Alcohlism Addiction Signs

 Home   

Consuming one or two drinks per day for healthy men and one drink a day for healthy non-pregnant women is generally considered acceptable consumption without health risks. However, as the amount of drinking per occasion or per week increases, one or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism can develop as a result.

In the USA alone, as many as 12-14 million adults are chronic heavy drinkers who abuse alcohol or are alcoholics.

What is considered 'heavy drinking'? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking more than the amounts shown below would be considered heavy drinking:

• For healthy men under age 65, consuming no more than four drinks a day nor more than fourteen drinks a week.
• For healthy women under age 65 or healthy men over age 65, consuming no more than three drinks a day nor more than twelve drinks a week.

What are ten warning signs of alcoholism? Here are alcoholism signs that are listed in no special order:

  1. Drinking alone
  2. Making excuses, finding excuses to drink
  3. Daily or frequent drinking needed to function
  4. Inability to reduce or stop alcohol intake
  5. Violent episodes associated with drinking
  6. Drinking secretly
  7. Becoming angry when confronted about drinking
  8. Poor eating habits
  9. Failure to care for physical appearance
10. Trembling in the morning

Additional alcoholism signs can include inability to remember some of the events of the previous evening or feeling anxious in a social situation where there is no alcohol. As you may know, it can be called 'problem drinking' when it becomes 'drinking that causes problems'.

Does heavy chronic drinking have health consequences? Absolutely. Chronic heavy drinking can result in serious damage to the liver, heart, brain and other vital organs. Such severe physical damage may be irreversable and result in serious illnesses or even early death. Knowing alcoholism signs is important to help oneself or others with a drinking problem.

If the above ten warning signs of alcoholism create an interest in exploring possible alcohol addiction, consider contacting your physician, counselor or other qualified professional.

Another time-tested source of help would be contacting Alcoholics Anonymous. AA has local groups that meet regularly throughout the USA and many other countries around the world.

No matter how many alcoholism signs may exist, it is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Whether it is one, two or more of the ten warning signs of alcoholism - help is available. Obviously, the sooner one begins the recovery process, the better.

Other information