Intervention Week 4: Reducing consumption – Schedule

Schedule 15th May (Wednesday) – 21st May (Tuesday)

Day	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Monday	Tuesday
Alcohol Intake *	3 ½ standard	3 ½ standard	3 standard	2 ½ standard	2 ½ standard	2 standard

*Please use a measure glass to ensure you are only drinking the recommended volume. The Australian Department of Health (ADG) outlines how to calculate a standard drink of alcohol:

“Volume of Container in Litres multiplied by the percentage of alcohol volume multiplied by 0.789, equals the number of standard drinks
0.789 is the specific gravity of ethyl alcohol” (ADG, 2012).

A gradual schedule that deducts the alcohol intake of the client is essential. Drug Rehab mentions that a systematic, and gradual reduction of a person’s alcohol intake is vital to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms (2018)

Reflection

What did you do?

This week I created a schedule for our client to adhere by for the whole week. The schedule slowly guides our client to reduce his intake down to 2 standard drinks by Tuesday night. I though this method would be most efficient because it is really hard to reduce your consumption immediately when you have been drinking high intakes for a long period of time. We also asked our client to use a measuring glass to ensure that when they are drinking their whiskey, they are drinking the exact volume. This is because even 1 mL over every drink equates to 28 mL extra in a week (assuming they drink 4 drinks everyday). Hopefully, my client follows this schedule and has the wheel-power to do so.

How did it go?

This schedule went really well due to the positive feedback I received from my client. The schedule really helped him reduce his intake over a time period. The slow approach to reduce his intake was successful as he required this type of strategy to reduce his over intake to standard intake. I believe my client struggled, but overcame his temptation. This was expected as he is suddenly changing his bad habit that started 37 years ago; in due time, he should have no issues in changing his habit.

How did you feel?

This week I had a feeling of unexpectedness where I was not sure of whether our client will follow the schedule due to their bad habit that lasted for 37 years. I was also a bit scared that they would get emotional about reducing their intake, and that I will receive an angry call from our client releasing their anger on me for putting them in a situation where they have to be resilient. However, this was not the case, and luckily our client found our schedule useful.

Client Feedback

How did you feel having to reduce your intake gradually over the past week? Explain your struggles (if applicable)?

In the beginning it was hard but then I got used to it. 

Did you adhere to the schedule at all times? Did you ever go over the limit?

One day I did go over the limit and felt guilty about it. 

How has your sleep been affected from consuming less alcohol?

Sleep has been better.

Explain you productivity of the day, as you have started to consume less?

I feel more alert and the hangover is less in the morning.

Was this an effective intervention to start of the Practical Implementation of the program? Explain why/why not?

Yes, it was because my consumption was reduced slowly rather than in one big hit. 

Next week I will create you an exercising schedule to got with the drinking schedule; is there any specific exercises that you would be interested in?

Walking on the tread mill in the gym. 

Was it successful? Why?

Yes, this intervention was successful as evident from the client’s feedback. Our client has experienced improved productivity in the morning due to his gradual decrease of his alcohol intake. Also, he was glad that I gradually decreased his intake because as he said, it was not sudden or overwhelming. Also, the client’s sleep has improved, because as researched in previous interventions, substances in alcohol interfere with your neurotransmitters, therefore affecting your sleep. I am glad that if his health is already improving in one week, I am sure that it will only continue to do so. However, our client was honest and mentioned that he did go over the limit for one day. This was expected, as dropping your alcohol intake from high consumption rates is difficult

What changes need to occur?

According to client feedback, our intervention seemed to go well, therefore there are not many major changes that I will be undertaking. However, as this schedule for the next two week will bore my client and will not be interesting, I am thinking of creating an exercise schedule that will go along with the 2 standard drinks per day. I am also thinking to reduce the frequency of the amount of days he drinks to ensure that he is drinking minimal alcohol as possible, (even though Australian Dietary Guidelines say 14 standard drinks a week is fine). As we can agree that the lesser alcohol you consume, the better it is for your overall health.

Free Blogging

Keep posted as I will be creating an exercise schedule for our client which will go along with the reduced alcohol consumption schedule. However, instead of drinking 2 standard drinks everyday; I will ask the client to drink less frequently. Watch this space as we still have 2 more weeks to change the life of our client.