is drinking 2-3 times a week - 30pk or more, plus shots, to the point of not remembering consider being addicted to it. im only asking because I have a friend who is still into partying and he doesnt think so. He's married and has a family and he goes out and drinks til the next morning. when payday comes around he's out again and not home with family. he says its for being with friends but isnt it even possible to visit friends during the day and sober? he thinks he doesnt have a problem but his family do. its to the piont that his family is going to leave him for it. they are a nice family when together but i dont think he understands that.
2007-11-30 06:03:39 · 40 answers · asked by ???? 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
there are times when he goes out and the next morning he'll call in for work. He does work hard but its just those slip ups that he takes for granted-sick leave or personal leave. he doesnt get shaky and "has to have it in the morning after" but it does affect his relationship.
2007-11-30 08:37:48 · update #1
Your friend is in the beginning stages of addiction. As a substance abuse counselor, I would diagnose it as Alcohol abuse. This is a precursor to Alcohol Dependence. As you report, he is still functioning well in society and for the most part, family. It is only a matter of time before traumatic consequences will become more prevalent in his life and his family.
His denial to being addicted is called a precontemplation stage of change. He has not yet experienced enough crisises in his life to facilitate the need to change his behavior. This will occur and after a series of events, such as DUI's, threatened loss of relationships over his drinking behavior. finanical difficulties, etc, he may start beginning to believe he has a problem. This stage is called Contemplation, but is usually characterized by ambivalence ( I want help, but I don't need help).
Ideally, it would benefit him and his family to attempt to make intervention now. Professional substance abuse counselors are trained to motivate individuals into successive stages of change that will interrupt this destructive cycle your friend is entering into.
2007-12-01 08:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by dmallen321 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "World Health Organization" says the following about alcohol addiction:
The following are conditions for alcohol addiction (you don't have to fulfill all of these conditions):
Tolerance (need more alcohol to still feel the effect).
Psychological dependence (have a desire for alcohol, varying from very little to very much).
Withdrawal symptoms (get all kinds of physical reactions after you stop).
Use alcohol to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.
Failed attempts to control the alcohol use.
Spend a great deal of time on the use of alcohol or on the recovery of its use.
Damaging effects due to the use on the person itself and its surroundings (problems at work or school, arguments with the people around the addict, dedicate less time to hobbies, illnesses).
Use alcohol more frequently and in higher doses than planned.
Continue to use alcohol even if you know it is damaging for you.
2007-11-30 06:08:27 · answer #2 · answered by frogskin13 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You know you're addicted when you can't leave whatever it is alone...that includes drugs, alcohol, food, sex....whatever.
The man you speak of is addicted to alcohol. Most people with addictions deny it...don't want to talk about it...say others have the problem, not them, etc. It's classic signs of addiction.
He'll have to lose everything he has & hit rock bottom before he'll ever admit to having a problem. By then, his family will have left, and he'll have prescious little left but his drinking buddies.
What a shame....
I hope he wakes up before he loses it all.
2007-11-30 06:41:12 · answer #3 · answered by Barbi T 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure he has a problem -- especially if he's spending his paycheck on partying and staying out all night... and i'm sure it's affecting his family life and relationships.
HE is the one who needs to realize he has a problem... you can tell him he does until you are blue in the face. It's not your call...(even though you know he's got a definite problem)....
His family probably needs to leave him for their own sanity -- by staying they are letting him know it's "ok" and enabling him to continue. If they leave and cut ties for a while (or forever) he might see that there is a big problem OR
he might continue doing this forever... it's difficult to tell...people who are addicted and use find their addiction more important than the people they profess to love.
2007-11-30 06:09:17 · answer #4 · answered by letterstoheather 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are abusing alcohol is your fall in any of these patterns:
Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities
Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk
Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking
Alcohol addiction:
Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink
Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion
Physical dependence: Includes evidence of tolerance and withdrawal
Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get drunk
Withdrawal symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, hallucinations (visual or auditory), anxiety, and even seizures. These symptoms can occur in individuals who have been heavy drinkers over a period of time
2007-11-30 06:12:56 · answer #5 · answered by lizze 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honestly...I personally think its ok to go for drinks on weekends or even weekdays if you know its not interfereing with life and you are not attached or have a family.
1 to 2 glasses of wine with dinner - why not
weekends drink 4-6 drinks - sure
however, yeah I think he's got a problem....it's GROWING UP that he needs to do. stop drinking for at least a few months and see how he likes his family...if hes walking around hammered all the time he probably doest even know his or their personalities....its all cloudy for him
2007-11-30 06:10:00 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the problem is so bad that his family is leaving, and his dumbass still thinks it's them, not him....then yes, he is most certainly an alcoholic. A happy husband would want to be at home with his family instead of out at the bar. Hey, I'm not knocking the bar, I'll be there a little later myself, but I'm not married, and I don't have kids that depend on me...
2007-11-30 06:08:20 · answer #7 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
there are sites out there to take a quiz to see if you have a problem (just google it) but it sounds severe. 30 drinks in a week averages to be nearly 5 a day. the thing is, until that person is ready to change - it won't happen. the family can leave and they can lose everything ..but if they don't want to change, they won't.
2007-11-30 06:09:32 · answer #8 · answered by hb232 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if he is drinking that much he is an alcoholic. And it's not about being with friends. It's about him and his addictions. He will eventually lose his family, job, etc. He needs help....he may hurt himself or someone else. This is a very very bad situation.
2007-11-30 06:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by julie A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course he is not going to say he is addicted. If the family is already acting that way and you see it then most likely his has a drinking problem. He needs AA.
2007-11-30 06:09:45 · answer #10 · answered by luvlisteningtomusic 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋