The Spectrum of Alcohol Use and Signs of Addiction

Alcohol use disorders are not a universal problem. Most people’s alcohol consumption falls somewhere on a continuum throughout their life. Alcohol usage and the issues it causes often increase over time. No one becomes addicted to alcohol simply after taking their first drink.

Find out where you fall on the spectrum:

Experimental use.

Curiosity over what alcohol does and tastes like is frequently the driving force behind this initial stage. Teenagers frequently experience this. New drinkers frequently want to know what all the buzz is about. Some people who have tried it conclude they don’t care for it. Others will overindulge, invoke the “porcelain god,” and then abstain from alcohol for a considerable period after learning their boundaries. At Beverly Hills Christian Counseling, we offer faith-based support to help individuals make wise choices and develop a healthy relationship with alcohol.

A small percentage of first-timers who drink will say that they “met my closest friend,” “found the solution to my issues,” or “something I couldn’t wait to do again” during their first intoxication. This population has experienced both a physiological surge and the chemical shift brought on by alcohol.

This is referred to as a hijacking of the brain by Dr. Nora Volkow, who has served as director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse since 2003. It is similar to turning a switch. It never turns off once it is turned on. If this group of drinkers keeps consuming alcohol, addiction could emerge. When a person’s curiosity is sated but they still want more, experimental alcohol consumption can become deadly.

Occasional use.

Occasional users don’t obsess over drinking. They frequently indulge in alcohol only in social settings, such as when they go out to eat, attend a party, mark an important occasion, or simply want to unwind on the weekends.

Teenagers may decide to drink alcohol if they are unaccompanied while attending a concert, prom, or homecoming. Although this kind of drinking is not usually a serious problem, younger drinkers tend to drink more for effect and binge drink to get drunk, which is problematic and could result in dangerous behaviors.

Situational use.

Additionally, situational use typically poses no issues. However, the consumption of alcohol both in quantity and frequency starts to rise. What was once only consumed on rare occasions becomes increasingly frequent and may be linked to certain occasions like every weekend, parties, birthdays, athletic events, clubs, and other similar activities.

Binge use.

A binge drinker is someone who ingests a lot of alcohol to get drunk, typically five or more drinks for males and four or more for women in two hours. Binge eating is a common element of experimenting.

While a problem drinker may suffer the symptoms of excessive drinking yet continue using it for a while, the former individual is more likely to experience the consequences but continue using the following night, weekend, or party.

People who drink excessively or frequently fall in this center section of the range. They may start drinking in college, in their early years of adulthood, after a breakup, through a difficult time, or out of grief.

Many members of this group are aware that their drinking – either the quantity or the frequency – is out of control and are willing to adjust their behavior and way of life to get it back to a healthy level.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 28% of adults drink to the point that they run the risk of developing alcohol dependency and other problems associated with alcohol. They encompass the following two:

Alcohol abuse.

Although this pattern of drinking doesn’t typically happen every day and is not a problem every time a person drinks, it is starting to produce issues. Many drinkers will reduce their intake or stop drinking after a disagreement, a health issue, or legal repercussions. Alcohol abusers frequently continue their drinking habits despite ongoing issues.

Alcohol abusers typically drink more frequently and in bigger quantities than non-abusers. But at this point, a lot of people either downplay the severity of an issue or ignore its effects. They can say things like, “I can stop whenever I choose,” “I don’t drink every day,” or “I’m not as bad as.”

Alcohol dependence.

At this point, drinking has developed into a significant issue, and the person can be referred to as an alcoholic. A person who is dependent on alcohol usually consumes huge amounts of alcohol daily because they need it to operate, even after suffering serious consequences like DUIs and losing something valuable to them, such as their spouse, child, career, home, or health.

The physique has changed in someone who is alcohol dependent. Alcohol has become more and more ineffective since the person has built up a tolerance for it. If alcohol is withheld from this person, withdrawal symptoms may also manifest physically as delirium tremens (the shakes), seizures, hallucinations, delusions, heart attack, or stroke. These are hazardous, maybe fatal, and might call for medical help.

Only about 6% of people in the population are alcohol dependent. Many non-drinkers, drinkers, and even treatment professionals imagine someone with a drinking problem as being dependent on alcohol or suffering from a serious alcohol use disorder. If you want to prove that you don’t have a drinking issue, you might compare yourself to this 6% of people.

Alcohol abuse warning signs.

It can be challenging to define drug and alcohol abuse or misuse – the excessive or inappropriate use of a substance – and there is a wide range of views, values, and attitudes on the subject. Some people consider abuse to be any unlawful drug usage or alcohol consumption that is done primarily for drunkenness. Others recognize abuse by recurrent, detrimental effects, such as failure to fulfill social, professional, and academic duties.

• Physical harm or disease.
• Legal issues brought on by drugs or alcohol, such as being arrested for drunk driving.
• relationship issues with close friends, family members, and intimate partners.
• Impulsivity, such as making extravagant purchases.
• decreased enthusiasm for other pursuits.
• Blackouts or short-term memory loss.

Signs that abuse has become an addiction.

When both the quantity and rate of substance usage rise, substance abuse can develop into addiction or dependence. Addicts to drugs or alcohol feel powerless to resist the need to use, and they frequently go through withdrawal when the drug or alcohol is suddenly taken away. For instance, chemical dependence on alcohol leads to alcoholism, and those who are hooked run the risk of getting sick if they suddenly quit drinking.

Additionally, people may become psychologically reliant on a substance and keep using it, especially in stressful situations or to treat other psychological issues. Some people refuse to acknowledge or are ignorant that they have an addiction issue, and occasionally a person’s substance misuse and dependence are kept a secret from loved ones.

• Increasing tolerance, or the need to ingest more of the substance to achieve the desired altered state, is a sign of chemical dependence.
• Requiring the stuff all day long.
• Severing social ties with non-users and seeking out the companionship of other users.
• Ignoring or resenting loved ones’ professions of concern.
• Failing to fulfill duties and avoiding alternative activities.
• Having withdrawal symptoms when the chemical is not present.
• Concealing our use from friends and family.
• Utilizing excessively for numerous days or many hours.
• Being unwilling to give up alcohol.

Conclusion.

So, where do you fit on the alcohol consumption spectrum? What are you prepared to do in response? Contact our counselors at Beverly Hills Christian Counseling right away if you require therapy to assist you in quitting drinking.