How can you tell when someone is an alcoholic?

Question

What help can you give these people and what is the worst thing you can do for them?

Answer 1

i lived with an alcoholic who worked great until payday and then he would disappear for 3-5 days and then return when his money was all gone. It got old really quick. the worst thing you can do is be an enabler to them by having alcohol in your home when they are around, do not serve alcohol to an alcoholic, or lend them money. the best thing you can do is to not allow them to be drinking around you and if they can't stay sober then you need to shut them out of your life, unless they are willing to get help and prove that they are getting help.

Answer 2

With some people, it's really obvious that they are alcoholics...clutching paper bags in doorways, lying in their own piss. But as one poster noted, it's possible to be an alcoholic with nobody else knowing it. I guess the best way to tell is if someone tells you that they are an alcoholic. You can't really do anything to make an alcoholic recover. You can offer your support, however. The worst thing you can do for them is make excuses or lie for them.

Answer 3

You can't tell when someone is an alcoholic. I had my head in a bottle for nine years and no one knew it except my wife. I worked full time, never missed a day of work, yet there were days I'd be drinking at work. It was common for me to drink a quart a day and still function. One day I mentioned to my wife I was to be given a promotion at work. The job I would be taking involved items that could harm large areas if handled wrong. She called my boss (and friend), and told him. I was put in treatment where I went through DT's, shakes and every other nasty little thing nature could come up with. Six months later they let me out and I haven't had a drink since.

Answer 4

Alcoholism is marked by dependence on alcohol and loss of control over one's drinking. This loss of control may develop almost imperceptibly over a long period, or it may manifest itself almost from the start of a person's drinking. When a person continues to drink despite the fact that it causes serious psychological, physical, or social problems, alcoholism is developing or is already present.

Seldom can you spot alcoholics by their appearance. However, for those close to a person who seems to be more and more dependent on alcohol in order to function, there are indicators that his or her drinking may be reaching the danger point. For example: there is the immediate reaction to pour a drink when faced with any problem; getting drunk has become a regular occurrence; there is a record of missing work because of drinking or regular attendance at work with an ill-disguised odor of liquor on the breath; the person's license has been suspended for driving while intoxicated; the person has gotten into trouble with authorities for no "logical" reason; the person has been involved in several unexplainable accidents without evidence of physical impairment; or his/her home life has become intolerable because of excessive drinking to arguments resulting from drinking.

Answer 5

when they make up excuses to drink and they really have know reason. My mom would get up at 11am and down her to beers and she is a drunk. I steel love her. The way you can help is buy taking them to a rehab to get help. Another way is taking their liquor from them. The worst you can do is to provide the liquor. Oh it will be hard because drunks have anger problems.