How To Tell if a Friend is Alcohol Dependant
I have a close friend who drinks two or three glasses of wine most nights. When we go out she rarely abstains from drinking, but never is visibly intoxicated. I have another friend who doesn’t drink at all during the week; alcohol is meant for chugging and pounding — not casually enjoying. She gets drunk every weekend. Alcohol isn’t necessary to function, but she doesn’t seem to enjoy social gatherings unless she’s taken a few shots beforehand. Both of my friends appear to be somewhat dependent upon alcohol, but for very different reasons. Is one of the two more negatively affected by their alcohol use, and is one more clearly addicted? How do the weights vary regarding functional dependence and binge drinking? How can I tell if a friend is in need of help?
“Alcohol dependence,” according to the NIAAA, “is a condition characterized by impaired control over drinking, compulsive drinking, preoccupation with drinking, tolerance to alcohol, and/or withdrawal symptoms.” Alcohol abuse is the next step in problem drinking and is defined by failure to fulfill major role obligations, social problems and/or hazardous drinking situations. Work suffers, motivation is stalled, friendships are weak, and sleep is altered.
But negative effects as such are not always clear when surveying a friends’ life. Research shows that analyzing childhood behaviors leads to understanding how people become alcoholics. Environmental factors in adolescence can lead to developmental disorders that spark addiction. Genetics also play a role in drug and alcohol behaviors, but like environmental conditions, there is no single direct route to addiction. Studies have shown a link between low serotonin levels and binge drinking, as well as blunted stress responses and increased consumption of alcohol.
Alcohol is a social substance, and the widespread perception of drinking as a societal norm impairs our ability to identify its negative impact on each others’ lives. Moreover, a clear prototype of an addict or abuser doesn’t exist. Although confusion is natural, even taking the time to consider your friends’ deep rooted problems is important, and an indicator of your desire to help and improve their lives. I don’t believe one of my friends is in worse shape than the other, but I will from now on consider their past and personal issues when trying to understand the role alcohol plays in their lives.
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November 16th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Obviously, whatever addiction you overcame seems harder than one you haven’t had to deal with…….but maybe some people have overcame both? I would think alcohol, because that is what I am dealing with….and my heart even stopped beating and having palpatations. After research, I found many life threatening possibilities with quiting alcohol cold turkey, and none for smokers, only strong urges and headaches. Feedback?
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Reeta
mississippi drug rehab
November 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Addiction is a personal battle that varies from user to user. Although some drugs more radically alter a person’s chemical and hormone balances to make increasingly difficult to function without them in the body, it’s not always useful to try to compare which addictions are harder to overcome. It may seem like your addiction is harder to control than any other dependency, but that’s because it is your battle with your disease and your body’s drug of choice. Whether it’s alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or any other substance, drugs affect each person differently and a variety of factors determine a person’s level of addiction.
The withdrawal symptoms you describe Reeta do make quitting even more of a struggle for addicts. Both nicotine and alcohol withdrawal last a relatively short amount of time: Alcohol can cause tremors, convulsions, and hallucinations, and nicotine withdrawal is associated with irritability, sleep disturbances and hunger (http://www.enotalone.com/article/11293.html). Those who’ve used large amounts of alcohol for an extended period of time can experience delirium tremens, which can be life threatening. If you want to quite drinking but are concerned for your health, consider checking into a detox facility that can monitor your body’s response.