normal brain development;
- Liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver;
- Brain cells die, decreasing brain mass;
- Stomach and intestinal ulcers and destroyed organs;
- Blood pressure increases, causing heart disease, heart attack, or stroke;
- Male sperm production decreases;
- Lower levels of iron and vitamin B, causing anemia;
- Alcoholism;
- Death; and
- Fetal alcohol syndrome in unborn children”
What methods of reducing alcohol consumption have been proven effective before?
Treatments that have proven to be effective include, behavioural treatment. This would “change[] drinking behaviour through counselling” (NHI, 2014).
Medication has also proved to work. For example, there are 3 drugs approved in the US to stop/reduce people from drinking. This has been combined with counselling as well (NHI, 2014).
Mutual-Support Groups have proven usesful as they are anonymous 12-step program where peer support is provided to quit or reduce drinking (NHI, 2014). This is particularly unique for our client as they want this intervention to be anonymous.
How can excessive consumption of alcohol affect emotional and mental wellbeing?
Alcohol is used to “alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression,” and can relax the brain, therefore assisting in sleep . It can prevent the body to rest, therefore making our system to work harder to excrete the alcohol from the body. Furthermore, it can block emotions, therefore, it allows you to avoid any challenging aspects of life (e.g. divorce)
(Mental Health Foundation, 2019) .
Alcohol impacts neurotransmitters in the brain therefore it makes you feel confident and lose emotional feelings. This substance also causes depression and anxiety, because alcohol “interferes with neurotransmitter,” hindering our bodies capability of a good mental state. Alcohol can cause suicide, self-harm and psychosis as the depressant makes people “lose their inhibitions and behave impulsively.” In addition, alcohol damage your memory as the substance causes our mind to stop storing memories (Drink Aware, 2016).
See below videos about Alcohol and Mental Health:
Video 1 (50 secs)
When are we going to deliver the presentation?
We will deliver the presentation next term for the first 6 weeks. This will be composed of lots of videos, pictures, research and blogging on our website.
What are my specific key responsibilities from here and on the day?
My specific responsibility will be to speak with the client and interview them with specific questions that I or my partner create. I will also need to consider how I will approach my client without being confronting about their health. Therefore I will need to ensure that I speak to them respectfully to ensure that they are not hurt. I will need to research and continue brainstorming on the interventions we want to do. Currently, I am thinking to do a few weeks of education, health scare, and then action the intervention.
Alcohol Health Intervention 