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I am not an alcoholic, but I probably drink too much. Should I get help?
You don't have to be dealing with alcoholism to need help, or to get help. If your health care provider determines that you are not alcohol dependent, but you are involved in a pattern of alcohol abuse, he or she can help you:
- Examine your drinking habits
- Set goals and limits
- Examine trigger situations
- Develop new ways of handling problem situations
If you or someone close to you answers "yes" to any of the following questions, a drinking problem is possible. More than one "yes" indicates that a problem is very likely, and that help should be sought immediately.
- Have you recently felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you recently felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
- Have you recently had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
If you have any alcohol-related problem, even if you are not alcoholic, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) also can help with information and support.
How much can I drink?
According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults can drink moderate amounts of alcohol--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people--and avoid alcohol-related problems. However, certain people should not drink at all. That includes:
- Recovering alcoholics
- Children
- Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- People who plan to drive or engage in other activities requiring alertness and skill
- People taking certain medications, including some over-the-counter medicines
- People with medical conditions that can be worsened by drinking
Can alcoholism or alcohol dependence be cured?
Unfortunately, not yet. Although the symptoms of this disease can be treated, and medication is available that can help prevent relapses, a cure has not yet been discovered. This means that even someone who has been sober for years and has regained good health is still vulnerable to relapse, and must continue to avoid alcoholic beverages. However, there are many individuals who were once alcohol dependent who have sustained recovery for a lifetime.
Are there any medications for treating alcoholism?
Yes. Tranquilizers known as benzodiazepines are used in the first few days of treatment to help patients safely withdraw from alcohol. Common brands of benzodiazepines include Valium® and Librium®.
Naltrexone (ReVia®) is another type of medication used to help people remain sober. This medication is used in conjunction with counseling to lessen cravings and prevent a return to heavy drinking. The medication is available in oral and injectable forms.
Acamprosate is used along with counseling and social support by those who have stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol. It helps them to avoid relapse. Acamprosate may reduce anxiety, insomnia and other problems that people may experience when they stop drinking, but hasn't been shown to work for those who haven't stopped drinking.
Disulfiram is used to treat chronic alcoholism. If alcohol is taken with this drug, side effects of headache, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, weakness, blurred vision, mental confusion, sweating, choking, breathing difficulty, anxiety or other symptoms occur. Within 10 minutes of consuming alcohol, these symptoms can take place, and they can last for an hour or more. Disulfiram is meant to discourage drinking.
Does alcoholism treatment work?
While not 100 percent effective in every case, studies have shown that a minority of alcoholics remain completely sober at least one year after treatment while others have periods of sobriety alternating with relapses. However, treatment outcomes for alcoholism compare favorably to outcomes for many other chronic medical conditions. The longer one abstains from alcohol, the better his or her chances of remaining sober. It is also important to remember that it often takes several attempts for people to achieve long-term sobriety. Relapses are common, and should not indicate failure or inability to overcome this disease.
Most alcoholism treatment programs also include meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is a support network that helps people to share their experience, strength and hope with the common goal of attaining and maintaining sobriety.
If I have trouble with drinking, can't I simply reduce my alcohol use without stopping altogether?
Studies have shown that once individuals are alcohol dependent, they find it very difficult, if not impossible, to cut back on drinking without stopping altogether. Cutting out alcohol entirely is almost always necessary, at least for a significant period of time, for successful recovery. However, not all alcohol-related problems involve alcoholism, and people with some problems may be able to limit the amount they drink. If you cannot stay within your limit every time you drink, you will most likely need to stop drinking entirely.
Is there a difference in the way that alcohol affects your body as you age?
As a person grows older, some physical functions such as vision, hearing, and reaction time -- tend to decline. Also, other physical changes associated with aging can cause older people to feel the immediate effects of alcohol after consuming fairly small amounts. These factors make older people more susceptible to alcohol-related falls and automobile accidents.
Also, since older people in general take more medicines than younger ones, the possibility of dangerous side effects when medication and alcohol are combined increases with age. In addition, medical conditions that are more common to older people, such as high blood pressure and peptic ulcers, can be made worse by consuming alcohol. Even if there is no medical reason to avoid alcohol, older men and women should limit their intake to one drink per day.
Are there differences between the effects of alcohol on women and men?
Even when differences in body weight are taken into account, studies show that women are more affected by alcohol than men and women become more intoxicated after drinking the same amount of alcohol as men. This is because of the difference in the percentage of water in men's and women's bodies. Since alcohol mixes with body water, the same amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman's body than in a man's. That is why the recommended drinking limit is lower for women than for men.
In addition, the long-term effects of alcohol abuse have been shown to take a heavier physical toll on women than on men. Alcohol dependence and related problems, like brain and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.
How does my alcoholism affect my children?
Children of alcoholics generally:
- Are at high risk for alcohol and other drug problems
- Live with constant tension and stress
- Have high levels of anxiety and depression
- Do poorly in school
- Experience problems with coping
Is it true that alcohol is good for your heart?
Studies have shown that moderate drinkers (one or two drinks per day) are less likely to develop heart disease than people who do not drink any alcohol or those who drink larger amounts. It is speculated that small amounts of alcohol may help protect against coronary heart disease by raising levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and by reducing the risk of blood clots in the coronary arteries. At the same time, remember that heavy drinking can increase your risk of heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure and cirrhosis of the liver. If you are a non-drinker, you should not drink alcohol just to benefit your heart. Protection against coronary heart disease is better obtained through regular physical activity and a low-fat diet. If you are advised to abstain from drinking for any other reason, you should not drink either.
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External Sources
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Alcoholics Anonymous
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National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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