When you abuse alcohol, there’s always a possibility that it can become a problem. Problematic and abusive drinking can lead to a substance use disorder, which, in turn, can lead to addiction. It’s important to be able to recognize the risky and sometimes downright dangerous drinking practices that could potentially put you in jeopardy of becoming an addict.
Alcohol addiction requires treatment in the form of alcohol detox followed by alcohol abuse. Centers that offer alcohol detox in Florida, like Summer House Detox Center, can help you or someone you love put an end to alcohol dependence and start on the road to recovery. However, it is often best to be able to recognize these risky practices before they become a full-blown disorder.
What Is Moderate Drinking?
In many parts of the world, including the United States, alcohol is a part of life. People might have a drink with dinner or a few with friends, but how do you know that your drinking is not considered dangerous? Technically, every single drink could potentially have ramifications because alcohol is considered an addictive substance, but there is a form of drinking that the government and many doctors consider as safe.
Moderate drinking is alcohol use that is not considered risky or abusive. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking is up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. If you try to stick to this schedule, you shouldn’t worry about the possibility of becoming an alcoholic, even if you have certain risk factors like genetic, environmental, or developmental risks.
What Is Low-Risk Drinking?
Low-risk drinking is another category of alcohol use that is not considered as dangerous, although it can still be more likely to lead to alcoholism than moderate alcohol use or no alcohol use at all. According to the NIAAA, only about two in 100 people who practice low-risk drinking have alcohol use disorders. Low-risk drinking qualifies as
- Four or fewer drinks per day for men AND 14 or fewer drinks per week for men
- Three or fewer drinks per day for women AND seven or fewer drinks per week for women
If you try to stick to this amount, you’re probably not practicing risky drinking behaviors that could lead to alcohol addiction. However, it’s important to realize what these practices are before you declare yourself safe from the possibility of alcohol addiction or another alcohol use disorder.
Risky Drinking Practices That Can Lead to Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction doesn’t just occur one way. There are many risk factors associated with the disease, such as having family members who are alcoholics or seeing alcohol abuse regularly while growing up. Still, those who become addicted must, at some point, start drinking in dangerous ways that lead to abuse and other problems and may experience withdrawal symptoms once they step. How long do alcohol withdrawals last? Alcohol withdrawal typically lasts for a few days to a week, but the severity and duration can vary depending on the individual’s level of alcohol dependence. In some cases, symptoms may persist for several weeks or even months. Below are some of the behaviors that are most likely to lead to alcohol addiction.
1. At-Risk or Heavy Drinking
One of the easiest ways to tell if your drinking has become problematic is to ask yourself if your drinking qualifies as heavy or at-risk. According to the NIAAA, heavy drinking is more than four drinks per day OR more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than three drinks per day OR more than seven drinks per week for women.
As stated by NIAAA, one in four individuals who exceed any one of these limits already suffers from an alcohol use disorder. You can also use this easy equation to tell if your drinking has become problematic: too much + too often = too risky.
2. Not Keeping Track of the Number of Drinks You’ve Had
Another common but still risky behavior that can potentially lead to alcohol addiction down the line is not keeping track of the amount of alcohol you drink in one sitting or even on a daily or weekly basis. If you consistently can’t remember how much you drank, this is a serious problem, but it can also be a red flag if you do it once or twice at parties. Doing this, however often or seldom, is training your brain and body to believe it’s okay for you to drink however much alcohol you want without there being the possibility for any serious repercussions.
3. Looking for Excuses to Drink
One of the symptoms of an alcohol use disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic, is not being able to control the amount you drink. If you notice you are going out of your way to give yourself a reason to drink—whether it is searching for a reason to celebrate or commiserate, refusing to go somewhere that won’t have alcohol, or trying to talk others into drinking when they clearly aren’t comfortable—you’re already exhibiting a slight loss of control over your drinking.
4. Feeling Like You Need to Drink to Have a Good Time
This goes somewhat hand-in-hand with the last risky practice, and it might even feel like it is out of your control. However, when you truly think about it, it comes from the same place as looking for an excuse to drink: a desire to consume alcohol when it is not appropriate or necessary. You can curb this behavior by spending time on other activities without drinking and reminding yourself you can have fun without it.
5. Drinking in Unsafe Places
If you usually drink with alcohol-conscious friends or family members in places you know well, you probably aren’t going to experience any serious side effects of alcohol use, especially because the people around you care about you and want you to be okay. If you consistently find yourself drinking in seedy locations, such as bars where you don’t know anyone or big, anonymous parties, you might want to reconsider this action. It could potentially lead to an unsafe or even dangerous situation for you or someone else.
Putting yourself or others in danger as a result of drinking also falls under this category. For example, if you have driven while under the influence, you are exhibiting dangerous drinking practices that you should begin to examine.
6. Drinking Alone
Most people will tell you drinking alone is the strongest sign of alcohol addiction. The truth is, the clearer signs are associated with a loss of control over alcohol abuse and the development of dependence, as stated by the National Library of Medicine. Still, drinking alone does mean you are so focused on drinking that you will do it even if no one is around to share it with you. As alcohol consumption is usually a part of social interactions, this can be a red flag.
7. Abandoning Beloved Activities for Alcohol Abuse
If you have hobbies you used to love but notice you’re putting them on the back-burner more often in favor of going out and drinking, this should catch your attention as a risky drinking practice. When addiction occurs, it drains you of all your other desires, leading to a singular focus on your substance of choice. You are already displaying addictive behavior if your old hobbies no longer seem to interest more than the idea of getting drunk.
8. Neglecting Your Obligations in Order to Drink
This is an even stronger sign that your drinking is getting dangerous and out of control. If you’re missing work, skipping school, neglecting to pick up your friends or family members, or putting other obligations aside to drink, you have a problem. You might not even remember you made these obligations in the first place, but if this is the case, it’s important to ask yourself if your forgetfulness could have something to do with your drinking.
9. Drinking More and More to Get the Same Buzz
If you drink a lot, your body might not experience the same effects with the same amount of alcohol use over time. This is called tolerance. You can become tolerant to alcohol without being addicted, but it is one of the side effects of consistent alcohol consumption. If you have been drinking more in order to counteract your tolerance, it is a risky practice to which you should put an end.
What Do I Do If I’m Engaging in Any of These Practices?
If you have begun to engage in risky drinking practices, it’s time to ask yourself if you could already have an alcohol use disorder and potentially even an addiction to alcohol. If you think this is possible, it’s important to seek professional help, as alcohol addiction is dangerous, hard to overcome alone, and can cause intense, even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in some individuals. You can try this option from Abbey Care Foundation to help you get sober.
Summer House Detox Center offers 24-hour treatment for alcohol dependence and helps people transition from alcohol detox in Florida alcohol rehab. The most important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to seek help and to begin your journey of recovery.
