Alcohol Addiction

Signs of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is different from ordinary social drinking. Social drinking usually refers to the moderate use of alcohol on social occasions, such as a celebration or a dinner or sporting event with friends.

Be alert for signs of a drinking problem.

Alcohol abuse enters the picture when the use of alcohol begins to cause problems for the drinker, but they don't stop drinking. The person may miss work or get into legal trouble. The alcohol use may put a strain on family relationships or friendships. Driving drunk is also a sign of alcohol abuse.

Alcoholism, also called alcohol dependence or addiction, is an even more serious problem. Addicts experience cravings for alcohol. They have trouble cutting down on their alcohol use. They develop tolerance, meaning that it takes more and more to get drunk. And when they stop drinking, they experience symptoms of withdrawal such as shakiness, anxiety, and nausea. In severe cases withdrawal can lead to seizures, hallucinations, and even death.

How Much Is Too Much?

Many Americans can consume one or two drinks a day without putting their health at risk. One drink per day for women, and two for men, is considered moderate use. Men who are problem drinkers typically consume more than 14 drinks a week, or often have more than four drinks at one occasion. For women and for people over 65, the indicative figures are 7 or more drinks per week, or three or more at a time. However, even people who drink less can have a problem with alcohol.

Behavioral Effects

Alcohol abuse and addiction cause subtle damage in the initial stages, which may simply manifest as behavioral inconsistencies. Small arguments and issues often get absorbed into the family situation in the initial stages and may seem to stem from other immediate causes and “triggers” rather than the alcoholics’ own mental and emotional problems.

Such issues can seriously damage a family and its foundations over time. The alcoholic may progressively withdraw from social, personal and emotional interactions.

Some Common Signs of Alcohol Abuse

These may include some or all of the following:

• Daily or frequent use of alcohol. "I need a drink to calm me down“ or “There’s nothing like two stiff drinks after a hard day at the office.”
• Solitary drinking. Society accepts and condones social drinking, or drinking within groups and on occasions. If an individual displays a distinct preference for solitary drinking, especially on a daily or frequent basis, there may be cause for concern.
• Making excuses to drink. If you find someone simply waiting for an excuse to drink, however trivial or frivolous it may seem to others, it is time to start the alarm bells ringing.
• Secretive behavior. Telling lies about their whereabouts, spending large amounts of time away from family, covering up on the amount of drinking--all of these are warning signs.
• Hostility when directly questioned. Persons on the path to alcohol addiction are often hostile or aggressive when confronted about their drinking.
• Work-related difficulties. Underperforming relative to ones abilities, not getting the job done, problems with professional relationships, not delivering, unexplained absences, and tardiness are often present with alcohol abuse.
• Financial negligence and/or distress.
• Arrest, DUI or other trouble with the law. DUIs, near misses, and accidents are common with alcohol abuse. Fights and other forms of violence are also warning signs.
• Blackouts. Not remembering what happened while drinking is a sign that there is a problem.

Signs of Alcoholism

Any of the above signs can also be part of alcoholism. Specifically, a person is considered an alcoholic when they exhibit:

• Cravings. The person feels a strong need for alcohol, even in situations where it may not seem appropriate to others.
• Lack of control over drinking. The person may announce that he/she will have only one or two drinks—but once they start, they can't seem to stop.
• Tolerance. It takes a large amount of alcohol to make the person drunk.
• Withdrawal. Going a day without drinking leads to shakiness, anxiety, or nausea.

Other Signs of a Problem With Alcohol

People who abuse alcohol may also have:

• Physiological issues
• Relationships problems with spouse, children and parents
• Decreased problem-solving skills
• Depression
• Tendencies toward physical and emotional violence

Remember that each individual is unique and people may manifest one or more of the signs mentioned above due to stress or other factors in their lives at that moment. However, if these things seem to occur frequently, it may be time to seek the help of a medical practitioner or counselor at the very least. And, the sooner that you act, the better it will be for the concerned person, for you and for your family.

Avoidance and Alcoholism

Many alcoholics use drinking to "self-medicate" when suffering from personal, social, professional or emotional distress. Drinking can serve as a distraction or even an excuse. The emotional pain may seem unbearable without alcohol's numbing effect. But in the end, the social, medical, and professional toll of alcoholism only makes the problem worse. Families and friends of the addicted drinker must be careful not to provide tacit support and cover-ups to the individual's drinking habits. Ignoring the issue or denying that there is a problem essentially gives the person permission to continue.

Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

One of the simplest tests to diagnose alcohol abuse or dependence is known as the CAGE questionnaire:

• Have you ever felt you should CUT down on your drinking?
• Do you feel ANNOYED when people criticize you for drinking?
• Do you ever feel bad or GUILTY about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (an EYE-OPENER) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

A yes to any one of these questions strongly suggests that you have a drinking problem.

Here are some other questionnaires to try:

• Alcoholscreening.org Based on a Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), developed by the World Health Organization]
• The Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST)
• 20 Question Test developed by the Office of Health Care Programs, Johns Hopkins University Hospital

Visit LTK's Am I an Alcoholic survey to help you determine if your drinking is leading you to alcoholism.

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