I used to drink a lot, but I quit for the most part, 15 years ago.?

Question

Now I drink occasionally. Right now I'm having a beer and will probably have another but probably not a third. I need to dash off to the store. When I drank fairly heavily though, 15 years ago, I would have 6 to 8 beers a night, every night, after work.

If I didn't drink, I would get antsy. Now, I can have a drink or too and not need to have more. Here's the question: Was I an alcoholic, as my father was and my brother is, and am I an alcoholic now? Some people say that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. What do you think, YA people?

Answer 1

Doesn't sound like you were an alcoholic, and unless you had problems caused by your drinking that you ignored and continued to drink, I wouldn't say you had even been a problem drinker.

The vast majority of people who realize they have a problem quit or learn to moderate on their own, no programs, no groups, no meetings.

Many college-aged people, whether or not they go to college, over-indulge, most mature out of it when faced with real-life responsibilities.

from http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html :
"On their own
There is a high rate of recovery among alcoholics and addicts, treated and untreated. According to one estimate, heroin addicts break the habit in an average of 11 years. Another estimate is that at least 50% of alcoholics eventually free themselves although only 10% are ever treated. One recent study found that 80% of all alcoholics who recover for a year or more do so on their own, some after being unsuccessfully treated. When a group of these self-treated alcoholics was interviewed, 57% said they simply decided that alcohol was bad for them. Twenty-nine percent said health problems, frightening experiences, accidents, or blackouts persuaded them to quit. Others used such phrases as "Things were building up" or "I was sick and tired of it." Support from a husband or wife was important in sustaining the resolution.
Treatment of Drug Abuse and Addiction -- Part III, The Harvard Mental Health Letter, Volume 12, Number 4, October 1995, page 3."

As an EX-alcoholic myself, I certainly wouldn't call you an alcoholic.

Answer 2

As a former chemical dependency counselor of 21 years, who has broken ranks with the "alcoholism is a disease and once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" crowd. There is a wide body of evidence that supports the idea that some people drank problematically, woke-up, and decided to cut back or stop. Another group called Moderation Management goes into great detail about this as well. Stanton Peele has some views that are considered "radical" by the traditional treatment/disease crowd. He wrote a book called: "The Diseasing of America" that is a must read for anybody involved in the addictions realm. If you do not want to go back to where you were before, good on you. I look at Biblical perspective on drinking. Moderation. For some people who have had problems with alcohol and cannot moderate their use, it's better to stay away from it.

Don't be surprised by some of the responses you get.

Answer 3

Do you have to have a beer or two after work? If your answer is yes, then there is a problem. I cannot call you an alcoholic, but if you are questioning yourself then maybe you should talk with someone. Personally, I was a full fledged addict and 14 years ago I realized this was not the life for me. I got clean and have stayed that way and now life is good. Through NA I learned how to live life on life's terms -- and it was not easy. If whatever chemical you are putting into your body is causing problems in your life there is need for change -- but only you can decided that. Good Luck with whatever call you make.
Peace.

Answer 4

I think you are rationalizing, and yes you are an alcoholic.