If you are waking up from a night of drinking to bruises and cuts you can’t identify or find yourself seriously injured or in hospital, alcohol-related injuries can be worrying.

The effects of alcohol abuse go beyond the individual, having a significant impact on societies by straining healthcare systems, law enforcement, and social services.

Alcohol abuse has a significant impact on the number of alcohol-related deaths, with half of all deaths involving alcohol being linked to alcohol-related injuries.

But it isn’t just alcohol-related injuries that can impact our lives; the slow-burning effects of internal issues inevitably lead to complex health problems that can change our lives forever.

Table of Contents

Alcohol-Related Health Problems

Alcohol can also compromise the immune system, leaving individuals more vulnerable to mental health problems, infections, and other diseases.

Common Alcohol Injuries

Over 25% of individuals seeking treatment in emergency rooms have injuries linked to alcohol consumption, such as:

Bruises
Twisted or broken ankle
Minor or severe burns
Concussion
Injuries caused by fights (which can include serious knife injuries)
Accidents at the workplace
Road traffic collisions
Drowning
Self-harm
Suicide

When it comes to common injuries under the influence of alcohol, road collisions are near the top of the list.

Road traffic collisions, whether that being through driving drunk, driven by someone drunk or not looking when we cross the road, are very common and make up most of the emergency callouts when it comes to alcohol because, as with any drug, it can impair our ability to drive or manoeuvre safely as a pedestrian around busy roads.

Alcohol consumption often leads to falls. As mentioned, alcohol can profoundly affect your balance and coordination, increasing the likelihood of falls.

Moreover, consuming alcohol can heighten the chances of drowning, particularly when paired with aquatic activities like swimming or boating. Alcohol’s impacts can also lead to inadvertent poisoning, whether from ingesting hazardous substances or misusing medication while intoxicated. These unplanned mishaps can vary from minor wounds and contusions to severe outcomes like head trauma, fractures, or fatality.

In general, alcohol has a significant impact on the risk of accidents, with potentially serious consequences for both individuals and those in their vicinity. It is crucial to recognize the potential hazards of consuming alcohol and to actively work towards preventing accidents by consuming alcohol in a responsible manner and avoiding engaging in activities that may endanger yourself or others.

The higher your alcohol intake, the greater the chance of sustaining an injury that could result in life-altering outcomes or, in severe cases, death.

How Alcohol Increases the Risk of Injuries

Drinking alcohol has a major effect on cognitive and physical functions. It hinders decision-making and impairs coordination, challenging completing tasks requiring careful movements.

Drinking alcohol can also lead to a delay in your response time, making it more difficult to react swiftly to unforeseen circumstances.

Alcohol consumption heightens the likelihood of getting into different types of accidents. Whether it’s driving, using machinery, or simply walking, the impaired decision-making, coordination, and response time caused by alcohol significantly increases the chances of accidents, making you incredibly vulnerable when doing basic day-to-day activities.

It is crucial to consider these consequences and refrain from consuming alcohol before participating in activities that demand complete cognitive and physical capabilities to protect yourself and others from potential risks.

Alcohol Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury is different to alcohol-related brain damage, but both are firmly linked to drinking heavily over a long period. Brain damage from drinking alcohol is very common. Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome, dementia, amnesia and liver-related encephalopathy.

Alcohol-related traumatic brain injuries, on the other hand, are physical injuries that happen when someone is intoxicated with alcohol.

Studies show that people with head injuries are commonly struggling with their alcohol intake. Also, close to 50% of people with traumatic head injuries are drinking more than the average level of alcohol regularly, and just under 50% are intoxicated when they injure themselves.

How to Reduce the Risk of Alcohol-related Injuries

Although there is no completely safe amount of alcohol consumption, if you decide to drink, there are steps you can take to minimize the risks associated with alcohol.

Have a conversation with your doctor about your alcohol intake.
Opt for beverages with lower alcohol content or no alcohol at all.
Eating before and during drinking can help slow down your drinking and the absorption of alcohol.
Stick to ordering small alcohol drinks while avoiding drinks with high alcohol content.
Keep track of the number of drinks you have by not allowing others to refill your glass.
Incorporate alcohol-free days into your routine.

When going out to consume alcohol or being in the presence of others who are drinking, it is crucial to take precautions in order to steer clear of any potential hazards or risky situations. These precautions can include:

Inform your loved ones about your whereabouts, the location of your gathering, and the duration of your outing.
Keep handy the contact details of your companions, and make sure your phone is fully charged before leaving.
Arrange for a sober family member or friend to provide you with a ride home before heading out. If no one is sober, opt for a taxi service instead.

What to Do if I Have an Alcohol-related Injury

If you or a friend have had an injury while drinking alcohol, then you will be expected to call 111 or 999, depending on how serious the injury was. If your injury is a non-emergency, then the number to call would be 111, and you will be transferred to a medical advisor who will then take you through the steps to learn more about the injury. If the injury is an emergency, phone 999 immediately.

Getting the help you need to curb your drinking

Making the decision to curb your drinking isn’t always an easy one because reducing your alcohol intake could also mean reducing your social intake. Socialising is important to us, and alcohol is a useful lubricant that helps us flow through conversations with ease. But, like any drug, there is always a trade-off, and if you happen to be the type that tends to go overboard and, in turn, put your life at risk when out in the town, then it may be worth looking at your options.

What are My Options?

Reducing your alcohol intake doesn’t have to be difficult. At desistal, we supply a supplement designed to minimise alcohol cravings, making it easier to change your drinking habits.

What is Desistal?

Desistal is a natural supplement designed to help reduce cravings for alcohol. It can assist you in cutting back on alcohol consumption and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

How Does Desistal Work?

Desistal is a unique product designed to aid individuals experiencing alcohol withdrawal by improving the absorption of acetate in the brain. Acetate is a substance that can help alleviate the negative effects of alcohol withdrawal.

Additionally, the supplement claims to boost the NAD+/NADH ratio in cells, potentially rejuvenating the mind and restoring balance in the body by replacing the energy source the brain has become dependent on, in this case, alcohol.

It is important to keep in mind that each person’s body is different, and it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new dietary supplements to your routine.