Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social, work or relationship problems. Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies to use alcohol. Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming.
NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows: For men, consuming five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week. For women, consuming four or more on any day or eight or more drinks per week.
Warning Signs of Substance and Alcohol Use Disorder
Signs and symptoms of narcotic use and dependence can include:
Key signs of stage 1:
10 Signs of Alcohol Addiction
However, alcohol addiction is a real issue for many people. If you're drinking every day and feel like it's taking over your life, you're probably addicted. Other signs of alcohol addiction you should be aware of include the following: Increasing the amount you drink.
not being able to function without alcohol - for example, do your job or carry out daily tasks. drinking has become an important, or the most important, thing in life. continuing to drink despite the negative effects for you or your loved ones. finding it hard to control how much, or when, you drink.
Keep reading to discover eight key signs of drug abuse and addiction.
People with addiction lose control over their actions. They crave and seek out drugs, alcohol, or other substances no matter what the cost—even at the risk of damaging friendships, hurting family, or losing jobs.
The single, unifying symptom for all individuals with alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder) is the inability to control drinking, often characterized by intense cravings and a compulsion to drink, even when it causes significant harm, with the core issue being a loss of control once drinking begins, leading to continued use despite negative consequences. While physical dependence (withdrawal) and tolerance are common, the fundamental commonality is this internal struggle to stop or moderate, a concept often called the "phenomenon of craving" in recovery literature.
The "20-minute rule for alcohol" is a simple strategy to moderate drinking: wait 20 minutes after finishing one alcoholic drink before starting the next, giving you time to rehydrate with water and reassess if you truly want another, often reducing cravings and overall intake. It helps slow consumption, break the chain of continuous drinking, and allows the body a natural break, making it easier to decide if you've had enough or switch to a non-alcoholic option.
Four key warning signs of a damaged liver include jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), abdominal issues (swelling, pain), fatigue/weakness, and changes in urine/stool color, alongside symptoms like itchy skin, easy bruising, confusion, or nausea, indicating the liver isn't filtering toxins or clotting blood properly.
Shame, unworthiness, and judgment are just a few reasons why our drug or alcohol use makes us push people away. We may be afraid of what our friends and loved ones will think or say if they know about our use or especially when we relapse. So we cast ourselves out. We push people away.
'High-functioning alcoholics', or 'functioning alcoholic', are colloquial terms for someone who's dependent on alcohol but is still able to function relatively effectively in their daily life. They'll be able to continue doing many of their daily tasks like going to work and looking after family members.
If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.
Here are five warning signs of addiction—and how to find professional help.
Check for holes in mattresses and under box springs where an addict could conceal drugs. Stuffed animals can also be used for this purpose. A teenager vehemently attached to a particular “stuffy” may have an ulterior motive for holding onto the toy. Drugs can be hidden behind pictures and posters on walls.
What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?
Warning Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Three fingers of alcohol is an imprecise, old-fashioned measure, but generally equates to about 3 to 6 ounces (90-180 ml), often estimated as 1 to 2 ounces (30-60 ml) per finger, with variations depending on finger size, glass size, and bartender interpretation. While some try to standardize it to 1 ounce per finger, a common pour for "two fingers" is 2 ounces, making "three fingers" roughly 3 ounces, though it can easily be more.
The stages can be categorized into four main phases. These are: the pre-alcoholic stage, early stage of alcohol abuse, middle stage of alcohol abuse and end stage alcoholism. Each stage comes with its own challenges and health risks.
A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcohol use disorder but can maintain the appearance that they have control over their drinking. Their hygiene is fine, they can socialize without drawing attention to their alcohol consumption, and they can hold down a steady job.
What To Drink Instead of Alcohol
Although the terms “problem drinking” and “alcoholism” are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Compared to alcoholics, problem drinkers usually have shorter histories of alcohol-related problems, more social and economic stability, and less severe consequences associated with their drinking.