When Should Help be Considered?

It's never too late to get help, no matter how far into alcoholism someone may be. Admitting to alcoholism is not an easy task for most as it can easily be construed as a weakness. The truth of the matter is that alcoholism is just as much a disease as cancer and does not hold any implications to the strength of those who suffer from it.  There is no miracle cure for alcoholism, but there is very valuable and effective treatment availabe for alcoholics to learn to live a healthy and alcohol free life. Although the warning signs of alcoholism may seem apparent for some looking in from the outside, there are other, more subtle signs that reveal themselves if the following questions asked by NCADD are answered honestly:

1. Do you ever drink when you are disappointed,under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?
2. Can you handle more alcohol now than you could when you first started drinking?
3. Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening of alcohol consumption, even though your friends tell you that you did not pass out?
4. When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others won't notice?
5. Do you sometimes feel guilty about your alcohol consumption?
6. Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
7. Are you in more of a hurry to get your first drink of the day that you used to be?
8. Has a friend or family member ever expressed concern about your drinking alcohol?
9. Have you experienced more alcohol related "black-outs" lately?
10. Do you often want to continue drinking after your friends have had enough?
11. Do you frequently have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavily?
12. When you're sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking?
13. Have you tried switching brands of alcohol or following different drinking patterns to control your drinking?
14. Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your alcohol consumption?
15. Have you ever had a DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) violation, or any other legal problems related to your drinking?
16. Do you try to avoid certain friends and family members when you are drinking?
17. Are you having more financial, work, school, family, or social problems as a result of your drinking?
18. Has your physician advised you to cut down on your drinking?
19. Do you sometimes have the "shakes" and find that it helps to have a little alcohol or tranquilizer medication to feel better?
20. Have you noticed that you cannot drink as much as you used to?

If you answered "yes"  to one of these questions, studies show that you may be at greater risk for developing alcoholism.  A "yes" answer to more than one of these questions indicates a strong recommendation to consult with an addiction specialist about your drinking and explore options for treatment. Seeking help for alcoholism is nothing that should cause shame, as millions of people experience the life threatening and devastating effects of this disease.  Despite the difficulty of early stages of recovery, the most important thing that can be done in the life of an alcoholic is to get help. 

"This is my day, over and over again. I ignore the signs that I have a problem such as the forgetfulness or the nights where I drink so much that I don't remember it the next day. My days are the days of an alcoholic. "

Alcoholism does not go away on it's own, it requires full dedication to sobriety and a lifelong effort to remain sober. If left untreated, alcoholism will kill either through advanced liver and other health problems, or accidental alcohol related death.  If you are concerned about your own or a loved one's drinking, please contact us or fill out a confidential free assessment form so we may help you to find the appropriate means of treatment for recovery.  We are here to help and will continue to make every effort to help those in need treatment from addiction.