Alcoholism Warning Signs

Two Self-Assessment Tools That Identify Alcoholism Warning Signs

Numerous people who drink excessively realize that they have a drinking problem. What many people don't know, however, is if their drinking problem is basically alcohol abuse or alcoholism. The following two self-assessment screening tools that essentially point out "signs of alcoholism" may help clarify this issue.

An Alcoholism and/or Drug Self-Assessment Tool

The following self-assessment tool may help you identify whether or not you have a drug or an alcohol addiction problem. Use this 20-question instrument to help determine if you, a friend, or a loved one may have a drug or alcohol addiction problem.

Chances are that if you find yourself wondering if you really have a drinking or drug problem, you probably do. If you answer yes to 4 or more of these questions, you may be dealing with a definite drug or alcohol problem.

Has alcohol or drug use ever caused problems with work, school, or caring for your children?
Has your drug use or drinking ever created a problem in your relationships (fights with spouse, children, other problems with those you love)?
Have you ever had legal trouble because of your drug use or drinking (Possession, DUI, Public Drunkenness, etc)?
Has using caused you to make new friends and lose old friendships, created an unsatisfying feeling of loneliness or isolation?
Do you seek inferior companions while drinking or using drugs?
Have you ever tried to quit drinking or using drugs?
Have you ever been hospitalized for drinking or using drugs?
Do you suffer from memory loss as a result of drinking or using drugs?
Do you often think about how or when you will next drink or use drugs?
Do you have cravings for alcohol or drugs first thing in the morning?
Is there any recurring time during the day when you find yourself thinking of drinking or using drugs?
Do you feel lack of motivation that you once had because of drinking or using drugs?
Do you ever suffer from insomnia?
Do you ever suffer from blackouts?
Do you drink or use drugs when you are alone?
Do you ever feel guilty after drinking or using drugs?
Have you gained a reputation as a drinker, partier, or drug user?
Do you try to overcome shyness or become more confident by drinking or using drugs?
Do you sometimes stay intoxicated or high on drugs for days at a time?
When sober, do you sometimes regret things you have said or done while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

Reference: http://www.narconon-stonehawk.com/drug-rehab-self-assessment.html

Ten Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Here's another self-assessment tool that contains 10 questions and pertains only to alcoholism.

The following are ten warning signs of alcoholism:

Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
Does your drinking worry your family?
Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
Do you get headaches or have hangovers after drinking?
Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
Do you ever forget what you did while you were drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

Alcoholism Warning Signs: Conclusion

Many people realize that they have a drinking problem. Perhaps the main concern posed by these individuals, however, is whether they are alcohol dependent or if they are basically abusing alcohol without being addicted to alcohol. The 20-question self-assessment instrument and the "ten warning signs of alcoholism" presented above may help clarify this issue.

The best advice, however is this: if you are concerned about your drinking behavior, make an appointment with your family doctor or healthcare practitioner. He or she will be able to better evaluate your particular circumstance and make sound and helpful suggestions regarding treatment or further evaluation.

Message to Alcoholics

Don't just sit there and think things are going to get better. Addiction doesn't get better. It gets worse until somebody dies. You need to take appropriate action by getting professional treatment and you need to take action now!

Alcoholism Signs and Other Alcoholism-Related Quick Facts

Did you know...

"According to the alcoholism research literature, alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms exhibited by people who suddenly stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of repeated and excessive ingestion. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both physical and emotional components."

"A national team of investigators led by psychiatric geneticists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a gene that appears to be linked to both alcoholism and depression. This gene might be a susceptibility gene that puts a person at risk for developing both alcoholism and depression."

"According to alcoholism research, alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms manifested by people who suddenly quit drinking alcohol after a pattern of continuous and excessive consumption. These symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both physical and psychological components."

"Alcohol treatment depends on whether you are physically dependent on alcohol. Most people with alcohol problems need to completely stop drinking. Treatment first focuses on relieving symptoms of withdrawal, and then the focus shifts to staying sober."

"U.S. research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics."

"Many people only think of a 'skid-row bum' when they think of someone with an alcohol problem. This is the end stage of alcohol problems, when a person has lost his or her family, job and health because of alcohol abuse. You don't reach this stage overnight."

"Some of the behavioral and physiological factors that converge to increase or decrease a person's risk for alcohol problems, including tolerance to alcohol's effects, may be directly linked to genetics."

"According to alcoholism research, men who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day are at increased risk for cancer, cerebrovascular disease, accidents, and violence."

"According to alcoholism research, as an individual engages in a regular habit of drinking, chemical changes in the brain take place. Alcohol consumption depletes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chemical responsible for inhibiting impulsiveness, and it increases the production of glutamate (which excites the nervous system) and norepenephrine (a stress-producing hormone)."

"According to alcoholism research, there are higher rates of alcoholism in the unemployed, laborers, those of lower socioeconomic status, those that drop out of high school, those who entered college but failed to earn a degree, and those under more stress."

"The media and popular culture in the U.S. are filled with messages and images that legitimize or even glamorize frequent or excessive drinking. Also, associating with people who are able to drink socially, and encourage the same behavior in those around them, is dangerous to the alcoholic trying to abstain from drinking."

"Alcoholism research has shown that how people view alcohol and its effects also influences their drinking behavior, including whether they begin to drink and how much. An adolescent who expects drinking to be a pleasurable experience is more likely to drink than one who does not."

"Lack of parental support, monitoring, and communication have been significantly related to frequency of drinking, heavy drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents. Harsh, inconsistent discipline and hostility or rejection toward children have also been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related problems."

"According to a report published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, eighty-seven percent of adults who drink had their first drink before the age 21."

"In the United States, the correlation between the battering of women and alcohol abuse is the highest for men who believe that male control and power over women are acceptable in various situations."

"It is important to note that alcohol overdose doesn't only occur from any one heavy drinking incident, but may also occur from a constant infusion of alcohol in the blood stream."

"Drinking can become a habit. You might have friends or family members who drink often, so drinking a lot might seem normal. Or you might not realize how much or how often you drink. You might not be aware of the problems that alcohol causes in your life. But the more you drink, the greater is your risk for becoming addicted to alcohol."

"Some people find that using stress management techniques during their recovery from alcohol problems is helpful. There is little research to show that using stress management techniques can increase a person's long-term chances of staying sober. But you may find that it improves your overall sense of well-being."

"The research findings suggest that adolescents who drink are at high risk and should be targeted early with intervention programs that focus not only on alcohol, but also cigarette smoking, use of illicit drugs, and perhaps other problem behaviors."

"According to the substance abuse research literature, numerous drug users engage in criminal activity, such as burglary and prostitution, to raise the money to buy drugs, and some drugs, especially alcohol, are associated with violent behavior."

"Screening for problem drinking and alcoholism needs to become an integral part of the routine health screening questionnaire for adolescents and all adults, particularly women of child-bearing age, because of the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome."

"Since nothing can change what took place in the past, it is hoped that all of the state and federal prisoners who abused drugs and/or alcohol in the past have access to alcoholism and alcohol abuse programs as well as to substance abuse and addiction treatment while they are still in prison."

"Depression is a common cause of alcoholism as the depressed person seeks a way out of their problems or a relief from insomnia. Unfortunately, alcohol is itself a depressant, so the problem is only compounded."

"Also called contingency management or behavior contracting, research shows that contracting with alcoholism patients to reward good behavior and to punish bad behavior can improve treatment outcomes."

"According to U.S. research, long-term excessive drinking increases the risk for certain kinds of stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure."

"Sometimes in extreme cases, when the drinker's health and well-being becomes critically threatened, a professional intervention may become necessary, but even then sometimes the attempt will create even more family problems."

"U.S. research shows that many people do not go to a doctor specifically for alcohol problems but seek treatment for physical conditions (such as cirrhosis) that result from long-term alcohol use. Your doctor might ask you questions about your drinking to help see whether alcohol use is the cause of a condition like cirrhosis."

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Reader Feedback

Thank you for visiting my "Alcoholism Warning Signs" lens. Feel free to post a quick hello and share some of your thoughts and stories about alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

Thanks,

denman4

TheWicker

Interesting lens and nice layout! Thanks for sharing this info. Urban, lensmaster of Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Posted July 28, 2008

JohnNilsen1108

Great little lense for newbies to model,gave you 5 stars, let me know what you think of my lense.
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Posted June 27, 2008

Tinnitus23

Alcoholism can give you so many health problems and tinnitus is one of them. Come visit my lens to know more about this condition.

Posted February 13, 2008

bjsowder

There's a new online educational resource on alcoholism that may be yet another helpful information hub for alcoholism signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and how to get help.

It includes a lot of data and also articles on teenage alcoholism and how the drug effects family and the workplace.

The URL is http://www.learn-about-alcoholism.com.

Julio

Posted January 30, 2008

flaminglacer

Glad to have you as a member of the Health and Wellbeing Group - drop by the Group HQ sometime and see what is there for you

Posted July 30, 2007

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