a question about alcoholism

[Bertha Venation]

I like the mild buzz I get from beer. I have been having one or two a day for a few weeks. (I switched from Blue Moon to Miller Lite for the price and the calories. God, do I miss my Blue Moon.)

So, drinking for the buzz, having 1-2 beers a day - could I now be an alcoholic?

I'm serious, really.

[Haole Girl]

1. From what I've read...

When you begin to feel you need it, you might have a problem.

I hope you don't. It's a terrible disease.

[Bertha Venation]

6. don't need it . . .

thanks

[SacredCow]

2. I would say no....

Unless this drinking of 1-2 beers for the buzz has caused repercussions in other areas of your life (work, family, etc...).

[Bertha Venation]

14. no repercussions . . .

at least that i know of. hmm.

[TZ]

3. Is the drinking interfering with your life/work?

Do you find you HAVE to have a drink? I don't think you have a problem. It doesn't sound like you are drinking to excess..but when you find you NEED to drink all the time..Then I would worry. I think its also healthy that you asked this..self awareness is a good thing..:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

15. no, and no

thanks, TZ

[Iggo]

4. Seriously...

Do you need a drink to feel normal? Or to 'get well' as the hypes say? In other words, do you feel sick until you take that first drink?

There's a bunch of other questions I could ask you, but most of them boil down to this:

Do you risk your health, wealth, and freedom on a daily basis just to drink?

[Bertha Venation]

16. heavens, no

I guess I'm lucky.

[Deep13]

5. Ask someone qualified to answer.

I mean a doctor, not an AA recruiter.

My (somewhat limited) understanding is that "alcoholism" is a general term for the damage chronic alcohol consumption does to the innards. An alcoholic is one who is physically addicted to alcohol and whose chronic consuption is causing said damage. My armchair GUESS is that if what you describe is alcoholism then everyone in western Europe and the British Ilses are severe alcoholics.

[Bertha Venation]

17. Then I'm in good company

;)

thanks, Deep

[RetroLounge]

27. And YOU are the first one to mention AA

Why is that?

Are you their recruiter?

:shrug:

RL

[Deep13]

34. so what?

Is it really necessary to point out that when people think alcoholism that they immediately think AA is the treatment?

[RetroLounge]

45. Nope, not necessary...

AA is but one of lots of ways to get sober.

RL

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

37. There is no such thing as an AA recruiter

there may be people running rehab clinics that might want a person to sign up so they can make a buck. AA does not recruit. It waits for people to go to it.

[Deep13]

39. I did not mean it was a paid, dedicated job.

I meant what you just referenced. That and SOME members who feel like--well--evangelizing.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. No

[Sewsojm]

8. Nope, not even close.

[Noodleboy13]

9. As someone who's flirted with it....No.

1-2 beers, unless you're under 100lbs, shouldn't pose a problem. And if you're really only drinking 1-2 a day....Miller Lite? Really? I know it's cheap, but for maybe a dollar more you could find a six pack of something that was more similar to Blue Moon. LienenKuegel has a Sunset Wheat for cheap, and I've noticed other brewers offering light wheat beers. Beer is kind of becoming the new wine in some ares; drink it to enjoy it, not to get bombed.


peace
Noodleboy

[Bertha Venation]

19. hmm... LienenKuegel

thanks for the tip :)

[Xipe Totec]

29. Stay away from the LienenKuegel!

That crap will rot your teeth and give you diabetes; it is so clawingly sweet.

Seriously!

If you like Blue Moon, you will like Harpoon's UFO.

Also, if you want a fine brew, check out Ommegang brewery, they make Belgian style brews (8% to 10% ABV, about as strong as a good wine).

And no, two beers a day does not make you an alcoholic; that's my Dr's RDA for alcohol to stay healthy. I'm not joking.

Now, if you're having more than that, or you are spiking your drinks with extra spirits, then beware...



Do ask your doctor. You might be surprised what they recommend...

[applegrove]

10. The best definition of alcoholism I have found is: "Is alcohol causing serious problems in your

life yet you keep drinking". So if one or two beers a day are not causing any problems I would not worry about it. But don't go to three beers a day. And take a break for a few days now and then.

[NYC_SKP]

12. How about 2 and 1/2?

Two and 3/4? :P

[NYC_SKP]

11. Try taking this John Hopkins 20 questions test.

I did.

I stopped drinking, best life decision I ever made.

:toast:

http://www.ncphp.org/make-a-referral/johns-hopkins-twenty-questions


Are You an Alcoholic?

This test was prepared by Johns Hopkins University Hospital for use in determining whether or not a person is suffering from alcoholism. Ask yourself the following questions, and answer them as HONESTLY as you can.

1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking? Yes___No___
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy? Yes___No___
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people? Yes___No___
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation? Yes___No___
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? Yes___No___
6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking? Yes___No___
7. Do you turn to lower companions/inferior environments when drinking? Yes___No___
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare? Yes___No___
9. Has your ambition decreased since you started drinking? Yes___No___
10 Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? Yes___No___
11. Do you want a drink the next morning? Yes___No___
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? Yes___No___
13. Has your efficiency decreased since you started drinking? Yes___No___
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business? Yes___No___
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble? Yes___No___
16. Do you drink alone? Yes___No___
17. Have you ever had a loss of memory (blackout) as a result of drinking? Yes___No___
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking? Yes___No___
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence? Yes___No___
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking? Yes___No___


If you have answered YES to any one of the questions,
that is a definite warning that you MAY be an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to any two, CHANCES ARE that you are an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to three or more, YOU ARE DEFINITELY AN ALCOHOLIC.

[KitchenWitch]

13. What if you answered yes to all 20?

:hide:

[NYC_SKP]

20. Actually...

I hadn't looked over those for years, but remember having seen it and dug it up.

Once upon a time I only answered yes to ___ questions.

Now, honestly, I could almost answer yes to all of them.

Pretty scary for me if I hadn't quit a couple years ago.

:fear:

[Iggo]

18. WTF? Johns Hopkins is an AA recruiter?

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!!

[KitchenWitch]

21. How dare you cast asparagus on Johns Hopkins

Or as we like to call him Johns H. :P

[Deep13]

22. There's no reference to AA in the test. nt

[Iggo]

24. There were no references to AA before you posted. (n/t)

[RetroLounge]

26. ...

:applause:

RL

[Deep13]

23. Interesting quizz. Hits all the trouble spots.

Still, it is hard to believe that one can definitely conclude he or she is an addict based on the answers to a quiz not too different than what one might find in Cosmo. Some of the questions are imprecisely worded. Have I ever felt remorse after drinking? Sure. I drank a few times in 1992. I have since felt remorse, but of something unrelated. The word "caused" should be in the question. Have I ever had to go to the hospital because of drinking? In my case "no," but the answer could easily have been "yes." I could have been injured in a DUI because my drunken step-father was driving. I would have been in the hospital because of his drinking.

I know I'm being pedantic, but in my case this has caused a real problem for me once. I took a personality test that concluded that I was a liar because I gave inconsistent answers on two similar questions.

1. Do you use illegal drugs? A: no.

2. Do you take drugs to make you feel better? A. yes.

See the problem? Drugs I take to feel better include Advil, nasal decongestants, hay fever pills and an RX psych. drug. All perfectly lawful. Q #2 did not ask about illegal drugs, only drugs.

[NYC_SKP]

28. Absolutely correct. This self-test is filled with flaws.

For one thing, there are some overlaps, and some items are far more severe than others if you answered yes.

What is does do, however, is cause one to think.

Imagine, why would anyone do something that makes them___________(insert question item), and is it worth whatever they get from it?

:shrug:

[elleng]

25. If you were NOW an alcoholic,

you've always been an alcoholic. You won't CATCH the condition by changing your drinking habits.

'Alcohol addiction is a primary disease, not a secondary symptom of an underlying psychological or medical illness. Since then, this definition has been extended to define all chemical addictions as "chronic, progressive diseases characterized by significant impairment that is directly associated with persistent and excessive use of psychoactive substances. Impairment may involve physiological, psychological, or social dysfunction."


http://www.lakesidemilam.com/DiseaseOfAddictionSynopsis.htm


Alcoholism is our #1 public health problem—and getting worse.


Alcoholism is a physical addiction—not the symptom of a psychological problem.

Alcoholism cannot be cured, and recovered alcoholics can never safely return to drinking.

Nutritional therapy is a vital requirement for full recovery.


http://www.lakesidemilam.com/UnderTheInfluence.htm

[Deep13]

35. So a person who has never drank can be an alcoholic?

Sorry, I just don't believe that. Addiction is something that is developed by abusing drugs (including alcohol). It is not innate even if some people are more disposed to it than others.

And I disagree that it is either a disease (though it is clearly a disorder) or incurable. I'm saying I doubt it, not that I know the contrary is true. I remain to be convinced. I'd like to find an objective, scientific study on the subject.

[elleng]

48. One is BORN alcoholic or NOT alcoholic.

Follow some of the information provided where I cited.

[Zavulon]

30. From what I've been told by various blowhards,

1-2 DROPS per day makes you an incorrigible lush.

You're not an alcoholic.

[MajorChode]

31. Nothing at all wrong with it

The 5 o'clock martini was a mainstay of American culture for many years. Only when alcohol became "bad" did people start to question the practice. One or two drinks per day does wonders to put things into perspective and there are also notable health benefits.

[MrSlayer]

32. My grade school drug councilor said if you drink a second time, you're an alcoholic.

If you drank once and didn't like it you're ok. If you drink a second time, you're an alcoholic. So according to this ridiculous logic, you're an alcoholic. I say you're a lightweight.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

33. Yeah, a buzz off one or two beers (especially Miller) is a lightweight

It takes about four for me to feel any effects and I weigh 95lbs or so. Apparently, I'm special that way.

[WildEyedLiberal]

40. It's those superior Irish genes

:thumbsup:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

36. Do you get in trouble

when you drink? Could you say, not drink for a month and not go bat shit crazy? :) If the answers are no, you are probably NOT alcoholic
I'm a friend of Bills and those are some of the questions ww ask ourselves. By the way, only one person can really determine if you are an alcoholic and it's you.
However, it has been known to happen that drinkers starting out like you do end up as alcoholics. It's a very insidious drug........

[B3Nut]

38. You're no alkie. :-)

2 beers (or other standard drinks) per day is just hearty, generally healthy living. If you feel you can't get by without it, then there's an issue. I generally don't do multiple drinks unless I'm at a gig. I sometimes have a cocktail (I make a pretty good Manhattan, if I do say so myself ;) )or a neat pour of fine bourbon at home in the evening, though. I'm fine going without, too.

Also, if I'm in a down mood, I can't drink. Tip for responsible enjoyment of booze: "drowning your sorrows" never works, so don't even attempt it. Good booze (and good food!) is about robustly celebrating the wonderfulness of being alive...save it for the joyful moments. :)

Todd the accidental Epicurean in Cheesecurdistan

[WildEyedLiberal]

41. Not at all

To me an "alcoholic" is someone whose drinking negatively affects their ability to function in some/all aspects of their life, or someone whose excess drinking is prone to cause liver failure/cirrhosis. You aren't even close to either definition, so I wouldn't worry at all if I were you.

Besides, if unwinding with a beer every day is wrong, I don't want to be right!

[SteppingRazor]

42. If you can stop at two beers, you're not an alcoholic. n/t

[RagAss]

43. Pabst Blue Ribbon !!!

[qb]

44. I'm an alcoholic. If you can get a buzz from 1-2 beers you're not an alcoholic... yet

If you're really drinking for the buzz, then watch out because you might start to feel that 2 beers no longer gives you enough of a buzz. If you can keep it at 1-2 per day then thats cool - that amount of alcohol is supposed to have health benefits.

[DevonRex]

47. Best answer yet.

[DevonRex]

46. Do you think about alcohol all the time? If not, you're not an alcoholic.

[SPKrazy]

49. If it interferes with your life in some negative way

and you can't stop or control it, then yeah, otherwise I'd say it is just something you do.

Truly the hallmark symptom of alcohol dependence is continued use despite adverse consequences. All the other symptoms are icing on the cake. If it isn't harming you in any way and it isn't interfering with your life, then it shouldn't be something to worry about. Despite the old ad that said if you have to ask yourself if you are, then you are, that's really not true. People ask themselves about a lot of things and it doesn't make them true. Now someone who is drinking their life down the toilet and ponders the question, am I an alcoholic, that person probably ought to take heed to the reality that the axiom applies well to them.

If drinking 1-2 beers a day is causing you to have problems financially, relationally, health wise, or any other way, and you can't stop doing it, or can't control when you will do it, then there is help for you. If you just like a couple of beers and the mild buzz from it, then you likely aren't suffering from alcoholism.

For the life of me I don't understand though how health problems, depression, suicide, etc. are not allowed to be discussed in this forum, yet a disease that kills more people than most people imagine and is treatable and draws the opinions of those who are not educated formally in this problem (I am by the way as well as having nearly 10 years of experience in treatment centers) to give advice on a health problem?

I guess I should write the admins on that one since I strongly believe that these discussions are no different than if I asked if I might have a tumor and described my symptoms. Alcoholism is more likely to kill one than a tumor is as well. Tumors are often benign, alcoholism as a disease is never benign.

:hi: