Alcohol abuse

What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse affect nearly 14 million people in the United States. It is identified through the persistent, even uncontrollable use of alcoholic beverages despite negative effects on a person's life, work, family and others. 

Signs & symptoms
Signs and symptoms of alcoholism vary. In some people it will become very obvious, while others are able to hide or mask its affects. In either case, some general signs of alcoholism include:

• Getting drunk on a "regular" basis. The term regular does not necessarily mean daily; many alcoholics are known to drink only on weekends.
• Frequent absence from school or work
• Including alcohol as an ingredient in most social situations
• Frequent hangovers
• Feeling run-down, depressed or even suicidal about being unable to control alcohol consumption
• "Blackouts" or the inability to remember events or actions that occurred while drinking.
• Frequent problems with the law, such as driving while intoxicated, being a minor in possession of alcohol, or confrontations with police or legal authorities.

Who's at risk?
While the largest single population affected by alcoholism is men between the ages of 18 and 29, it is nearly as common among women and can affect members of any social class or ethnic group. 

Due to their social circumstances or even mild rebelliousness, teens are particularly at risk. Similarly, people with mental illness are known to use alcohol as "self-medication." Other risk factors include:

• Family history of alcohol or drug problems
• Social environment that regularly includes alcohol
  
• Lack of supervision (teens)
• Depression, anxiety or other mental health condition

As with other forms of drug abuse, there are several risks that should concern parents or family members if they believe someone they know is drinking excessively:

• History of physical or sexual abuse or other trauma
• Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions
• Parents or other adult role models who drink regularly
• Friends who drink
• Transitions in school, such as from middle school to high school or high school to college

How do you know when alcohol is a problem?
More than half of all Americans have a close relative with a drinking problem. To find out, ask yourself these four questions:

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to "steady your nerves," or to get rid of a hangover (an "eye-opener")?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may need help.
Contact the Priority Health Behavioral Health staff. They offer help with your mental health, depression and substance abuse benefits and can help you find counselors, too.

Professional help
Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can be treated professionally. Treatment may include behavior modification therapy, attending recovery support groups and in some cases, medication. But even after treatment, many people fall back into alcohol abuse. That's why the earlier you get help, the better chance you have of a long-term recovery.

Priority Health members can check here for information on getting substance abuse assistance.

What you can do
If you're a parent, it is important to monitor your children and teens for alcohol abuse.  In addition to the health concerns, other warnings may be very effective:

• It is against the law for anyone under the age of 21 to drink or possess alcohol.
• A single drink may cause you to fail a breathalyzer test and, in most states, that can mean losing your driver's license and even the loss of your vehicle.
• Even occasional binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks during one sitting or occasion) can lead to both ongoing abuse and serious, even fatal, health complications.

If you're in treatment, here are some things you can do to help yourself stay free of alcohol:

• Stay with the program. It usually takes several months to see improvement, so don't give up too soon on your treatment.
• Get help for other health conditions. People with depression, anxiety or other mental health problems are more likely to abuse drugs. If you have signs or symptoms of any of these, see your doctor for treatment. Read more about mental and emotional health conditions.
• Don't put yourself at risk. Stay away from "triggers." These are the places, people and activities that involved alcohol consumption before you sought treatment.

Log in to your online member account here at priorityhealth.com and use our Health Encyclopedia to learn more about alcohol abuse and related issues. If you're a Priority Health member but don't have an online account, register now. You'll get access to your claims history, a record of checkups and screenings you may need, and more.