How to Know If a Family Member Has a Drinking Problem

Alcohol abuse is a very serious problem in a family. It's a major factor in spousal and child abuse and in divorce. The sooner a drinking problem can be identified, the sooner a family member can get help. The official symptoms of alcoholism are craving alcohol, being unable to stop once one starts drinking, physical withdrawal symptoms if one stops drinking and the need for more and more alcohol to get drunk. It pays for all family members to recognize a drinking problem when they see it. Organizations like Al-Anon and Alateen help families deal with this problem.

Instructions

• 1

  Observe your family member carefully. Listen to what he says about drinking, notice when he drinks, and what effects it has on his ability to function and relate. Notice if he seems to be able to stop drinking once he starts.

• 2

  Listen if your family member talks about quitting or cutting back on drinking, or expresses any guilt about drinking. This could be an indication that she feels she has a problem.

• 3

  Observe if your family member drinks alcohol first thing in the morning to steady nerves or help recover from a hangover.

• 4

  Watch for signs that drinking interferes with your family member's ability to function and meet responsibilities. Observe if your family member misses work, misses classes, is unable to do work or school work competently, fails to keep a reasonably clean living space or to fix adequate meals because he has been drinking.

• 5

  Observe whether your family member is having difficulty with relationships, such as fighting or arguing because of drinking, or if relationships are strained because of the way the person acts when drunk.