Ms. Martinez: OK. Physician: Do you smoke cigarettes? Ms. Martinez: Yes. Usually half a pack a day. Physician: Do you drink beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages? Ms. Martinez: Well, yes, I drink wine. Physician: How many times in the past year have you had 4 or more drinks in a day? Ms. Martinez: Hmm… I’m not sure. Physician: Well, a bottle of wine contains 5 drinks. Ms. Martinez: Oh, then, pretty often – probably every day. Physician: OK. How much do you drink on a typical drinking day? Ms. Martinez: More than I should. Physician: Meaning how much? Ms. Martinez: I hate to even tell you – probably two bottles a day. Physician: Have you been concerned? Ms. Martinez: Yes, I keep saying I’m not going to, but then I come home from work and then I just open the first bottle… Physician: And then you keep going… Ms. Martinez: Yes, I guess so – I guess I do – and then my whole night is shot – I used to do all sorts of things and I don’t do anything any more. I feel so isolated. Physician: Mm-hmm. How long has this been going on? Ms. Martinez: Quite a while – a couple of years I guess. I mean I used to always drink socially, but after the divorce, it just really picked up. Physician: Did your insomnia and depression start after the drinking picked up? Ms. Martinez: Why yes, I guess it did. Physician: Have you ever had alcohol treatment? Ms. Martinez: I went to an AA meeting once, but I felt uncomfortable and I didn’t go back. Physician: It can be uncomfortable at first. Do you feel shaky or nervous if you don’t drink? Or do you drink in the morning to relieve discomfort? Ms. Martinez: God no – I don’t drink in the morning. I do get a hangover, but I’ve never had the shakes. Physician: Do you drink and drive? Ms. Martinez: No – I really just drink at home. Physician: Has your drinking caused problems at work or in your social life? Ms. Martinez: What social life? No, I perform well at work. And really, nobody knows how much I drink. |
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