Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
The presence of any of the following indicators suggests that
an individual may have a serious alcohol problem or be at high
risk for developing one. Any one indicator is not conclusive
evidence of a serious problem, but it is relevant circumstantial
evidence and should be noted.
- Drinking is causing or exacerbating a persistent or recurring
social, work, financial, legal, or health problem.
- Individual has tried unsuccessfully to cut down the extent
of alcohol use. Or, once the person starts drinking, he/she
sometimes loses control over the amount consumed.
- Individual commonly drinks while alone. Regular solitary
drinking, as compared with social drinking, indicates potential
current or future alcohol dependence.
- Individual drinks to relax prior to social events, as compared
with using alcohol at social events. Drinking prior to social
events indicates potential current or future alcohol problems.
- Individual drinks first thing in the morning as an "eye-opener"
or to get rid of a hangover.
- Individual claims a high tolerance for alcohol, for example,
makes statements such as: "I can drink a lot without its having
any effect on me, so I don't have to worry." High tolerance
is an indicator of alcohol dependence -- it takes more and
more to have the same effect on the body.
- Individual uses alcohol as a means of coping with life's
problems. This indicates possible psychological or emotional
problems and greatly increases the likelihood that alcohol
already is or will become a problem. On the other hand, if
motivation is experimentation, peer pressure, or adolescent
rebelliousness, this does not necessarily predict future abuse.
- There has been a recent increase in individual's drinking.
A change for the worse in drinking pattern may signal the
existence of other relevant issues.
- There is a family history of alcohol abuse. Genetic studies
indicate that alcoholism tends to run in families and that
a genetic vulnerability to alcoholism exists. The disruption
of family life in an alcoholic home also plays a role in creating
vulnerability to alcoholism later in life. On the other hand,
many children react to parental alcoholism by carefully avoiding
alcohol themselves. According to one study, the chances the
child will follow in the parent's footsteps depend, in part,
upon which parent is the alcoholic and the nature of the relationship
with that parent. Children of alcoholic mothers are at far
greater risk than children of alcoholic fathers.
Contact us for information on alcohol abuse and rehab treatment!
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