The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more about 7 percent of the population--14 million people--meet the criteria to be classified as alcoholics. If you're trying to determine whether someone you know might be one of them, your observations can help you make the determination.
Step 1
Notice how often the person in question uses alcohol. If a person's alcohol use is steadily increasing, it could be a sign of a drinking problem.
Step 2
Consider the person's habits. Is she skipping activities she used to enjoy in order to drink? Does she drink alcohol during activities where you wouldn't normally drink? Does she decline activities without alcohol so that she can attend events that do include alcohol? If she's changing her habits to accommodate alcohol, it's a warning sign for alcoholism.
Step 3
Think about the person's behavior. Has he had to apologize to you or other people because of things he did when he was drinking? Does he take risks he wouldn't ordinarily take when he's drinking, such as driving or having sex while intoxicated? Dramatic changes in behavior can be a sign of a drinking problem.
Step 4
Pay attention to the person's conversation. Does she talk a lot about plans to go drinking, tell stories about things that happened when she was drinking and bring up drinking when you're talking about other subjects? A preoccupation with alcohol could be a signal of an alcohol problem.
Step 5
Consider your friend's mood. Does he alternate between giddy and excited when he's drinking and moody and depressed when he's not drinking? Drinking problems often come with erratic behavior and mood swings.
Step 6
Note whether your friend has had any problems at home, at work or at school because of drinking. If drinking is interfering with his career or education, it's likely that drinking is a problem for this person.
Step 7
Add up your considerations of these questions. If a person exhibits one of these factors, she might have a problem with alcohol. If she shows two signs of alcoholism listed here, it's likely that she has a problem. If she demonstrates three or more of these signs, she might need help for a serious alcohol problem.
Tips and Warnings
- If you suspect someone you know has an alcohol problem and you don't know how to help him, call the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at 1-800-ALCOHOL or call Alanon/Alateen at 1-800-344-2666 to find meetings and resources in your area.
