How to Find Out If Someone in Your Life Has an Alcohol Abuse Addiction

What is an alcoholic? Where is that line betweenremember?
frequent drinking and alcoholism, between alcohol9. When they drink, do they do things that are
dependence and alcohol abuse addiction? While somegreatly out of character? Does their personality
say that only the person drinking can decide whetherchange?
he/she has an alcoholic addiction, there are clear signs10. Does drinking, or the opportunity of drinking,
to indicate when someone has a drinking problembecomes a priority over friends, family, work or
that goes beyond heavy drinking.already prearranged activities?
They may be an alcoholic if they repeatedly drinkIf your answer is YES to four or more of these signs
more than they intended or wanted to, if they tendof alcoholism, then that person you know may be in
to get into trouble due to alcohol, or if they havedeep trouble with his/her drinking and may have an
memory lapses due to drinking. If they want toalcohol abuse addiction.
control their drinking but can't, then alcoholism is aThere is no clear agreement on what causes alcohol
strong possibility.abuse addiction, but there are effective solutions to
Here is a quick test to see if that someone youbeat this problem.
know may have crossed the line and now has anDo you need help to deal with the consequences
alcohol abuse addiction.caused by someone else's alcoholic addiction? Is the
1. Have they decided to stop drinking for a week ordrinking of your partner, parent, child or friend
so, but only lasted for a few days?worrying you?
2. Do they become highly sensitive, dismissive orIf someone's drinking is causing you problems, or you
aggressive to any discussions about how much theyhave issues with an individual who drinks, then you
are drinking and what it is doing to them?will need to find out:o how to correctly deal with an
3. Do they sometimes genuinely seem to want toalcoholic;o how to correctly recognize the signs of
stop drinking but just can't stop?alcoholism;o the NUMBER ONE thing an alcoholic MUST
4. In the past year, have they had personal or workDO if he/she is to change his/her destructive
problems connected to their drinking?lifestyle;o the things you can and cannot do to help;o
5. Were there days when they missed work orthe exact action steps you need to take;o the key
school due to drinking? Or have they even lost theirconflicts created by alcoholism so you can reveal the
job because of it?answers you need for your own peace of mind.
6. Have they missed any important events becauseLearn how to respond when being with someone
of their drinking?with an alcohol abuse addiction. Reduce future stress;
7. Do they need a drink to get started in thearm yourself with the necessary tools to educate
morning? Do they need one to stop shaking?yourself about alcoholism. Discover how you can live
8. Are you aware of times when they had beenhappier life with the ones you love, free from the
drinking for hours, or days, which they cannotstress and suffering of their alcohol abuse addiction.