Most people who consume alcohol don’t have any problem with it. However, if a problem does occur, usually the problems begin to get worse. For most, the problem just continually progresses.

Here we’re going to take a look at a few different categories of people who drink. Of course another category that we won’t mention is people who are actually abstinent. I’ve been an addictions therapist for years, and I still believe that if you want to avoid alcohol problems, you shouldn’t drink it. Of course I know that not everyone will find that abstinence works for them, so it’s important that people know what to look out for if there is a problem.

Social Drinkers

A person that happens to drink on occasion is a social drinker. When they drink, there are not bad consequences or problems that occur. If they have a drink, they don’t have any surprises. Friends don’t complain about their behavior. They don’t end up with mood swings, and they don’t start nasty fights.
Usually a social drinker really doesn’t think to much about having a drink. Alcohol isn’t constantly on their mind. Also, they don’t end up losing control or have to come up with a limit because it doesn’t go any further than having a drink socially once in awhile.

Alcohol Abusers

Someone who happens to go too far with alcohol from time to time is an alcohol abuser. This can happen every once in awhile or all the time. Maybe they drink before they drive or in other hazardous situations. People who end up with DUIs usually are alcohol abusers. Eventually they begin letting home relationships and work obligations fall by the wayside.
Thoughts of alcohol begin to come in more and more. They begin to think about it all the time and how they want the effects of the alcohol. Family members may complain a bit, but usually they deal with it. Now people have to start setting limits on how much they drink, but usually they do maintain those limits. While they are more than just a social drinker, they may not be quite out of control yet.

Alcoholics – The Addict

Many people are surprised to find that becoming an addict to alcohol doesn’t rely on how often or how much alcohol you drink. Some people that drink each day may not be an addict. Drinking several beers as opposed to a couple doesn’t mean someone is an addict. Usually people who are addicted show that they can’t set limits or control their drinking. Drinking takes up more of their time, and they often drink more. They may have an increased tolerance and if they don’t drink they may have some symptoms of withdrawal.
People at this point my want to quite. However, they may not be able to succeed. Often they go on using alcohol even though they are dealing with bad consequences and problems in their lives. This could include drinking when it is causing health problem or continuing to get DUIs. They begin to give up roles and activities that are important and alcohol is more important than the ones they love.

Since most alcoholics go into isolation, the family and friends end up being pushed away by them. However, during this phase people deny that they have a problem. Usually they really can’t see what problems are resulting because of their use of alcohol.

Hopefully you’ll now be able to realize the differences in different behaviors when drinking. If you know someone going along this course or you are going along this course, get help.

The definition of alcoholism and alcohol addiction is subject to much debate. There is a medical view, a 12 step view and many others. Here is an ‘officially accepted’ definition:

Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic use, impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial.

Primary refers to the nature of alcoholism as a disease entity in addition to and separate from other pathophysiological states which may be associated with it. Primary suggests that alcoholism, as in addiction, is not a symptom of an underlying disease state.

Disease means an involuntary disability. It represents the sum of the abnormal phenomena displayed by a group of individuals. These phenomena are associated with the specified comment set of characteristics by which these individuals differ from the norm, and which places them at a disadvantage.

Progressive and fatal means that the disease persists over time and that the physical, emotional, and social changes are often cumulative and may progress as drinking continues. Alcoholism causes premature death through overdose, organic complications involving the brain, liver, heart and many other organs, and by contributing to suicide, homicide, motor vehicle crashes, and other traumatic events.

Impaired control means the inability to limit alcohol use or to consistently limit on any drinking occasion the duration of the episode, the quantity consumed, and/or the behavioral consequences of drinking.

Preoccupation in association with alcohol use indicates excessive, focused attention given to the drug alcohol, and its effects and/or its use. The relative value thus assigned to alcohol by the individual often leads to a diversion of energies away from important life concerns.

Adverse consequences are alcohol related problems or impairments in such areas as: physical health (e.g. alcohol withdrawal symptoms, liver disease, gastritis, anemia, neurological disorders); psychological functioning (e.g. impairments in cognition, changes in mood and behavior); interpersonal functioning (e.g. marital problems, child abuse, impaired social relationships); occupational functioning (e.g. scholastic or job problems); and illegal, financial, or spiritual problems.

Denial is used here not only in the psychoanalytical sense of a single psychological defense mechanism disavowing the significance of the fence, but more broadly to include a range of psychological maneuvers designed to reduce awareness of the fact that alcohol use is the cause of an individual’s problems rather than the solution to these problems denial becomes an integral part of the disease and the major obstacle in getting help for addiction and recovery.

This definition was prepared by the Joint Committee To Study The Definition And Criteria For The Diagnosis Of Alcoholism Of The National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence, and The American Society Of Addiction Medicine. It was approved by the Board of Directors of NCAAD on 3 February 1990 and the Board of Directors of ASAM on 25 February 1990.

In overcoming alcoholism, there are key questions that need to be asked and answered before abstinence and sobriety can begin. Read on and these keys will be revealed.

Millions of people are overcoming alcoholism on a daily basis: unfortunately, it is a very difficult task to accomplish without having the pieces in place.

In order to start abstinence and move into alcohol recovery there are 5 questions that must be clearly understood and answered in the affirmative. These may sound deceivingly simple, but without addressing them, we are dead in the water. Here we go:

1. Do I have a problem, and is it alcohol?

This is easier asked than answered.

Many people have problems, my husband, my job a DUI, etc, but can you see that many of these are related to drinking? Most alcoholics have tremendous difficulty seeing that alcohol is the root of the problem. This is because of the addiction characteristic called denial. Denial is turning a ‘blind eye’ to the problem. If the answer to the question is yes, I have a problem and it is alcohol, we move on.

2. Do I want to stop drinking?

In overcoming alcoholism, this is a yes or no question, no ‘maybe’s’ or ‘but’s’ allowed. Abstinence means stopping completely, not trying to cut down. Many alcoholics know they have a problem, but they either still enjoy drinking or the pain is not great enough to stop.

3. Is now the time to stop?

‘I can stop anytime I want to, I just don’t want to.’ ‘I know I should stop, but…’ These are just a few common mindsets that will block alcohol recovery from getting started. Many people are overwhelmed at the idea of never drinking again and are looking for any reason to not take the first step.

4. Are you willing to develop a sobriety plan?

Just making the decision to stop drinking and stopping is not enough. Most people fail because they do not have a good, workable recovery plan in place.  Not having a plan is just as dangerous as acting on a poor plan. Get some help from credible, knowledgeable professionals or self-help groups.

5. Put that plan in action.

You can have the best plan in the world, but if it is not implemented it does no good at all. One of the most common causes of alcoholic relapse is complacency. Many people have invested time energy and money in learning what needs to be done; they then fail to take action on the plan. Persistence and daily awareness is a key to recovery.

We have really only touched on a very few key mindsets and questions to get set up for success. To answer the question of how to help an alcoholic in the quest for overcoming alcoholism; it all begins with having the proper mindset.

by Bill Urell

Alcoholic blackouts can range from being mildly annoying to life threateningly dangerous. Do you know the facts? Read on to learn more about the alcohol blackout.

The occurrence of an alcohol blackout is unpredictable both in severity and in timing.

When an individual experiences an alcohol induced blackout, his consciousness remains throughout the period but will be unable to have complete recollection of what happened during that time. The events are never imprinted on the brain for recall. It’s amnesia in a way, but it’s caused by drug or alcohol abuse and not a traumatic or physically debilitating experience.

There are two types of alcohol induced blackouts commonly studied:

1. Fragmentary or partial blackouts. These tend to occur when lower levels of alcohol are taken. You might forget names or what you were talking about in the middle of a conversation. These partially interfere with memory formation during intoxication. People can sometimes remember the missing pieces if they are prompted or reminded of the context of conversation or situation.

2. Complete or en bloc, blackouts.

When a person has a complete alcohol blackout, he is still physically and mentally able to perform actions although he may seem not like his usual self. In this type of blackout, an individual is still conscious but will be unable to retain any memory of what happened during his blackout, what so ever. Prompting or reminders will not lead to recall the events. It appears that the ability to transfer and imprint memory from the present and short term to long term storage is blocked.

How alcohol and drugs can cause blackouts -

In most cases, blackouts are a result of

binge drinking, that is, consuming an excessive quantity of liquor in a brief period of time. This has been confirmed by a research conducted for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism which reports how large and especially rapid consumption of alcohol can produce partial or complete blackouts.

One researcher states “If recreational drugs were tools, alcohol would be a sledgehammer” alcohol produces detectable memory impairments beginning after just one or two drinks. As the dose increases, so does the magnitude of the memory impairments.”

Other things you should know about blackouts -

Age is a determining factor in how much alcohol you can safely consume. A woman’s tendency to black out more easily probably results from differences in how men and women metabolize alcohol. Females also may be more susceptible than males to milder forms of alcohol induced memory impairments, even when men and women consume comparable amounts of alcohol.

The dangers of experiencing blackouts -

Surveys have discovered that college students who had experienced alcoholic blackouts found out later on they had participated in various high-risk activities like engaging in sex without protection, driving under the influence of alcohol, or committing vandalism and other similar offenses.

People who experience blackouts may at that time have an impaired ability to decide and judge and possess minimal or no control at all over their impulses.

Tips for safe drinking and preventing and managing blackouts -

The only sure-fire method for not having a blackout or memory problems is to not drink. One puzzling aspect of blackouts is that the occurrence and consequences cannot be predicted.

Do you know the differences and possible dangers a social drinker, alcohol abuse or alcoholic?

Where do you fit in? You will know after reading this article.

The majority of people who drink alcohol can do so with few or no problems. When problems do start occurring they can rapidly escalate. for these people the problem is progressive, it gets progressively worse.

Shortly we will look at the 3 categories of drinkers mentioned, but there is also a fourth which deserves mention, the people who are abstinent. In my years as an addictions therapist, I have not had anyone sway me from my convictions that if you don’t want problems with alcohol, don’t drink at all. Being a realist, I know that doesn’t work for everyone so it is important to keep alert for potential problems.

The Social Drinker

A social drinker drinks occasionally, and when they do there are no problems or negative consequences. There are no real surprises as a result of having a drink. When they drink there are no complaints about behavior from friends and family. As an example there are no fights, nor extreme emotional mood swings.

A social drinker does not think about drinking often, it does not occupy their thoughts. Lastly, there is no loss of control or need to set limits when drinking; it just doesn’t get that far.

Here are the three distinctive categories:

The Alcohol Abuser

An [tag-selfalcohol[/tag-self] abuser is someone who has episodes of going to far with drinking; it can be frequent or just occasionally. This might be drinking when it could be physically hazardous, such as driving, or ending up in dangerous areas. A DUI is a common marker of alcohol abuse. The alcohol abuser starts to let obligations at work and home start to slip.

Drinking creeps in and occupies more and more thoughts and drinking is needed for its effect. At this point the drinkers’ family and friends start to complain, but it is dealt with. Now there is a need to set limits on drinking, but they can be maintained. We have upped the ante from a social drinker, but at this point things are not always out of control.

Alcohol Addiction or the Alcoholic

One aspect that is confusing for many is that alcohol addiction is not dependent on quantity or frequency of alcohol consumed. For example someone who drinks daily may or may not be addicted. Drinking 12 beers vs. 2 beers is not a necessarily a criteria for alcoholism. People with addiction generally show an inability to control or set limits and keep them. Drinking is occurring in larger amounts and taking up more time. Increasing tolerance for alcohol is an indicator, as well as having withdrawal effects when drinking stops.

At his point the drinker may want to stop or has tried to but not been successful. They continue to drink despite the problems and negative consequences that keep occurring. An example would be repeated DUI’s or drinking when the doctor says it is hurting ones health. Important activities and roles are given up; the drinking becomes more important than family. Alcoholism is a disease of isolation, in order to keep drinking the user will push family and friends away. The sneaky thing about this phase is that it is characterized by denial. The drinker cannot honestly see that the problems occurring are a result of drinking.

And that will hopefully help clear up some differences between social drinking, alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction or alcoholism.

Can problem drinkers or alcohol abusers back up and continue with controlled drinking? It depends on what point in a time line we are looking at.

By Bill Urell
To answer this, we have to be very careful of terms used, let’s follow the progression of use and consequences:

Social Drinker:

Drinks alcohol on occasion but drinking does not occupy their thoughts. They can enjoy a drink, or take it or leave it. There are no negative consequences as a result of their drinking, it does not cause any problems. There is no loss of control concerning actions or consequences relate to drinking. Neither family nor friends express concern about the drinking. It really is a non-issue.

Problem Drinker or Substance Abuser:

Usage has progressed to the point where some negative consequences occur. A prime example is getting a DUI, or tangled up in other legal problems like assault. There is no question that alcohol was abused and a bad consequence occurred because of the decision to risk lives drinking while impaired. Drinking in any situation where judgment and reflexes are needed for safety is abusing alcohol.

Drinking may start to occupy thoughts more frequently now, looking forward to and planning drinking. Use is more for effect. Drinking is starting to interfere with obligations of family, and work.

The substance abuser or problem drinker still has the ability to set limits and stick to them. This different from the social user who needs no limits and the alcoholic who cannot set limits and stick to them.

Negative consequences occur but are not repeated. Complaints by family and friends are heard and dealt with.

A good example is someone getting their first DUI, being properly embarrassed, and vowing to never drink and drive again; and they don’t. There is no question drinking caused a problem but they dealt with it. They have not yet ‘crossed the line’ into alcohol addiction or alcoholism.

Therefore it is possible for a problem drinker to back off into social use. However, if there is a progression noted, almost always the progression will get worse.

Alcoholism, Alcohol Addiction:

A primary characteristic of alcoholism is the loss of control over drinking. By definition, an alcoholic cannot return to controlled drinking.

We now know that changes in the brain occur at the neuron level which is not reversible. The old Alcoholics Anonymous concept of ‘crossing the line and not going back’ has now been proven true. They state the great delusion of every alcoholic is to once again drink like a normal person.

In addition to loss of control, we start to see tolerance, withdrawal, and drinking more over longer periods than we had intended. A prime characteristic is that an alcoholic cannot quit despite efforts to do so, and they continue to drink despite knowing there are negative consequences.

Can a problem drinker control their drinking? That really depends on how far down the road they are.

Bonus Tip:

The only safe solution is to stop drinking completely.

Short Answer: no, alcoholism cannot be cured at this time.

The reality of the situation is that once the disease is fully develped there are only two possible options:

1. Abstinence: It is possible to keep the advancement of the problems in a state of remission by not drinking. Alcoholism is, by definition a progressive disease. It will always get worse never better with continued alcohol use. Even if an alcoholic hasn’t been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. Not drinking is the safest course for most people with Alcoholism.

2. Continued Drinking: If the alcoholic continues to drink problems will get worse. Alcohol affects biology and health, causes psychological problems, social-relationship problems and even moral or spiritual problems. Drinking alcohol is essentially ingesting poison; it destroys tissue.

Every year or two like clockwork headlines appear that we have created a pill or some cutting edge treatment to ‘cure’ alcoholism. These claims have not come to reality.

To me the solution is simply if you do not want trouble with alcohol…don’t drink. If only it were that easy.

For more answers check out our Frequently Asked Questions on alcohol.

There is, however some evidence of progress in treating Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Treatment – As claimed and declared by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, this scientific invention on mouse embryo certainly shows a new hope in developing treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome with a promise that fetus is …

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four major symptoms:

Loss of control–Not being able to stop drinking, or stick to limits, once drinking has begun.

Craving–A compelling strong desire, or urge, to drink.

Physical dependence–Withdrawal symptoms, such as sickness, sweats, tremors or shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.

Tolerance–The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high.” Or, in drinking the same amount of alcohol over time, less effect is noted.

Formal diagnostic criteria for alcoholism also have been developed. Such criteria are included in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as in the International Classification Diseases, published by the World Health Organization.

For more information on alcoholism visit our alcoholism FAQ page.