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After months of deception, denial and dependence, Alice Carter seems to have hit rock bottom. Alice’s relationship with alcohol has been problematic for some time, and her efforts to quit drinking have, so far, proved futile. When the discovery of her unplanned pregnancy was not enough to outweigh the lure of the bottle, it became clear that Alice was in serious need of help.

Her husband Chris discovered the extent of her problem when he witnessed the devastating effects of her withdrawal symptoms. With the wellbeing of both Alice and her baby in jeopardy, we look at how events got so out of hand and consider what her future might look like.

For several years now, Alice has often struggled to stick to just one drink, but the stresses brought by 2020 have led to her using alcohol as a crutch. She was undoubtedly not the only one to order a large crate of wine to see her through the first lockdown, but her dependency became clear when she started turning to spirits in the afternoon and when she was alone. This is not uncommon, explain Matt Thomas and Michael Rawlinson of Action on Addiction, a UK charity that works across treatment, education, research and family support. Research and surveys have shown that fear, worry, boredom and isolation have contributed to increased drinking during the pandemic. “Addiction is known to be a disease of isolation and so the lockdown can be considered a perfect environment. People stuck at home, worried about their finances and their health, left without routine, can easily turn to drink.” says Matt.

Alice’s addiction was almost exposed when Gavin Moss found her unconscious on the side of the road and rushed her to A&E. She’d spent the evening drinking alone by the river, but placated a frantic Chris by convincing him that she’d simply blacked out due to dehydration on a run. What Alice couldn’t hide from him for long, however, was that while she was hospitalised the doctors had discovered that she was pregnant. While Chris, the Carters and the Aldridges were delighted, Alice was in turmoil. Try as she might, she couldn’t undo the binges she’d unknowingly inflicted on the baby, and she wasn’t convinced she could stay on the wagon in future either.

For those with addiction issues, pregnancy can unleash a whole host of new concerns. Matt explains: “Pregnancy can give the emotions of fear and anxiety that so often accompany addiction a very specific focal point, so that the fears become associated with the pregnancy. Fear of having to stop drinking, of not being able to stop drinking, of what others will think of you for not stopping drinking, of being discovered, of harming the baby through drinking.” As we have heard, Alice has had to confront all of these fears. Yet the problem can be cyclical, and the resulting anxiety can lead to drinking in order to cope.

Hiding in plain sight

The severity of Alice’s situation hit her this week when she discovered she was bleeding. Though the baby is alive and developing well, Alice can’t help but feel her drinking caused the bleed. Everything slotted into place for Chris when she confessed that she’s not only had a drinking problem for years, she’s also been drinking heavily throughout the pregnancy. Suddenly, the reason she quit her job became clear. So too did the cause of her collapse at the roadside, the justification for Ed and Emma’s accusations, and even Alice’s “morning sickness”.

Alice, like many addicts, attempted to conceal her drinking out of both shame and denial, so it’s no wonder that Chris was taken by surprise. It is not just Alice’s secretive behaviour that enabled her addiction to deepen. As a young, successful, seemingly high-functioning woman, Alice doesn’t fit many people’s idea of an alcoholic. “In a lot of cases like Alice’s, it can go undetected for longer, due to the high-achieving, affluent, middle-class nature of her life” Matt explains, meaning she wouldn’t have to resort to crime to fund her addiction. Stereotypical ideas of what an alcoholic resembles can be dangerous, he says, “as they can stop people seeking help, not because of shame, but because of ‘it doesn’t happen to people like me’ preconceptions.” With research suggesting that there are currently 5 million problematic drinkers in the UK, all demographics will be affected. As Matt says, “addiction can happen to anyone.”

What does the future hold?

When alcohol withdrawal leaves Alice sick, shaking and hallucinating, Chris knows she needs an urgent intervention. Will she accept a stint in rehab? If she is to avoid harming her unborn child, giving up drinking will be non-negotiable, and she will have to put her denial behind her. Now Alice is coming to terms with her illness, it’s down to her to seek recovery.