How do you know if you are an addict or alcoholic? Please rate my question one through ten.?

Question

I hear and read all the ten and twenty question tests about how to know if you are and alcoholic or drug addict, but I only have one simple question.
Does ALCOHOL/gambling/obsessing/whatever etc. negatively effect your life in way, such as family, bill paying, health? And if it does, guess what? You are. But if can can gamble or shoe shop with no ill affects and have fun, then enjoy.
ONE QUESTION only, why make it so complicated?

Why do some make this personal? It is in the pholosphy section.
I can drink or not drink, that is not the question. I personally quit for seven years the day my doctor told me a had a health issue and did not imbibe until he told me my liver showed no signs of chronic damage!
I have more money than I or my kids can ever spend so I can gamble if I want.
This is not a medical question. I have a file with all my blood tests from the last twenty years and I know the difference between SGGT and SGOT and what they mean to my health.
The question is, what is your rating of my question. Simple, nothing personal.

Answer 1

This question places the definition of addiction in a relative situation where the answer would be based solely on perception rather than science. The question that actually exists is, what is your motivation for asking this question? Why are you bothered by the current definitions of addiction and how has it adversely affected your life?

There are reasons for making it 'complicated'. Definition and inclusion into the disease category, for instance would be one example. Another is the valuation of an intangible 'high' over human life including but not limited to your own.
Take that for nothing more than more than its worth. How important is fulfilling the desire? That is the test. What are you willing to sacrifice to feed it?
The same test holds true for many unclassified addictions...religious addiction is a stellar example.

Answer 2

What about negative effects that you can't see, like a damaged liver or heart? What about all the money spent on the alcohol or other activity? What about the pain that other people go through seeing you drunk/high/engaged in addictive behavior? I think you have a point, but it is more complicated than that.

So 1 being the lowest, and 10 being the highest, you want your question rated? I'd say 7.

Answer 3

Isn't it fascinating how people want to complicate a question to fit their own definitions? Yes, yes, I realize that is the nature of intellectual discourse, but....

To answer your question, if your particular "addiction" (what a pejorative word) has no negative effects on your life, who the hell cares? And who SHOULD care?

Now, to those who wanted to complicate the issue...

I don't suppose that all of you are "health nuts" that consume only spring water and wheat germ, are you?

If you eat anything deep fried or fast food, sit down and zip it.

I don't suppose any of the complicated people enjoy sex? To what degree? Who is to say what is "too much?"

Anyone enjoy pastry? Doughnuts? OMG, you're on the slippery slope, too!

I just think it's interesting how everyone can "justify" their own "addiction" and pass judgement on all the others that they don't have...

Answer 4

How do you know there are no ill effects? You can't diagnose yourself! Of course you're not going to see it doing any harm. The money you're spending on shoes could go towards putting food in your kid's mouths.

Answer 5

One question -- can you go without alcohol (if yes, go without for at least a month). Honestly answer this question and you will know then if you are or aren't. Please get help if you are an alcoholic. It will tear apart your family.

Answer 6

This is not a phliosophy question - post it under medical