What Is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not consist of an extremely strong desire for alcohol, loss of power over drinking, or physical reliance. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking where the outcome consist of at least one of the following situations within a 12-month period:

• Failure to complete job, school, or home responsibilities;
• Drinking when the outcomes could be hazardous, like while driving a car or operating machinery;
• The occurrence of alcohol-related legal problems, for example being arrested for drunk driving or for physically hurting someone while drunk; and continued drinking in spite of having relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking.

How many Americans are Alcoholics or Abuse Alcohol?

There are nearly fourteen million Americans which is about 1 in every 13 adults who abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in hazardous drinking that could become problematic.

What Are the Signs of a Problem?

How do you know if you have a drinking issue? Answering the four questions below can help you figure it out:

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

 Answering "yes" to any of the above suggests you may have a problem. In the event that you answered "yes" to more than one question, it is very likely that you have a problem. No matter how many you answered "yes" to be it one or all four, it is imperative that you talk to a professional  immediately to discuss your the results of this questionnaire. A professional, like a doctor, psychologist or a alcohol treatment provider can help you establish if you have a drinking problem and, if so, they can help you figure out the next steps to take care of the problem.

Can Alcoholism Be Cured?

At this point there is not a cure for alcoholism, however, the good news is that it can be successfully treated and managed.  You should not despair at this news even if you think you might be an alcoholic.  After all, there is no cure for diabetes and many other similar disease, and still millions of people manage them and live normal happy lives.  What is true is that "Cutting down" on drinking won't do the job; stopping all alcohol intake is required for a ful recovery.