1) Do you drink alcohol more than once a week?
No - I used to drink a beer or two once every couple of weeks and then every six months or so get smashed. I haven't touched a drop since about 10pm on 20th December 2006.
2) Have you ever had a problem with alcohol consumption? (As told to you by others, if not admitted by yourself)
Well the Doctor tells me I might have developed a sensitivity to alcohol so that drinking could wind me in hospital like last time. But I've never had a drunkenness problem which is what you are asking. I did date a girl for nearly two years who was diagnosed with alcohol addiction.
3) When Is Alcohol a problem? What lines have to be crossed before a drinking habit affects an individuals or a families lives?
There are no black and white barriers, just a grey territory. Most people hang around in the grey area, the only problem they have to deal with is the physical damage they do during the occasional 'binge', and the social problems that go along with that. This is 'normal', and as a society it has become an accepted part of being human.
However, as alcohol becomes a more important part of a life, then other elements of life can begin to suffer. My partner above didn't get drunk in the morning, but she'd probably binge once or twice a week and get quite drunk a few days a week on top of that. It wasn't massively impacting on her life immediately but it was having a definite impact of her physical and mental health. She was advised she was borderline alcoholic. She was standing at the point where most people would say is dark grey but only a few steps from black.
You don't have to lose your job, or beat your kids to have a definite alcohol problem - but one has to be careful in judging someone else to have an alcohol problem. That decision should be left to a medical practitioner. You might want to suggest they speak to a professional about it, but most people would balk and ignore such a suggestion. In the end, they are the only ones that can seek help, you have to make a decision about how strongly you want to guide them towards help.
I can tell you this for nothing: Since you don't drink at all, you are at a disadvantage in the 'helping friend' category. You may come across as holier than thou. The best strategy I'd say is to talk to a sensitive and compassionate friend who does drink and have them be the diplomat.
In the news today:
Five types of alcoholic
quote:
The young adult subtype accounts for about 32 percent of U.S. alcoholics. They're young adults who rarely seek help for alcohol dependence. About 24 years old, they became alcoholics by age 20, on average. They drink less frequently than other alcoholics, but they tend to binge drink when they drink. This is the largest subtype.
The young antisocial subtype comprises 21 percent of U.S. alcoholics. They are 26 years old, on average. More than half have antisocial personality disorder. They tended to start drinking at 15 and became alcoholics by 18 ” earlier than other subtypes. They are
more likely to smoke tobacco and pot. The young antisocial subtype and the young adult subtype don't overlap, Moss tells WebMD.
The functional subtype accounts for about 19 percent of U.S. alcoholics. They're generally middle-aged, working adults who tend to have stable relationships, more education, and higher incomes than other alcoholics. They tend to drink every other day, often consuming five or more drinks on drinking days.
The intermediate familial subtype makes up nearly 19 percent of U.S. alcoholics. Nearly half have close relatives who are alcoholics. Alcoholics in this subtype typically began drinking by 17 and became alcoholics in their early 30s.
The chronic severe subtype is the rarest subtype, accounting for about 9 percent of U.S. alcoholics. This subtype mainly includes men, has the highest divorce rate, and frequently includes users of illicit drugs.
™ Version 4.2
