Social Drinker or Problem Drinker?

How do you know if you have a problem with alcohol? It’s difficult to pinpoint the moment that having one too many drinks becomes alcohol dependency, but asking yourself this question is a red flag that there may be an issue.

Experts suggest that 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women and older people consumed in a safe, legal, and responsible manner is considered social drinking. A social drinker doesn’t spend time thinking about drinking – when it’s there that’s fine, and if it’s not, that’s fine too. He or she doesn’t drink on a regular or daily basis, and there are no significant changes in the person’s behavior after drinking.

While there is no one definition of a problem drinker, there are certain behaviors that are known to be possible signs of an alcohol problem. These include any established pattern of drinking that poses a risk of future damage to one’s physical or mental health, and which places the drinker at risk of accidents, arrests, poor job performance or other legal or social problems.

If you’re concerned about the role alcohol plays in your life, the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD) recommends taking this simple self-test to help you determine if you -- or someone you know -- have a problem with alcohol abuse or dependency:

1. Tolerance: Tolerance means that, over time, you need more alcohol to feel the same effect. Do you drink more than you used to? Do you drink more than other people without showing obvious signs of intoxication?

2. Withdrawal: As the effect of the alcohol wears off you may experience withdrawal symptoms: anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches. Do you drink to steady the nerves, stop the shakes in the morning? Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and addiction. In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can be life-threatening and involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous and should be managed by a physician specifically trained and experienced in dealing with alcoholism and addiction.

3. Loss of Control: Drinking more than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself that you wouldn’t do it this time.

4. Desire to Stop- But Can’t: You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your alcohol use, but all efforts to stop and stay stopped, have been unsuccessful.

5. Neglecting Other Activities: You are spending less time on activities that used to be important to you (hanging out with family and friends, exercising- going to the gym, pursuing your hobbies or other interests) because of the use of alcohol.

6. Alcohol Takes Up Greater Time, Energy and Focus: You spend a lot of time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. You have few, if any, interests, social or community involvements that don’t revolve around the use of alcohol.

7. Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences: You drink even though they know it’s causing problems. As an example, you realize that your alcohol use is interfering with your ability to do your job, is damaging your marriage, making your problems worse, or causing health problems, but you continue to drink.

If you or someone you know is having a problem with alcohol, it is important to reach out for help as soon as you are aware there is an issue. Quitting on your own when there is a serious alcohol problem is much harder than it sounds. The sooner you get help, the better your chances of recovery.

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