| H |
Definition |
| Halfway House |
Transition facilities for treatment of substance abuse where patients are admitted voluntarily and agree not to use drugs while there. Halfway Houses provide a bridge between in-patient facilities and self-reliance. |
| Hallucination |
Visual, auditory, or tactile perceptions of things that are not really there. Part of the Delirium Tremens, but also occuring during withdrawal. See also Delirium Tremens, Illusion |
| Hallucinogens |
Substances triggering hallucinations when taken. Drugs whose prominent effect is to produce hallucinations or alterations in visual perception. |
| Hard drinks |
Distilled alcoholic beverages. See also spirits. |
| Harmful drinking |
Alcohol ingestion which has lead to physical, psychological or social problems. |
| Hazardous drinking |
Drinking which increases the risk of adverse consequences (high risk drinking), and drinking associated with transient problems or early signs of dependence. Drinking above moderate drinking guidelines. There are no universally accepted cutoffs or consensus for alcohol consumption that would constitute "hazardous drinking". In a research context, much of the data regarding assessment of harm is collected through surveys. |
| Head injury secondary to alcohol |
Trauma occurring under the influence of alcohol is a common indicator of excessive alcohol use. See also trauma, injury. |
| Heart |
(cardiovascular disease, heart disease) |
| Heart disease |
(See heart) |
| Heavy drinkers |
Individuals drinking larger than average quantities. Quantitatively, 60 or more drinks per month. A heavy drinking occasion is defined as taking more than 5 drinks per occasion for a male, or more than three for a female. |
| Heavy episodic drinking |
Taking relatively large amounts of alcohol (usually 5 or more drinks per occasion) intermittently, alternating with periods of non- or light drinking; includes weekend drinking (for social reasons) and binge drinking. |
| Hepatitis |
Inflammation and necrosis of the liver cells created by an accumulation of lipids due to excessive absorption of alcohol. Hepatitis can evolve into cirrhosis |
| Hepatoma |
See Liver cancer |
| Heroin |
An opiate drug derived from the opium poppy with similar properties to morphine. It is most commonly a drug of abuse, although it has received limited medical use for treatment of pain. |
| Hidden alcoholics |
Problem drinkers whose alcohol related problems have not been recognized or acknowledged. |
| High |
A colloquial expression for euphoric feelings accompanying the ingestion of alcohol or other drugs. |
| High risk drinking |
See Drinking, high risk |
| History |
Patient history |