ALCOHOL is involved in 49% of murders, 21% of suicides, a shocking 60% of child abuse and 90% of ALL property crimes such as theft and 90% of street muggings, commonly by those who need money to support their drug addiction.[1]
Alcohol, in moderation, can be good for you as long as you are in control but the moment it takes control of you—you are in trouble. Bit by bit, slowly but surely, people become alcohol dependant and MOST will not be aware that they dependant until it is too late. If you suspect that you or someone close to you are slowly drifting into alcoholism, the following alcoholism signs and symptoms will give you early warning and hopefully direct you towards finding ways that you can deal with it before it becomes too much of a the problem.
The path to alcoholism is complex and long. It starts with a drinking problem, letting the consumption of alcohol get out of your control. This is followed by alcohol abuse and finally alcoholism.[2]
Drinking Problems.
Among the varied factors that can lead to drinking problems are heredity factors, environmental factors as well as the emotional health of the individual. Also, some people who see alcohol abuse in the family have a higher tendency towards developing drinking problems. At this stage, drinking can cause problems in your relationships, daily tasks and responsibilities.
Signs and symptoms of drinking problems include:
- Feeling guilty of drinking
- Family are worried about how much you are drinking
- Hiding your drinking habits
- You end up drinking more alcohol than what you wanted
- You need alcohol to make you feel relaxed
Alcohol Abuse.
Alcohol abuse means drinking much more alcohol than is healthy for you. You no longer want to moderate your drinking. However, at this stage, you are still able to set limits on your drinking.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse include:
- You have been legally penalized for your drinking
- You drink alcohol even when you know it’s dangerous
- You can no longer perform well in your tasks and responsibilities
- Your relationships become constrained as a result of your drinking
Signs of Alcoholism.
This is the stage where it has become impossible to live without alcohol. This is the most severe form of alcohol-related problem and is not uncommon in modern western society. Statistics show that an estimated 20 million Americans have alcoholism signs; of those who consume alcohol, 1 in 10 is an alcoholic and each year, a whopping 80 BILLION DOLLARS is spent on alcohol-related illnesses. This is not taking into account the cost of lost wages, reduced productivity and property damage.[3]
Signs and symptoms of alcoholism :
- It takes more amounts of alcohol to get “drunk”
- You become sick without alcohol
- You want to stop drinking but you CAN’T
- You can no longer do anything productive because of alcohol
- You are aware that it is causing problems and still you drink
Alcoholism signs and symptoms SHOULD alert you and tell you that you need to take action immediately. The whole purpose of this blog is to try to educate people about the dangers that are inherent in consuming large quantities of alcohol. Alcoholism will sneak up on you if you let it and it will ruin your life, I know! Don’t ever use alcohol as a crutch, a way of getting you through that difficult period, it won’t, it will only make that difficult period e.
[1] http://www.alcoholism-and-drug-addiction-help.com/alcoholism-facts.html
[2] http://helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm
[3] Zerweckh, J. And Claborn, J. (2006) Illustrated guide for the NCLEX-RN Exam 6th Edition; Mosby, Inc; Canada; pp.187 – 188