24/7 Free Rehab Hotline

(877) 683-2684

Answered By Treatment Addiction Solutions

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is often marked by behavioral symptoms such as withdrawal from friends and family to dangerous activities like drinking and driving.

We’ve Helped Thousands of Individuals Overcome Drug and Alcohol Addiction

If you or a loved one are ready to overcome drug or alcohol abuse, our addiction specialists are here to guide you through every step. Many of our dedicated staff members are in long-term recovery themselves and understand firsthand the challenges of the recovery journey. This personal experience, combined with our professional expertise, allows us to offer compassionate, effective support tailored to your unique needs.
(877) 683-2684

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol can quickly “snowball” or spiral out of control.

Here are some “red flags” indicating you might have a problem with alcohol:

  • Are friends and family suggesting there is a problem?
  • Is alcohol having a negative effect on your work performance or health?
  • Do you need alcohol to get through the day?

The above questions might apply to you at times or not at all. Do the following symptoms of alcohol abuse register?

  • Drinking alone, isolating, and showing distance from friends and family
  • Drinking to “feel normal,” relax or deal with stress
  • Demonstrating mood swings and increased irritability
  • Drinking leading to blackouts or short-term memory loss
  • Choosing drinking over responsibilities and obligations
  • Drinking with a “new crew” over your former friends and acquaintances

If any of these red flags seems like they could apply, you might be struggling with alcoholism or have an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). If you would like help or just more information on alcohol, please contact us.

Diagnostic Tools

Do you look in the mirror and wonder whether you have a problem with alcohol? You might need a more detailed diagnostic protocol to probe a potential problem.

There are tools like the CAGE questionnaire that can help you diagnose potential AUD. If you respond “yes” to two or more of the following questions, then you should seek help:

  1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
  2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
  3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
  4. Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

Another tool you can consult yourself or under the guidance of a medical professional is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This mental health diagnostic guide examines AUD and asks questions to probe potential problems.

When considering some of the following questions, you should consider your alcohol use in the past year:

  • Have you been in trouble with the law due to alcohol-related problems?
  • Have you gotten into situations while drinking that increased your chances of harming yourself and others (e.g. drinking and driving)?
  • Have you felt an urge or craving to consume alcohol?
  • Have you experienced symptoms associated with an alcohol withdrawal?
  • Have you been in a situation where you ended up drinking much more than you intended?
  • Have you continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem?

Take QuitAlcohol.com’s Alcoholism Quiz Here

Alcohol Abuse Statistics

With all these tools, tests, and questions, you might grow exasperated. Surely, you reason, everyone drinks around me. Every time you go online or engage with the media, you see alcohol-related ads or content. It is everywhere!

Some recent governmental data affirms this belief. In one section, the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by SAMHSA studies alcohol use in the United States. At the time of the study, there were 138.3 million alcohol users in the U.S., 66.7 million (46.2% of all drinkers) were characterized as binge drinkers. Binge drinking for men was defined as consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least one day in the past 30 days. For women, binge drinking was defined as drinking four more drinks on the same occasion on at least one days in the past 30 days.

Of the 138.3 million drinkers, 17.3 million were heavy drinkers in the NSDUH. Heavy alcohol use was defined as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past 30 days for men or women. Heavy drinkers reflect 26.0% of bingers and 12.5% of all users.

If you feel you may have a problem with alcohol, the recent NSDUH confirms that you are not alone.

Seeking Help for Alcoholism

The NSDUH data suggests there are many people suffering with alcoholism. If the diagnostic tools and symptoms described in this article register as red flags, you can find treatment in a specialized treatment facility where you can ease the withdrawal symptoms thru detox in a rehab facility.

Following treatment, a recovery program is suggested where trained specialists can organize a program of steps and goals to maintain your sobriety. Often, low-cost recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon will help a recovering alcoholic continue their path of recovery.

Dr Kate Smith

Clinical Reviewer

Dr. Kate Smith is a licensed professional and has worked in the mental health and substance abuse disorder fields for over 10 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University, graduating magna cum laude from her class. She obtained her Masters in Social Work (MSW) at Barry University in an accelerated program.

More about Dr. Kate Smith

logo quitalcohol

Our helpline is 100% free & confidential

If you or your loved one are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, we can guide you through your options for recovery. Don’t try to go at it alone—reach out for support.
(877) 683-2684

Will my insurance cover addiction treatment?

bluecrossblueshield
aetna logo
unitedhealthcare
cigna logo
humana
beaconhealthoptions

QuitAlcohol.com is not affiliated with any insurance

We're ready to help

Find the best alcohol treatment center

Are you or a loved one struggling with addiction? Call today to speak to a treatment expert.
Get help now
  • (877) 683-2684

How Our Free Helpline Works

Quit Alcohol’s helpline is a private and convenient solution for those seeking treatment for addiction or mental illness. Calls to our helpline (all non-facility specific numbers) will be answered by a caring rehab advisor from Treatment Addiction Solutions or one of our verified treatment partners. Calls are routed based on geographic location and will help you navigate:

  • The various levels of care in relation to your overall treatment needs, budget, and insurance plan.
  • Additional factors such as co-occurring mental health disorders, family dynamics, and more.
  • Both local and out-of-state drug and alcohol addiction treatment options.
  • Understanding what to expect from the entire process so you can confidently get the help you need to start feeling better.

Our helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no cost to you and with no obligation for you to enter into treatment. In some cases, Quit Alcohol charges our verified partner a modest cost per call, which helps us cover the costs of building and maintaining our website. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a visitor ultimately selects.