Signs of Alcoholism or Abuse
Alcoholics and alcohol abusers often show at least one of these symptoms:
- Tolerance: The need to drink more and more in order to achieve the same “buzz.”
- Withdrawal: The body’s reaction to physical alcohol addiction ranges from “hangovers” with nausea and headaches to severe shaking, poor appetite, and in extreme cases, hallucinations. These symptoms develop when the individual stops drinking and can continue for days causing the drinker to continue drinking partly out of need to keep these symptoms in check.
- Loss of control: Loss of control starts with the inability to manage the obsessive impulse to drink and extends to a loss of control over behavior once drunk. In more ways than one, the person’s life becomes unmanageable.
- Growing concern among family, friends and peers: Complaints or concern from coworkers, friends or family are a sure sign one’s own drinking behavior has become problematic.
- Health, family, legal and work problems: Examples include repeated injuries, one or more traffic tickets for driving under the influence or while intoxicated, chronic lateness at work, and tension or discord at home.
If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, don’t wait, seek help today. Alcoholism can have medical consequences and may be associated with psychiatric disorders. You may want to start with a call to your employee assistance program at 1-800-424-1872 or your 24-hour nurse line at 1-800-556-1555 whether you are concerned about your own drinking – or the drinking habits of someone you care about.
You may also consider contacting your family doctor, who can provide medical evaluations, treatment information, and referrals to community agencies that can help. Or you can contact your state agency responsible for overseeing alcohol- and drug-treatment programs about local resources. The largest of all recovery programs, Alcoholics Anonymous, meets in most towns and communities across the country and is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Local groups can be found in your yellow pages, as can toll-free, 24-hour AA hotlines staffed by recovering alcoholics who can speak from experience and offer hope of recovery. You may also visit Alcoholics Anonymous for more information.
Despite the tremendous hardships caused by alcoholism, many people achieve recovery, long-term stability, success, and happiness.
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2005