How do I know if I’m alcoholic?

This is a question many people ask. They say that if you have to even ask that question then you probably are. Fair enough. But maybe we need a better answer.

Alcoholism brings out many behavioral symptoms which are highly typical: we see them in almost everyone who is addicted to alcohol. Among these are denial, rationalization (explaining off our unsavoury behavior by making up excuses), and concealing our behaviors related to drinking. Therefore, many alcoholics tend to refuse to even consider the possibility, and may get defensive if asked to discuss it.

However, if they are able to see their way past those unhelpful tendencies, then it's good to know how to figure out if they have a problem with alcohol.

Medical Tests

The medical field uses questionnaires for deciding if we are an alcoholic. While we are talking about the medical field we should note that "alcoholic" and "addict" are words that are not recognized in medicine. Their "proper" terminology, for better or for worse, is "substance use disorder." Although there are lab tests that will tell us if you've been drinking, there is no blood test or X-Ray that diagnoses alcoholism.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has a really cool "click-on the answer" questionnaire (Click Here). The U.S. NIH has a questionnaire based on the DSM-5 manual (which is used to define substance use disorders). Scroll to the bottom of this link to see the questionnaire (Click Here).

Yet another self-questionnaire is the AUDIT questionnaire, which is the tool advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). This scan be found on the U.S. government drugabuse.gov website (Click Here). Note that the second questionnaire on the web page is the one to use if you are doing this test yourself.

Is alcohol affecting my behavior?

The line that we cross when we are alcoholic is when the alcohol controls our behavior, and we continue drinking despite obvious negative effects on our life. We can't stop, and initially don't want to stop even if we could.

Can I control my drinking?

Alcoholics will fail a simple test: stop drinking and see how we do. Anybody can do a week or ten days without drinking, especially if it's after a bad hangover. But alcoholism involves a mental obsession with drinking, and its draw is powerful. Alcoholics have to struggle to stay off the alcohol and think about drinking a lot when they do. They don't make it long without drinking.  If you are a regular drinker make sure you discuss this with your doctor first to make sure that you stop drinking safely.

The A.A. book suggests trying "controlled drinking" if you are wondering if you are alcoholic. Try having one or two drinks and then stopping. Try it a few times. "We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking." "The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent."*

Do I continue drinking despite the cost?

Alcoholics drink despite the price-tag of drinking. We're not talking about the monetary expense, but the cost to our life. For us alcoholics, drinking causes arguments with loved ones over our drinking , costing us relationships and friendships. It interferes with our work: sick days, poor performance, drinking at work, leaving work early to drink. We begin losing things, or putting things in danger: drivers licence, marriage, job, bank accounts, car or house.

If alcohol is costing us important things but we continue to drink, then we are almost certainly alcoholic.

Do I behave like an alcoholic?

Other behaviors can also point to alcoholism. Alcoholics have a remarkably uniform set of behaviors that are characteristic. So, if we are lying to cover our drinking, hiding alcohol, leaving work early to drink, becoming angry when people confront us, and blaming our drinking on others (you'd drink too if you had my wife!), then we are behaving like an alcoholic. If we hit the bottle after arguments or other stressors, all the more so.

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Other indicators of alcoholism: any drunk driving, experiencing blackouts (where we can't remember anything that happened while we were drinking), feeling guilt over our drinking, needing a drink to start our day, and people telling us we should cut back.

If these behaviors sound like you or a loved one, then perhaps there is alcoholism there. There is lots of help available, but alcoholics are characteristically in denial, defensive, and will decline help. See: "Barriers to Recovery" (Click Here).

Now what?

It's a sad thing to see a life erode away before our eyes when alcohol takes control. But... people do recover, and find life again in long-term sobriety. But first, we must recognize that we are alcoholic and admit it, and be willing to commit to the help we need. If you think you may be an alcoholic, please do discuss it with your doctor.