How do you know when someone is an alcoholic? How do you help?

Question

How can you tell that someone really has a drinking problem? What is the best way to help someone who has a problem, assuming that he/she recognizes that it is a problem but fluctuates in the extent that he/she views its severity? Is it possible for an alcoholic to drink occasionally or must the person quit drinking completely in order to recover?

Answer 1

AA has some reasonable guidelines and advice.

"Not all alcoholics have the same symptoms, but many — at different stages in the illness — show these signs: They find that only alcohol can make them feel self-confident and at ease with other people; often want “just one more” at the end of a party; look forward to drinking occasions and think about them a lot; get drunk when they had not planned to; try to control their drinking by changing types of liquor, going on the wagon, or taking pledges; sneak drinks; lie about their drinking; hide bottles; drink at work (or in school); drink alone; have blackouts (that is, can- not remember the next day what they said or did the night before); drink in the morning, to relieve severe hangovers, guilty feelings and fears; fail to eat and become malnourished; get cirrhosis of the liver; shake violently, hallucinate, or have convulsions when withdrawn from liquor. "

Answer 2

call alcohol anonymous it is in the phone book and usually there is a local or 800 number. There is a list of questions you can answer about whoever you feel has the problem. You can suggest the person go to AA, but unless the person is willing to accept that he or she has a problem it won't work. An alcoholic must abstain totally to recover. This is very hard and that's why at any time of day you can find a meeting being held somewhere and that is also why the motto is "One day at a time" AA works when the person is ready.

Answer 3

you can tell when someone is an alcoholic when they don't know when or how to stop at just a few drinks...it's pretty sad because
they can go days without drinking but yet when they do, they don't stop until they are pretty lit. It's hard to help them unless they want to help themselves. Usually they think they don't have a problem because they don't drink everyday...but like I said once they start, they just can't stop. You can try encouraging them but it will be an uphill battle,but don't give up, you just may be the one to help. Good luck! Best way for the person is to quit completely..

Answer 4

If they have a drinking problem, ie, having three or more drinks a day, if alcohol changes their personality, affects them physically (troubling walking etc), feel they need alcohol to "cope", "relax" etc...yeah, they've got a problem. If you've asked this question I think you must believe it, too. Go to an Al-Anon meeting (it will be listed in the yellow pages of your phone book or in the personals in the paper), it will help YOU understand why they do what they do and you'll meet people who know more about it and understand, too. Good luck!

Answer 5

Once an alcholic always an alcholic.They should not ever drink not even a little.Bring the person to an AA meeting they are world wide & pick up some pamphlets . What is the worst that could happen by going? maybe helping them to realise they do have a problem before it gets out of control would be a great service to them.

Answer 6

It is my beliefe that one has to admit their problem and want to get help in order to recover fully and this means no alcohol at all ever once an alcoholic always one even if its one drink they can't go back

Answer 7

It sounds like you know this person is an alcoholic.

Sometimes people know they are alcoholics, but they are not quite ready to stop drinking. I would check the resources, but I believe an alcoholic must stop drinking entirely.

Answer 8

Some of the most comon syntoms of someone with a drinking problems are:
*A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
*The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
*Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
*The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
*Narrowing of the drinking repertoire (drinking only one brand or type of alcoholic beverage).
*Drink-seeking behavior (only going to social events that will include drinking, or only hanging out with others who drink).
*Alcohol tolerance (having to drink increasing amounts to achieve previous effects).
*Withdrawal symptoms (getting physical symptoms after going a short period without drinking).
*Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms (such as drinking to stop the shakes or to "cure" a hangover).
*A return to drinking after a period of abstinence (deciding to quit drinking and not being able to follow through).

.There are many studies that suggets diferent types of drinkers.
The one with "Willpower"Such a drinker may need initial medical assistant to get through the detoxification period, but may be able to remain sober after detox without further assistance

.And the ones ".Powerless"those who are in fact alcoholics, who actually have the disease, all the willpower and self resolve in the world will not help. These drinkers find themselves powerless to stop or control their drinking without help.

But i personaly consider alcoholism as a progressive disease, there comes a point at which even the most "dedicated drunk decides that there just might be a problem".

Answer 9

When they cannot function without it,..they miss usual events, family outings, etc.....most of the time they won't admit it...one time i taped someone to show them how obnoxious they were when they drank...at least it was food for thought...some people would just ignore it, but if you show your truly saddened by it it might get to them and good luck

Answer 10

call alcoholics anonymous