KEY TAKEAWAYS
You know you have a drinking problem if you consume:
What Is Considered A Drinking Problem, According To...
DSM V
The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM V) defines that out of the 11 criteria for alcoholism:
The 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder are:
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous defines a drinking problem as the physical desire to consume alcohol beyond the capacity to control it; as well as the inability not to give in to cravings for alcohol [3].
NIAAA
The NIAAA defines a drinking problem as consuming:
WHO
WHO states that moderate alcohol consumption is less than:
Any consumption over these levels is classed as a drinking problem.
CDC
The CDC define alcohol use disorder as:
How To Tell If Someone Has A Drinking Problem
Drinking Pattern & Intake Level
Drinking patterns and intake levels that indicate potential alcohol addiction include:
Physical Symptoms
Physical withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and shakiness occur in all casual drinking patterns, but symptoms that indicate a drinking problem include:
Behavioural & Emotional Symptoms
Work
A 1-litre increase in alcohol consumption leads to a 13% increase in sickness absences; with absenteeism and poor work performance also being clear indicators of a drinking problem [11].
Financial issues
Relationship Issues
Health Problems
Trauma/Accidents/Hospitalisation
More than 1 in 10 visits to A&E departments are due to alcohol-related illnesses, including:
This manifests in the body as more frequent visible bruises or cuts.
The likelihood of a fatal motor vehicle injury increases by 1.74% for every 0.02% increase in blood alcohol concentration [16].
Negative Consequences
30-50% of alcoholics demonstrate:
Coping Mechanism
Alcohol becomes a habitual coping mechanism when used repeatedly as self-medication for stress, anxiety and depression.
Alcohol use becomes a drinking problem when it stops being one of many coping mechanisms used, and becomes the only way to cope.
Avoiding Responsibility
A problem drinker typically avoids responsibility by:
Legal Trouble
Family/Friends Concerned
Friends and family members notice:
Isolation
Isolation due to a drinking problem is shown by a combination of:
Although drinking alone can be attributed to being introverted, repeatedly voluntarily isolating indicates alcohol use disorder.
When It Looks Like A Drinking Problem, But Isn't
Drinking Patterns That Are Not Problematic Drinking
Social Drinking
Unlike those with a drinking problem, social drinkers:
Binge Drinking
Unlike those with a drinking problem, binge drinkers:
Header | Non Drinkers | Social Drinking | Binge Drinking | Chronic Alcoholism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Amount Consumed | 0 drinks | 1/2 drinks per | 4/5 drinks in 2 | 4/5 drinks per |
Consumption Frequency | Never | Only at social events | At least 1 day | 5 or more days |
Alcohol Cravings? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Needing Alcohol To Socialise | No | Yes | No | No |
Relationship Problems | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Liver Issues | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Legal Issues | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Unusual Changes In Routine | No | No | No | Yes |
Overreacting To Questions About Drinking | No | No | No | Yes |
Reduced Exercise Or Healthy Diet | No | No | No | Yes |
Conditions Mistaken For A Drinking Problem
Dementia
Dementia may be confused with a drinking problem due to:
Conversely, alcoholism includes these factors, where dementia does not:
Auto-Brewery Syndrome
Auto-brewery syndrome may be confused with a drinking problem due to:
Unlike auto-brewery syndrome, alcoholism shows a sharp increase in alcohol use, as well as prioritising alcohol above all other responsibilities.
Tourette's Syndrome
Tourette's syndrome may be confused with a drinking problem due to:
Unlike Tourette's syndrome, alcoholics do not always outwardly show physical signs of drinking, especially if they are actively trying to avoid detection.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) may be confused with a drinking problem due to:
Alcoholics experience full body or hand tremors, rather than muscle spasms seen in MS sufferers.
Self-Tests To Evaluate If You Have A Drinking Problem
CAGE Questionnaire
The CAGE questionnaire asks about:
Answering yes to two or more, out of four questions indicates a 91% sensitivity to alcoholism [25].
AUDIT Questionnaire
The AUDIT questionnaire asks about:
The questionnaire asks 10 questions and defines the scores as:
Alcohol Screening Test (AST)
An aspartate aminotransferase screening test [AST] level of 4 times above the normal range [8-33 U/L], indicates liver disease or chronic hepatitis as a result of alcohol abuse [27] [28].
Severity Of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire
The severity of alcohol dependence questionnaire asks about:
The questionnaire asks the alcoholic to quantify alcohol use as either a quarter, half or full bottle of spirits per day [29].
MAST - Michigan Alcohol Screening Test
The MAST has questions asking:
The MAST has 22 questions with yes or no answers, with scores over 6 indicating problem drinking [30].
Am I An Alcoholic Checklist
Abbeycare's Am I an Alcoholic checklist asks about:
The checklist has 10 questions, with mostly A's indicating problem drinking, mostly B's indicating some alcohol abuse and mostly C's indicating controlled drinking [31].
