Approximately 70% of American adults consume alcohol occasionally. Alcohol consumption is actually a very common event in our society. But when does drinking alcohol stop becoming social events and start becoming alcohol problems?
For most people, moderate drinking is pretty safe. Consuming alcohol may even have some health benefits, including lowering the risk of certain heart problems. But anything past moderate drinking can be very risky. Some people shouldn’t even drink at all, including alcoholics, children, pregnant women, people on certain medications and people with some medical conditions as these cases can lead to other alcohol problems.
What is moderate drinking?
It is the first thing to know to be able to gauge if someone has alcohol problems. On average, women drink one drink per day while men drink an average of two per day. Anything more than the average is very risky and can lead to alcohol problems.
The best way to stop anyone from developing alcohol problems is to always pay attention. If you see someone drinking more than they should, try putting a stop to it.
Binge drinking is one of the possible alcohol problems that someone can develop. This is when an individual drinks five or more drinks at one time. Over time, the body loses its ability to put a limit to alcohol consumption and that’s the biggest cause of alcohol problems. Developing alcohol problems like binge drinking can damage one’s health and increase the risks for accidents, injuries and assault. Years of suffering through alcohol problems can also lead to liver disease, heart disease, cancer and pancreatitis.
Alcohol problems don’t just put your health at risk. Alcohol problems can also put your relationships at risk, whether it’s at home, at work or with friends. If you know someone who is failing to fulfill responsibilities at work, school or home, they may have alcohol problems.
If you suspect that someone is suffering from alcohol problems like alcoholism or alcohol addiction, make a mental checklist and look for the signs.
The signs and symptoms of alcohol problems include:
- a strong craving for alcohol
- continued use despite physical and psychological problems
- the inability to limit consumption
- physical illness when an individual stops drinking or withdrawals
- the need to drink increasing amounts just to feel its effects.
If you know someone who suffers from alcohol problems, get them to abstain. But your concern isn’t where the help stops. People with alcohol problems need to get proper detox especially if they are going through withdrawals. Also, some form of rehab is probably necessary in order to prevent them from going back to alcohol and gaining back their alcohol problems.
To know the best options for helping a friend or a family member with alcohol problems, talk to a substance abuse counselor at Narconon: 1-877-782-7409.
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