How do you know whether I/my friend/my family member has an acquired a brain impairment through alcohol and other substance use?

The early stages of alcohol or substance related brain impairment are difficult to detect without professional assessment, and in many cases people are unaware of changes to their functioning until the damage is significant. Problems with memory are often the first signs of alcohol related brain impairment, although changes in organisational skills, flexibility of thinking and the ability to manage stress also feature.

With alcohol, where someone has used more than the recommended daily amounts (more than 6 standard drinks per day for men or more than 3 standard drinks for women) for 10 years or more some impairment is likely.

It is more difficult to judge the amounts of other substances necessary to incur brain impairment. Some substances are more dangerous than others – for example it is likely there is no ‘safe’ level of use of inhalants like paint and petrol. More research is needed into the actions of individual substances, as well as the effects of poly-substance use.