When is someone considered an alcoholic?

Having been one, as a teen and early adult, an alcoholic is one who doesn’t care about ones self primarily. Usually the drink becomes primary to function and the “need” or meriade of excuses to do so are very readily available. Also, trying to conceal your habit from others who really know you. The abuse of any substance like drugs and or alcohol play a hard lesson later in life. I’m in my late 30’s and have found that my short term memory is a bit lack and I have to really concentrate on what I’m doing. It may seem harmless to get blasted, but when you can’t get enough and start becoming someone else when you are drunk then chances are you are well on your way to being a full blown alcoholic. If you aren’t sure get professional advice from a person you trust. Take care and be careful.

Dear lana17, You can determine any addiction by the need to have the drug or withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms vary from a craving to a full blown seizure. You can be a weekend alcoholic, a Christmas alcoholic, only drinking in the evenings after work daily you are still considered an alcoholic. A lot of people go through life undetected because they only drink after work or weekends. But take away their drink during these times and you see what can be a “different person” It can be complicated when someone thinks they only drink at certain times so they can’t be an alcoholic this is not true. Sue…good luck

I think alcoholism can be defined as when you lose control over your ability to chose to start or stop drinking. If alcohol has that powerful of a hold on you where you have to have it, I would say that addiction would be considered alcoholism.

It’s difficult for some who can be considered an alcoholic or addict to see that they are addicted or that they are losing control of their life to alcohol. They may not think that they “need” it. As someone looking in their life, you can definitely tell if they are able to control alcohol or if alcohol is controlling them.

When drinking alcohol impedes your day to day activities. Such as work, school, getting with family or friends or if alcohol makes you out of control and do violent things(like drive drunk or get into fights).

Wikipedia: alcoholism typically refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite negative personal and social consequences. Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease which may result in a persistent difficulty in controlling alcohol consumption. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

when: you cant hold a job (some can though) you get the ‘shakes’ you feel sick without it need it too function