Classic Alcoholic Behavior

Alcoholism is a progressive degenerative disease that can be analyzed and broken down into four stages of alcoholic behavior.

It is asserted that one of the most productive ways to study the complexities involved in alcoholic behavior is to examine the classic alcoholic behaviors in each of the four stages of alcoholism.

Alcoholic Behavior in the First Stage of Alcoholism

In the first stage of alcoholism, drinking is no longer social but becomes a means of emotional escape from problems, inhibitions, anxiety, and in many instances, from the realities of life.  Stated in another way, early in the disease an individual starts to depend on the mood altering capabilities of alcohol consumption.

Also at this stage of alcoholism, a gradual increase in tolerance develops, meaning that increasing amounts of alcohol are needed in order for the problem drinker to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."

Furthermore, it is common for people in the first stage of alcoholism to quickly drink a few alcoholic beverages before attending social functions and to increase social drinking to 3 to 5 drinks per day. Obviously, it can be determined that such behavior will eventually result in a host of drinking problems.

Alcoholic Behavior in the Second Stage of Alcoholism

In the second stage of alcoholism, the need to drink becomes more intense.  During this stage of the disease, the individual frequently starts to drink earlier in the day.  As tolerance increases, moreover, the person drinks because of dependence on alcohol, rather than because of emotional and psychological stress and anxiety relief.  During this stage, loss of control does not yet happen on a regular basis; it is, however, gradually observed by others such as neighbors, co-workers, relatives, friends, and family members.

Denial

Also at this stage of the disease, the drinker may begin to feel shame and to worry about his or drinking.  Although the disease is not yet full blown, drinkers during this stage are typically unsuccessful in their attempts to stop drinking.  At this stage, some problem drinkers have been known to change brands of alcohol and/or to switch from hard liquor to wine coolers, beer or wine. Sadly, to help quiet the internal conflicts they now experience, problem drinkers during this stage of the disease resort to denial of the problem. 

During this stage, physical symptoms such as hand tremors, hangovers, and stomach problems increase.  Regrettably, rather than focusing on their drinking as the cause of the many drinking problems they now face, drinkers during this stage start blaming others and things external to themselves.

Alcoholic Behavior in the Third Stage of Alcoholism

In the third stage of alcoholism, the loss of control becomes more pronounced and more problematic.  This means that the alcoholic is usually unable to drink according to his or her intentions.  For example, once the person takes the first drink, he or she can no longer control what will happen, even though the intention might have been to have one or two drinks.  During this stage of the disease, the drinker starts to experience serious alcohol-related, financial, employment, legal, and relationship problems.

Avoidance of People and Eye-Openers

During this stage of the illness, the drinker frequently starts to avoid friends and family and commonly experiences a loss of interest in things that used to be important or fun.  Also common during this stage are "eye-openers," that is, drinks that are taken whenever the alcoholic awakens.  Eye-openers are usually taken to calm the nerves, lessen a hangover, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the problem drinker experiences after a period of time without ingesting a drink.

The Alcoholic Starts to Neglect Things

As the drinking increases the alcoholic starts to neglect most things of importance, even necessities such as personal hygiene, food, water, shelter, and personal relationships.  Ironically, at this stage of the disease, rather than experiencing an increase in tolerance, the drinker experiences a decrease in alcohol tolerance, meaning that less alcohol is required by the alcoholic to feel the effects of alcohol.  And finally, during this stage, the alcohol often makes half-hearted attempts at seeking medical assistance.  

The Lack of Follow Through

Due to the fact that alcoholics usually fail to admit the extent and severity of their drinking problems, unfortunately, they rarely receive any lasting medical treatment.  Even when they disclose a small aspect of the "truth" regarding their drinking behavior with their doctor or with a health care professional, regrettably, they often fail to follow through with the medical instructions, therefore accomplishing little, if anything of significance regarding their disease.

Alcoholic Behavior in the Fourth Stage of Alcoholism

The fourth and final stage of alcoholism is characterized by a chronic loss of control.  In the earlier stages of the disease, the alcoholic may have been successful in maintaining a job.  Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day.  Few, if any, full-time work positions, however, can be maintained once an individual has reached this state of affairs.

The Alcohol Needs to Drink

In the earlier stages of dependency, the problem drinker has a choice whether or not he or she would take the first drink.  Once the alcoholic had the first drink, he or she commonly lost all control and would then continue drinking.  In the last stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics no longer have a choice:  they must consume alcohol in order to function on a daily basis.

Benders

During the last stage of alcoholism, benders are typical.  That is, in this stage of the disease, the problem drinker gets helplessly and hopelessly drunk and may stay in this condition for days at a time.  The unattainable goal for the drinker at this time is to recapture the feeling of euphoria he or she once experienced.  In this stage, the alcoholic almost always exhibits an utter disregard for everything of importance, including food, shelter, personal hygiene, family, employment, and health.  These occasional flights into oblivion, ironically, are best described as drinking to get away from the problems caused by drinking.

The Shakes 

In the second or third stages of alcoholism the alcoholic's hands may have trembled slightly on mornings after getting drunk.  In the final stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they try or are forced to abstain from drinking.  These tremors are an indication of a severe nervous disorder that now affects the problem drinker's entire body.

The DTs

When "the shakes" are combined with hallucinations, the result is known as "the DTs" or delirium tremens, a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal that can result if the problem drinker does not receive immediate alcoholism treatment.  Not surprisingly, after an attack of the DTs, more than a few alcoholics promise to never drink again.  Sadly, most of them do not and cannot fulfill their promise, and so they ultimately return to drinking and the negative, damaging, and unhealthy pattern of drinking starts all over again.

The Need For an Easily Accessible Supply of Alcohol

In the final stage of the disease, having an easily accessible supply of alcohol close at hand (to avoid "the shakes") becomes one of the most, if not the most important thing in the life of the alcoholic.  During this stage, the alcoholic will do almost anything to get the alcohol they need.  Once the alcohol is secured, alcoholics will commonly hide their bottles so that they can get a drink whenever they need it, which typically means any hour of the day or the night.

Classic Alcoholic Behavior:  Conclusion

Based on the information articulated above, it is clear that the four stages of classic alcoholic behavior do not paint a pretty picture of the sad realities and the drinking problems that most chronic alcoholics experience.  Perhaps the damaging and unhealthy consequences of this disease might not make much of an impact on those who are already alcohol dependent.  It is hoped, however, that exposing the facts about this disease to our youth BEFORE they start abusing alcohol will prevent many of our teens from suffering the grim fate of most alcoholics.