NationStates Jolt Archive

It's a simple question, but the answer might be more complex than one might ordinarily believe.

We all (most people at least, or so I would like to believe) enjoy a drink every now and then, perhaps to our own detriment on the odd occasion. Some people consume alcohol more than others, perhaps enough for them to get drunk once, twice or even thrice per week without being considered to have a problem with the stuff.

But when would you say that somebody is drinking enough to be considered an alcoholic? Perhaps it's not even the quantity involved on a single night/day but instead the frequency or the circumstances?

And if you did believe that somebody were an alcoholic, what would you suggest as a solution, aside from the obvious "OMG seek help bud!!!" response?

I consider alcoholism an addiction, same as any other drug problem.

That being said, if you can't function without having alcohol in your system, thus you're an alcoholic.

And if you did believe that somebody were an alcoholic, what would you suggest as a solution, aside from the obvious "OMG seek help bud!!!" response?
"Get an unsecured loan, it doesn't count if you drink the expensive stuff"

when your drinking starts to cause problems in your life, you have a drinking problem. when you cant bring yourself to change your drinking habits in order to fix those problems, you are an alcoholic.

there isnt much you can do for someone else outside the "dude, you gotta get a grip" thing.

Hehe, I asked that question (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=584480) not that long ago. Here's the way I look at it: when you can take a few weeks off alcohol and it doesn't affect your life or the way you treat people very much, then you're fine.

When I crave a drink every time I get a little stressed out, I know it's not just a 'social' thing.

When I unabashedly get smashed on my own every night for months in a row, then I don't pretend I'm just 'unwinding'.

When I can go through 80 ounces of gin in a month just having these little night caps? I joke about it evaporating, but no.

And then I get periods, like now, where I have absolutely no desire to drink at all. These periods tend to last quite a few months. Do these periods of sobriety, or at worst controlled social drinking mean I'm not an alcoholic? I don't really care, to be honest.

I don't think my drinking causes problems in my life...I'm not drunk around my kids, I don't get hungover, I don't get pissed at school and vomit all over myself. I don't miss assignments due to getting smashed, etc. The fact that I am 5"0, 123lbs and can drink most people under the table though, tells me that I drink much more than I should.

If it doesn't actively interfere with your life, then it's not a problem.

I do have one friend, though, who is a terrible alcoholic and his situation might serve as a standard against which to gauge your alcoholism. He has lost his girlfriend and several friends over his habit, which leaves him very often drunk and depressive. Before he falls asleep, he has to drink or he'll wake up shaking. He wakes up in the middle of the night anyway and drinks to fall back asleep.

He has been hospitalized for alcohol-related conditions on two occasions to my knowledge:one, a life-threatening alcohol overdose; the other, a life-threatening alcohol withdrawal when he ran out of money and couldn't buy booze one week-end.

i dont think its how often you drink. many people live a happy life drinking a glass of wine or two every night. the issue is if every time you drink you got to get totally smashed.
i don't always drink most of the time when i do i have over 12. also need it not to get the shakes at school

If you don't throw up into your toga, you aren't an alcoholic. Cookie for the reference: it's historical

You can be a functioning alcoholic. That means that you can drink and go about your daily life, but, in order to function, you must have that drink. My father in law was a functioning alcoholic, my ex-husband is one. My daughter's ex is a binge drinker (he can go for months, even years, without a drink, but the slightest bit of stress and he's on an uncontrollable toot - once he starts, he can't stop). There are many types of "drinking problems" - some of which don't appear to be problems at all. From the nice middle-aged lady who keeps her eyes on the clock and starts drinking the minute the clock strikes noon - and keeps on drinking through the afternoon and evening, to the guy who drinks only beer because you can't be an alcoholic on beer, to the wino on the corner with the bottle of Thunderbird in the brown paper bag. You can't define it in any one way - I"ve known enough alcoholics in my life to realize that.

I have been classified as an "Weekend Alcoholic". I never drink Sunday > Thursday, But Friday and Saturday I pretty much drink from dawn to dusk.

I have been classified as an "Weekend Alcoholic". I never drink Sunday > Thursday, But Friday and Saturday I pretty much drink from dawn to dusk.

that's the way to exist.

when your drinking starts to cause problems in your life, you have a drinking problem. when you cant bring yourself to change your drinking habits in order to fix those problems, you are an alcoholic.

there isnt much you can do for someone else outside the "dude, you gotta get a grip" thing.

I think that was my grandpa problem. He was a drinker from the day he was legal up till he had his 1st and then 2nd stroke. Sad to say, it wasn't uncommon to find him drunk. :(

For the medical criteria (at least for those countries using ICD-10 - sorry americans) see below :




F10.2 Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

A cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena in which the use of alcohol takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than other behaviours that once had greater value. A central descriptive characteristic of the dependence syndrome is the desire (often strong, sometimes overpowering) to take alcohol. There may be evidence that return to alcohol use after a period of abstinence leads to a more rapid reappearance of other features of the syndrome than occurs with nondependent individuals.
Diagnostic Guidelines

A definite diagnosis of dependence should usually be made only if three or more of the following have been experienced or exhibited at some time during the previous year:

(a) a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take alcohol;

(b) difficulties in controlling alcohol-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use;

(c) a physiological withdrawal state when alcohol use has ceased or been reduced, as evidenced by: the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for alcohol; or use of the alcohol with the intention of relieving or avoiding withdrawal symptoms;

(d) evidence of tolerance, such that increased doses of alcohol are required in order to achieve effects originally produced by lower doses (clear examples of this are found in alcohol-dependent individuals who may take daily doses sufficient to incapacitate or kill nontolerant users);

(e) progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of alcohol use, increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take alcohol or to recover from its effects;

(f) persisting with alcohol use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences, such as harm to the liver through excessive drinking; efforts should be made to determine that the user was actually, or could be expected to be, aware of the nature and extent of the harm.

Narrowing of the personal repertoire of patterns of alcohol use has also been described as a characteristic feature (e.g. a tendency to drink alcoholic drinks in the same way on weekdays and weekends, regardless of social constraints that determine appropriate drinking behaviour).

It is an essential characteristic of the dependence syndrome that either alcohol taking or a desire to take alcohol should be present; the subjective awareness of compulsion to use alcohol is most commonly seen during attempts to stop or control alcohol use.

Or just start worrying if you fit the C.A.G.E. criteria :

C - Have you ever felt you should cut down

A - Have you ever felt annoyed by criticism of your drinking

G - Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking

E - Have you ever had an eye opener

And if you did believe that somebody were an alcoholic, what would you suggest as a solution, aside from the obvious "OMG seek help bud!!!" response?

I wouldn't give them any advice other than that they would get when they sought help from their GP, etc. I haven't gone through alcohol dependence so no advice I would offer would be of benefit

If I am an Alcoholic and need alcohol can i get exempt from taxes on alcohol ???
Because, it will be a need for me just like food. or maybe even subsidize it for me like water is.

I've had exactly two drinks this year. I can go without alcohol just fine. Coffee, on the other hand... >.<

If I am an Alcoholic and need alcohol can i get exempt from taxes on alcohol ???
Because, it will be a need for me just like food. or maybe even subsidize it for me like water is.

The intravenous drug users hogged all the free goodies it seems

The intravenous drug users hogged all the free goodies it seems

damn heroin users and their priority budget for treatment.

When alcohol becomes your favorite solution/coping mechanism.

When you can't function without it.

When you can't function with it.

I would suggest that someone who thinks they have an alcohol problem seek counseling and then finally a treatment program.

For the medical criteria (at least for those countries using ICD-10 - sorry americans) see below : *snip*


Going by that criteria I know about 3 or 4 posters here on NS that post about/post drunk often enough that they have a problem, I'll not name names because I think they know who they are.

There are litterally hundreds of different types of alchoholism with their own definitions.
just a few examples...
The binge drinker- the guy who can go weeks or months at a time w/o a drink, but when he starts, he dissapears for a few days on a bender
-then theres the guy who wakes up with the shakes and always needs to have alcohol in his system to function
-then theres the guy who never drinks until 5 o'clock, but cant go a day w/o doing it, or anyone who always drinks at a certain time be it noon 11pm etc.
in general i would say that if drinking becomes a habit for you, you may have a problem.
And i you are not an alcoholic but could become one, take proactive steps to control you're drinking, before you're in a position where in you cant have another drink