| Where does one draw the line between being a social | | | | legal trouble. These are early warning signs that alcohol |
| drinker and having an alcohol addiction? For many | | | | use is crossing over into alcohol abuse. |
| people, the lines aren't always so clear, especially | | | | Long-term alcohol addiction can lead to many physical |
| when everyone around them seems to be binge | | | | ailments. It is widely believed that alcohol abuse can |
| drinking, drinking on a daily basis or glamorizing alcohol | | | | lead to increased blood pressure and congestive heart |
| use. | | | | failure. Nearly half of chronic alcoholics may have |
| Social drinking can easily progress into a psychological, | | | | myopathy (weak muscles) and one NIAA study |
| or even physical, dependence over time, as it | | | | determined that "3.6% of all cancer cases worldwide |
| becomes habitually ingrained in our behavioral patterns. | | | | are related to alcohol drinking, resulting in 3.5% of all |
| Suddenly, we drink to be more interesting, drink to | | | | cancer deaths." Many alcoholics need new livers or |
| make others more interesting, drink for courage in | | | | kidneys removed as a result of severe binge drinking. |
| social settings, drink to give ourselves a boost of | | | | Many alcoholics find that they just cannot function in |
| energy, or drink to cover up negative feelings like pain, | | | | the real world anymore, suffering strained relationships, |
| depression or anxiety. | | | | bouts of anxiety and severe depression, sleepless |
| Prior to an addiction to alcohol, there is generally a | | | | nights, hand tremors, loss of appetite and other |
| prolonged time period when the social drinker finds that | | | | debilitating symptoms. |
| he or she is drinking more frequently, experiencing | | | | Many people who have friends or family members |
| more adverse effects and is slightly losing control. | | | | showing signs of alcohol addiction feel frustrated |
| Alcohol abusers start showing signs like drinking and | | | | because they desperately care and want to help. |
| driving, participating in dangerous activities while under | | | | However, unless that addicted person is willing to |
| the influence, continuing to drink even when problems | | | | endure treatment, nothing can be done. |
| with friends or family happen as a result of alcohol | | | | Sometimes, binge drinkers will hit rock bottom with a |
| consumption and getting into physical fights. | | | | medical emergency before they accept that they |
| Drinking alcohol begins to interfere with not only social | | | | have to change their behavior. All one can do is |
| relations, but also obligations at work and school, and in | | | | express support, try not to be an enabler and suggest |
| some cases, drinking may even land an individual in | | | | alternate coping mechanisms. |