How to Recognize a Drinking Problem

Drinking problems and alcoholism are very common disorders worldwide. In fact, alcoholism occurs in 8-14 percent of common psychiatric disorders. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism measures normal alcohol drinkers and those with drinking problems on a per week or per day beverage count. However, there are many factors to take into account when assessing your drinking pattern.

Instructions

• 1

  Count how many drinks you consume per day and per week. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that men drink no more than 14 drinks a week and women drink no more than seven drinks a week. They also recommend that women drink no more than three drinks in one occasion and men drink no more than four drinks in one occasion. They believe that constantly going over this limit may be a sign of a drinking problem.

• 2

  Determine if drinking has changed your life and the way you handle day-to-day activities. If drinking has changed your work, health or social life, you have to take into account how often this goes on. If you are constantly late for work, or if you neglect friends and family because of alcohol use, this is a sign you have a drinking problem.

• 3

  Determine how often you think about drinking. If you are constantly preoccupied with the thoughts of drinking alcohol that it cuts into your everyday schedule, you may have a drinking problem. If you avoid friends and family members who don't drink because you constantly want to, this is also a sign.

• 4

  Assess how often you black out or lose control. If you are constantly drinking to the point of blacking out, vomiting or acting in a way that is socially unacceptable, you may have a drinking problem. If your friends are constantly reminding you of your actions the night before, you must analyze your drinking behavior.

• 5

  Assess the conditions in which you drink. If you are drinking alone to the point of intoxication you may have a drinking problem. If you are drinking in the morning or afternoon merely to get through the day, this is also a sign of a drinking problem.

• 6

  Determine alcohol's effect on your personality. If you are usually a friendly person, but become abusive, withdrawn or mean when you are intoxicated, this may be a sign of a drinking problem. If you cannot engage in social activities without drinking, due to the fear of social connection and conversation, you need to take into account why this is happening.

• 7

  Check your family history for drinking problems or alcoholism. Statistics show that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to have drinking problems or alcoholism. It is debatable if alcoholism is hereditary or if environmental factors influence drinking problems.