When Does Social Drinking Become Alcohol Abuse?

There is a fine line between "use" and "abuse."  Abuse is classified by the continued practice of a substance despite negative behaviors or consequences.  In situations where the habit is of an illegal substance, it is automatically termed as abuse, but in the case of alcohol which is not only legal but widely accepted throughout the world, it can be harder to determine. 

When does social drinking become alcohol abuse?  In my own experience I have found that this occurrence does not happen all at once, but over an indeterminate amount of time.  For those who are disposed to the addictive thinking, it can sometimes require a period of years before there is any actual alcohol abuse.  I was able to drink moderately for a number of years before it became a problem.  I believe that my environment had a lot to do with this fact, because it was not until after I turned twenty one that I started to over indulge and it began to affect my life. 

I often went to the bar when I craved the need for society, and surrounded by others becoming intoxicated I simply did the same.  It became a learned behavior; one that I began to rely on because of the immediate benefits.  It made me feel like a more vivacious and interesting person.  As I began to develop a tolerance, my body required increasing amounts of alcohol to maintain the high I was experiencing.  It was at this point that I began to exhibit signs of alcohol abuse.  It became more difficult to control my behavior, my physical health began to decline, my interests waned, and it began to affect my relationships and disrupt my employment.  Despite the signs of alcoholism I continued to drink and my life began to spiral out of control. 

Drinking is habitual.  If a person is only exposed to situations where the alcohol consumption is at a minimum, it is likely they will continue to drink moderately.  In situations where there are repeated episodes of binge drinking then the case will likely become severe.  Peer pressure and following the example of others plays a role in determination of abuse.  In a society where alcohol abuse is in many cases idolized, alcohol addiction is still a very life threatening and serious addiction.

The key in deciding if a person is abusing alcohol, is to look at their behavior patterns.  If the individual exhibits rapid changes in temperament or emotional mood swings, it might be a sign of a problem.  The amount of alcohol consumed can indicate abuse, but there are those who seem to be able to drink on a daily basis without negative consequences.  One of the apparent clues of abuse is the act of self medication.  If the individual begins to drink to escape, forget, relax, or to avoid "dealing" with difficult situations, it can be safely assumed that there is cause for concern. Also be aware of mixing alcohol with other drugs, especially prescription drugs, this can increase the effect of both the alcohol and drug abuse, causing a individual behavior that many be dangeros to themselves and others.

Alcohol Abuse