Dear Binger,

It's really great that you've taken time to think about your drinking, but before you diagnose yourself as an alcoholic, it might be helpful to look at these three definitions:

• An abuser uses alcohol and/or other drugs in ways that threaten her/his health and well-being, and compromises her/his ability to function in social, family, and/or work situations.
• Someone addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs needs to take these drugs and needs to increase her/his dosage over time to maintain the effects of the drugs. An addict's pattern of use is compulsive, and withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use has stopped - and disappear when drug use has resumed.
• Alcoholics have the disease of alcoholism; which can be defined by the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Here are examples of these factors:
  • Biological: Genetic differences that predispose someone to alcohol abuse. Sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of alcoholics are more likely to become alcohol abusers themselves.
  • Psychological: Personality and psychological traits that predispose someone to alcohol abuse, including self-medicating unpleasant feelings and depression.
  • Social: Environmental factors supporting alcohol abuse - things like job stress, insufficient employment and/or financial resources, relationship problems, and peer pressure to drink.

Some people's problem drinking is situational: they may only abuse alcohol when they are in certain environments or when there are specific "triggers" present. Since you've noticed that you drink too much when you're in clubs and bars, these physical places might be triggers for you. There are other influences you may want to consider, too: when you go out drinking, are you with the same people? Do they also drink too much? Do you only go out when you're stressed out or upset about something? If you can identify the circumstances around your excessive drinking, you may be able to avoid them in the future or address any underlying issues.  

Here are some warning signs of problem drinking:

• Getting in trouble with family, roommates, significant others, friends, a resident adviser (RA), or the law as a result of drinking.
• Drinking to escape worries or troubles.
• Becoming unreasonably angry or aggressive - fighting, vandalizing, forcing sex, etc.
• Missing class or work due to drinking, or being hung over.
• Having to drink more and more to get the "desired effect," or drinking more than you planned to.
• Not remembering parts of what happened the night before (blackouts), or wanting to forget parts of what happened.
• Having unsafe sex, which could result in a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or unintended pregnancy.
• Regularly drinking until you're drunk, or drinking solely to get drunk.
• Trying to cut down, but not being able to.
• Rapidly drinking the first two or three drinks in an effort to get drunk quickly.
• Beginning to experience unexplained anxiety, sleeping trouble, lethargy, depression, or feelings of alienation or isolation.
• Joking about your drinking, or avoiding discussion of your usage.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) / Driving while intoxicated (DWI).

No one person would exhibit all of these signs, but if you feel that several of them just a little too familiar, you might want to speak with a counselor, or call a hotline. At Columbia, visit or call Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at x4-2878 to make an appointment with someone who specializes in these issues. These resources may also be helpful if you're concerned about the alcohol or other drug use of a friend, family member, teammate, or partner.

Alice

P.S.: you may also want to have a look at this additional information…

• Know your family history of alcohol use, because children of parents who abused alcohol may be predisposed to alcohol dependency.

• Be aware that alcohol is a powerful, potent, and potentially harmful drug. Excessive, long-term alcohol consumption is a factor in cirrhosis, ulcers, strokes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and birth defects. It is also a major factor in homicides, assaults, rapes, suicides, family violence, unintentional injuries, and motor vehicle crashes.

• Limit your intake to two drinks or less at one sitting (a drink being one twelve-ounce beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, or a normal cocktail, which is one-and-a-half ounces of 80 proof liquor); drink slowly, about one or two drinks per hour; alternate with nonalcoholic beverages; sip rather than chug; and eat a substantial meal before drinking, all of which help to limit hangover symptoms associated with heavy short-term drinking.

• Know that there are times when the body and spirit are more vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol and abstain during those times. The difficulties of coping with life crises are exacerbated by alcohol.

• Drink for positive reasons, such as celebrations and cultural and religious events, rather than for escape from problems or proving your worth.

• Believe alcohol is a complement to an activity, not the primary focus.

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