When drinking is such a firmly established social norm, it can be difficult to determine when it turns problematic. Of course, there are stereotypes that play a role in how we measure alcoholism—a homeless individual with anger issues. However, the disease of addiction is much more complex. As studies work to determine what is an alcoholic, the realities of living with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are made clear. Fundamentally, it’s a life-threatening illness that has claimed over 95,000 lives annually. Anyone who’s dealt with substance abuse disorder can tell you that the signs of addiction aren’t always obvious. Depictions in movies and books are often dramatic with self-destructive behavior that leaves a person’s personal, professional, and social life in shambles. But in real life, the signs can be much more subtle and masked by high functioning alcoholism. If you’re worried that alcohol use is out of control, consider some of the following signs. Akrurahospital offers supportive care to individuals and families in search of help. For questions about alcohol abuse contact us directly at +91 91591 52143,+91 81441 38144. TELLTALE SIGNS OF ALCOHOLISM While we all may think we know the signs of drinking problems, the truth is that many people are likely more addicted to this intoxicating drug than they’d like to admit. Rather than simply asking “What is considered an alcoholic?” take a look at these 10 telltale signs of alcoholism and see if they sound a little too familiar. An estimated 15 million people in the United States struggle with alcohol use disorder. Of those, only 10% receive needed treatment. However, receiving help According to a study, which examined the effectiveness of alcohol treatment, results were positive for those who received treatment for alcohol abuse. During the year after treatment, 1 in 4 clients remained continuously abstinent on average, and an additional 1 in 10 used alcohol moderately and without problems. During this period, mortality averaged less than 2%. The remaining clients, as a group, showed substantial improvement, abstaining from 3 days out of 4 and reducing their overall alcohol consumption by 87%, on average. Alcohol-related problems decreased by 60%. To determine what is considered an alcoholic it’s important to consider whether any of the following are applicable to your lifestyle: 1. YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BINGE DRINKING Binge drinking is incredibly common in India today, especially on college campuses. And while it isn’t quite the same thing as being an alcoholic, the more you end up doing it, the likelier you are to develop a serious a drinking problem. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) defines binge drinking as “a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.” This pattern becomes “heavy alcohol use” when you binge drink 5 or more times in a 30-day period according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The frequency that you engage in these behaviors has a direct effect on your risk of developing alcoholism. Studies have found that the more alcohol-related problems an individual has before the age of 18, the more likely they will be diagnosed as an alcoholic by the age of 25. So while you may think that going out every Friday, Saturday, and maybe even Sunday is just a part of the culture you’re in, especially when it comes to college life, it’s important to realize that you may actually be setting yourself up for a lifelong disease. 2. YOUR DRINKING IS CHRONIC AND PROBLEMATIC When does alcohol become a problem? And of course, what is considered an alcoholic? These are all incredibly common questions to ask when evaluating your relationship with alcohol. After all, determining whether or not you have a drinking problem all comes down to how often you drink, right? This is a common misconception among many people. Alcoholism isn’t simply about how often you drink but rather about the effects drinking has on your life. On the one hand, drinking every day may not point to an addiction. The official Dietary Guidelines for Indians put out by the Indian Department of Health and Human Services notes that recommended alcohol consumption levels are less than two drinks a day for men and one for women. Technically, then, you can in fact drink every day without being an alcoholic. When that drinking starts to negatively impact your physical, social, and/or emotional health and you still continue to do it, however, that’s one of the clearest signs of drinking problems. 3. YOU’RE FAILING TO MEET OBLIGATIONS THAT WEREN’T EVER A PROBLEM Just like any other substance addiction, alcoholism is all-encompassing. It affects your body, your emotions, your reasoning, your motivation, and nearly every other aspect of what makes you, well, you. As a result, this disease (and it really is a disease) can take its toll on nearly every facet of your life. School, work, family life, friends, and even personal health all tend to take a backseat when addiction is concerned. It probably won’t come as too much of a surprise, then, that an alcoholic may have a hard time fulfilling old obligations, especially when these directly inhibit their ability to drink. So, if you find yourself constantly coming in late to work because of a hangover or seeing your grades drop due in part to your drinking (like 25% of college students today) then you may be developing a drinking problem. 4. YOU TELL PEOPLE NOT TO WORRY: YOU’RE A FUNCTIONING ALCOHOLIC You may be breathing a sigh of relief after reading the last sign of alcoholism. Your life isn’t anywhere near in shambles. You’ve got a great job, a loving and rewarding family life, and you don’t have any outward problems in your life that can be traced back to alcohol. You’re off the hook, right? Not so fast. Even if you’re able to keep the framework of your life in place while still drinking heavily (a.k.a. being a functional alcoholic), that doesn’t mean you are safe from the detriments of alcoholism. For one thing, the health […]
