| Changing a Person's Drinking Behavior | | | | will be an alcohol abuser and an alcoholic. |
| Thousands of articles have been written and | | | | Signs of Alcohol Addiction |
| countless research studies have been undertaken | | | | How can a person tell if he or she is alcohol |
| regarding alcoholism. In spite of this, the one finding | | | | dependent? First, the experience of alcohol |
| that has apparently failed to reverberate throughout | | | | withdrawal symptoms when an individual suddenly |
| the alcohol abuse and alcoholism academic and | | | | stops drinking is one sign that alcoholism has reared |
| medical communities is the emphasis on the fact that | | | | its ugly head. |
| alcohol addiction has its roots in alcohol abuse. While | | | | Second, repetitive and out-of-control drinking |
| this fact has many ramifications, perhaps the key | | | | behavior is another indication that a person has |
| upshot of this fact is that millions of non-alcoholic | | | | become an alcoholic. What this usually means is that |
| individuals in our society and throughout the world | | | | after consuming the first drink, the individual lacks |
| who engage in abusive drinking can address their | | | | control over stopping his or her drinking and |
| drinking consumption and make healthy and positive | | | | therefore continues to drink until he or she becomes |
| changes in their drinking behavior before they | | | | inebriated. |
| become alcohol dependent. | | | | Alcohol Addiction Has Its Roots in Alcohol Abuse |
| One school of thought sees alcohol abuse in the | | | | Perhaps the key in all of this is the following: most, if |
| following way: alcohol abuse takes place whenever an | | | | not all instances of alcohol addiction get their start |
| individual's drinking causes a problem in any aspect of | | | | from alcohol abuse. Stated another way, it is highly |
| his or her life. | | | | unlikely that a non-drinker will become alcohol |
| The areas of a person's life where alcohol abuse | | | | dependent simply by having one drink or that a |
| commonly leads to problems includes the following: | | | | non-drinker will become an alcoholic by getting drunk |
| · relationships | | | | once. Indeed, alcoholism does not result from |
| · employment | | | | infrequent and sporadic drinking but rather from |
| · school | | | | continuous, excessive, and repeated drinking. The |
| · finances | | | | point: alcoholism doesn't take place in a vacuum. In |
| · health | | | | short, the roots of alcoholism are found in alcohol |
| · the law (for instance, a DUI). | | | | abuse. |
| The Need for Positive and Healthy Change | | | | Knowing this and letting this "fact" influence an |
| Now that we are aware of the problems that are | | | | individual's drinking behavior in a positive and healthy |
| usually associated with alcohol abuse, it can be seen | | | | manner is perhaps the single most important |
| that in order to overcome these difficulties and | | | | health-related bit of information that a problem |
| issues it is important for the alcohol abuser to look in | | | | drinker can learn and implement in his or her life. |
| the mirror and honestly ask himself or herself if | | | | Why is this so important? Research shows that |
| alcohol is causing a problem in any facet of his or her | | | | alcoholics are masters of denial, deception, |
| life. | | | | dishonesty, and manipulation and often blame their |
| As an additional component in the quest for healthy | | | | alcohol-related problems on situations and people |
| and positive change, problem drinkers need to | | | | outside themselves. Alcoholics also exhibit |
| understand that continued, repetitive, and heavy | | | | out-of-control and irresponsible drinking behavior. Not |
| drinking can and does turn into alcohol addiction. | | | | only this, but most alcoholics will lie, cheat, and steal in |
| Stated differently, millions of non-alcoholics in our | | | | order to get their next drink. Why would an alcohol |
| society who have a drinking problem will, at some | | | | abuser who is not yet an alcoholic want to face such |
| point in their lives, experience a transition from alcohol | | | | a dreary and destructive set of circumstances? |
| abuse to alcohol dependency. When this happens, it | | | | Part One of Two |
| must be emphasized, the person will no longer simply | | | | This article is part one of a two-part article. |
| be an alcohol abuser. Indeed, at this point, the person | | | | |