Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (cont.)
Do you have to be an alcoholic to experience
problems?
No. Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just
as harmful. A person can abuse alcohol without actually being an alcoholic—that
is, he or she may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on
alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to
meet work, school, or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car
crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even
social or moderate drinking is dangerous—for example, when driving, during
pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.
Are specific groups of people more likely to have
problems?
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. In the
United States, 17.6 million people—about l in every 12 adults—abuse alcohol or
are alcohol dependent. In general, more men than women are alcohol dependent or
have alcohol problems. And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages
18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who
start drinking at an early age—for example, at age 14 or younger—are at much
higher risk of developing alcohol problems at some point in their lives compared
to someone who starts drinking at age 21 or after.
How can you tell if someone has a
problem?
Answering the following four questions can help you find
out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem:
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves
or to get rid of a hangover?
One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one "yes"
answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you think that you or
someone you know might have an alcohol problem, it is important to see a doctor
or other health care provider right away. They can help you determine if a
drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action.
Can a problem drinker simply cut down?
It depends. If that
person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is "no." Alcoholics who
try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol—that is,
abstaining—is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol
dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems may be able to limit
the amount they drink. If they can't stay within those limits, they need to stop
drinking altogether.
If an alcoholic is unwilling to get help, what can you do about
it?
This can be a challenge. An alcoholic can't be forced to get help except
under certain circumstances, such as a traffic violation or arrest that results
in court-ordered treatment. But you don't have to wait for someone to "hit rock
bottom" to act. Many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following
steps to help an alcoholic get treatment:
Stop all "cover ups." Family members often make excuses to others or try to
protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking. It is important
to stop covering for the alcoholic so that he or she experiences the full
consequences of drinking.
Time your intervention. The best time to talk to the drinker is shortly after
an alcohol-related problem has occurred—like a serious family argument or an
accident. Choose a time when he or she is sober, both of you are fairly calm,
and you have a chance to talk in private.
Be specific. Tell the family member that you are worried about his or her
drinking. Use examples of the ways in which the drinking has caused problems,
including the most recent incident.
State the results. Explain to the drinker what you will do if he or she
doesn't go for help—not to punish the drinker, but to protect yourself from his
or her problems. What you say may range from refusing to go with the person to
any social activity where alcohol will be served, to moving out of the house. Do
not make any threats you are not prepared to carry out.
Get help. Gather information in advance about treatment options in your
community. If the person is willing to get help, call immediately for an
appointment with a treatment counselor. Offer to go with the family member on
the first visit to a treatment program and/or an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Call on a friend. If the family member still refuses to get help, ask a
friend to talk with him or her using the steps just described. A friend who is a
recovering alcoholic may be particularly persuasive, but any person who is
caring and nonjudgmental may help. The intervention of more than one person,
more than one time, is often necessary to coax an alcoholic to seek help.
Find strength in numbers. With the help of a health care professional, some
families join with other relatives and friends to confront an alcoholic as a
group. This approach should only be tried under the guidance of a health care
professional who is experienced in this kind of group intervention.
Get support. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Support
groups offered in most communities include Al-Anon, which holds regular meetings
for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic's life, and Alateen,
which is geared to children of alcoholics. These groups help family members
understand that they are not responsible for an alcoholic's drinking and that
they need to take steps to take care of themselves, regardless of whether the
alcoholic family member chooses to get help.
You can call the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service
(Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for information
about treatment programs in your local community and to speak to someone about
an alcohol problem.
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