The Definition of an Alcoholic and How to Spot One

The simple definition of an alcoholic, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, would be one that is affected with alcoholism. More complexly, alcoholism is a disorder identifiable when a person exhibits a dependence on alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has reported that 1 in 4 people who drink above the recommended maximum number of drinks per day and week are already suffering from alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse problems. What's even more frightening is that it has also reported some unsettling US alcoholism statisticswhich state that 1 in 13 adults (or 14 million people) are considered to be abusers of alcohol, or suffer from alcoholism. Alcohol addiction is a crippling condition, but the good news is that in most cases it can be easily spotted. There are differences between people who abuse alcohol and those that suffer from a full blown addiction. Abusers of alcohol might exhibit behavior such as drinking in risky situations, getting hurt or hurting others while drinking, blacking out, and more. Signs of alcohol addiction will probably include those same signs, but other indicators will be present as well. These are some of the most common ways to spot an alcoholic.

1. Inability to Stop Drinking After Starting

A person suffering from alcoholism will exhibit a strong inability to stop drinking. With alcoholics, there is rarely a limit in mind, and it is often difficult for them to determine where or when to draw the line. Even if an alcoholic begins to drink and wants to stop at a certain point, they are rarely successful at staying true to this desire. Additionally, an alcoholic will experience uncontrollable urges to drink. Emotional or stressful events in their life will probably worsen the urges, and they experience more intense binges when going through difficult times.

2. Withdrawal Symptoms Occur When Not Drinking

An alcoholic will experience withdrawal symptoms if they do not drink for a certain period of time. The period of time depends on how heavily they depend on alcohol and how crippling the addiction is. Likewise, the symptoms will be worse depending on the severity of the addiction. Common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Sweating
• Shaky hands

In more severe cases, hallucinations might be experienced, but they usually cease after 48 hours at the most.

3. Continuing to Drink Regardless of Its Effect on the Abuser's Life

A person might be an alcoholic if they continue to drink, even when it begins to take a toll on other areas of their life. Their work ethic might begin to deteriorate, or they might begin missing work altogether. Their financial situation might begin to plummet. There are many ways in which an alcohol addiction can affect all other areas of a person's life.

4. Drinking Alone

Many alcoholics will exhibit a habit of drinking regardless of whether they are around people or not. Many might do it because they feel ashamed or guilty about their excessive drinking when they do it in the company of others.

5. Making Up Excuses to Drink or Hiding It

Coming up with excuses to drink or trying to keep drinking private is another one of the common signs of alcoholism. For example, an addict will find something such as a "happy hour" or an unopened liquor bottle as a viable excuse to begin drinking. They might view these occurrences as opportunities that won't soon happen again. Additionally, hiding the alcohol habit is a very strong indicator of a drinking problem.

Sources:

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Moderate & Binge Drinking
2. WebMD: Alcohol Withdrawl