Alcohol advice
Alcohol can have many effects on the body, but importantly it can reduce the liver’s ability to produce the building blocks necessary for healing.
If you drink regularly you should make sure you are drinking within the recommended limits or lower. If you drink more than this, you should also aim to cut down before your operation to improve your body’s ability to heal after surgery and to avoid withdrawal symptoms during your stay in hospital.
Often people are not aware of the recommended alcohol limits. If you drink most weeks, to keep health risks low, you are advised to:
- not drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis (both men and women)
- spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you drink 14 units, that is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.
Here are some tried and tested ways which people from across Wales have told us that helps them to cut down on their drinking (source: Public Health Wales)
- Swapping’ their usual drink for - a smaller drink; a lower strength drink; a soft drink; or a single not double measure
- Plan when to have alcohol free days and sticking to them
- Delay their drinking until as late as possible in the day
- Making sure that they have eaten before drinking
- Not buying alcohol when going to the shop, so if it is not in the house you can’t drink it. Or stash it away somewhere and save it for a special occasion (if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind)
- Wait until the children are in bed before having a drink
- Setting a goal or challenge and putting away the money usually spent on alcohol
We understand that making changes is not easy, especially in these difficult and uncertain times.
Have a think about what your own challenge will be in cutting down on your drinking, and how you will get through it.
There are agencies out there to help support you, and you can always talk to your GP or pharmacist if you are concerned about how much you are drinking and how to cut down.
Go here to visit the Public Health Wales Alcohol page
Support and resources available
You can find below a list of helpful resources and support available to you.
ADFAM
Provides information and support for the families of drug and alcohol users.
Follow this link to the ADFAM website where you can access more information.
Adferiad
Adferiad Recovery provides support for vulnerable people in Wales and their families and carers. Adferiad Recovery will have a particular focus on people with mental health problems, substance misuse problems, and those with co-occurring and complex needs.
Contact details: Tel: 01792 816600 Email: info@adferiad.org
ARA - Recovery For All
A registered charity, we help people to recover from mental health, drug and alcohol and gambling problems. Services are free, confidential and proven to help.
Contact details: Tel: 0330 1340 286 Email: info@recovery4all.co.uk
Barod
Trained workers operate across most of South and West Wales, providing support to individuals affected by alcohol and drugs, and their friends and family.
The support and information provided is free, confidential and non-judgmental. Barod specialises in substance use support for both adults and young people.
Barod also provides practical help including needle exchange, information, training and education about drug use, as well as advice, support and guidance around benefits, housing, health, for all drug users. It undertakes specialist substance misuse assessments and provides a range of one to one help and group activities.
Telephone support is available for adults and young people experiencing substance misuse issues. People are still able to self-refer to the service via AADAS on 01792 530719 whether they live in Swansea, Neath or Port Talbot. Barod’s young people's support service ‘Choices’, is offering new and existing service users digital support sessions and assessment through phone and text Monday to Friday.
Contact details: Tel: (01792) 472002
Follow this link to the Barod website for more information.
DAN 24/7
A free and bilingual telephone drugs helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs or alcohol.
Contact details: Tel: 0808 808 2234 Text “DAN” to 81066
FRANK
24-hour 7 days a week friendly, confidential drugs advice.
Contact details: Tel: 0300 123 6600 Text: 82111 Email: frank@talktofrank.com
Help Me Quit
The single brand for free NHS stop smoking services in Wales.
Contact details: Tel: 08000852219 Text: HMQ 80818
Newid - Drug & Alcohol Services in Swansea & Neath Port Talbot
Newid is the single point of access for people affected by drugs and alcohol. At Newid they believe that everyone can achieve their full potential, and they aim to provide the support to do so.
Commissioned by the Western Bay Area Planning Board, Newid includes partners from Swansea Bay University Health Board, PSALT, Dyfodol, Barod, WCADA and Platform. The partnership approach ensures they deliver exceptional quality of care. Newid’s core value is, working together to achieve positive change and this is integral to everything they do.
Contact details:
Tel: 0300 790 4044 (Swansea) 0300 790 4022 (Neath Port Talbot)
Email: dyfodol.swansea@uk.g4s.com
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.