Drinking alcohol is acceptable in our society, whether it's drinking a beer at a game or having a glass of wine with dinner. But sometimes drinking alcohol can become a serious problem for some people. Sometimes these people don't even realize they have a problem until it's too late. They can lose their jobs, their family and eventually their health if the problem is allowed to progress. Most chronic alcohol abusers need help to stop drinking. According to Medline Plus, 17.6 million adults are alcoholics or have alcohol problems.
Neglecting Responsibilities
Responsibilities include family, professional and personal obligations. If a person is neglecting his family or friends because of alcohol, there is a problem. This person could begin to get in trouble with his job because of shoddy work performance. This can also apply to someone who is not taking care of his own body the way he should. According to Help Guide, this also applies to skipping out on events because of a hangover.
Tolerance
When a person builds tolerance to alcohol, it means she needs more and more to acquire the same feeling. What used to take this person two drinks to feel good now takes four or five. According to the Mayo Clinic, males who drink five or more drinks a day have a problem, and women who drink four or more drinks in a day have a problem.
Withdrawal
When someone has made a habit of drinking every day for a long period of time, withdrawal symptoms will present themselves. This can range from simple irritability to delirium tremens, depending on how long the drinking has been going on. Delirium tremens is a period of hallucinations and confusion. Seizures can also develop if the withdrawal is severe.
Loss of Control of Drinking
A person who suffers from chronic alcohol abuse will have trouble controlling the amount he drinks as well as how often he is drinking. He will begin to crave the alcohol when he isn't drinking. These people can even tell themselves that they will not be drinking a certain day or time, and end up drinking anyway.
Having the Desire to Quit, But Are Unable to Do So
People who are chronically abusing alcohol may want to quit drinking, but find they are unable to. The cravings become too strong and the person finally gives in. These people may know how much they need to stop drinking, but they are unable to succeed.
Alcohol Makes Up a Very Large Part of Your Life
When alcohol has become a problem, a person will spend a lot of time and energy on it. This can mean by thinking about it, trying to figure out where to get it or drinking it. A lot of time will also be spent dealing with the effects of drinking too much.
