Is Your Drinking Out of Control?
Knowing the difference between social drinking and alcohol abuse can help you get the guidance you need to protect your future.
St. John’s Recovery Place – Crescent City
Crescent City, FL
Multiple Levels of Care
855-825-4311
Riverwoods Behavioral Health System
Riverdale, GA
Multiple Levels of Care
866-246-8017
Rebound Behavioral Health Hospital
Lancaster, SC
Multiple Levels of Care
855-336-7623
Northbound Treatment Services – San Diego
Irvine, CA
Full Spectrum of Care
866-938-0142
Boca Recovery Center – New Jersey
Galloway, NJ
Full Spectrum of Care
855-628-9076
Oasis Behavioral Health Hospital
Chandler, AZ
Multiple Levels of Care
855-338-0838
Timberline Knolls Treatment Center for Women
Lemont, IL
Multiple Levels of Care
855-200-8406
Recovery Unplugged – Harrison House of Northern Virginia
Annandale, VA
Multiple Levels of Care
855-734-4364
North Palm Beach Recovery Center
North Palm Beach, FL
Multiple Levels of Care
844-694-6458
Recovery Unplugged Austin Rehab Center
Austin, TX
Multiple Levels of Care
844-817-9493
Boca Recovery Center – Florida
Boca Raton, FL
Full Spectrum of Care
888-608-4977
Ambrosia Treatment Center – Northeast
Philadelphia, PA
Multiple Levels of Care
866-970-0918
Vermilion Behavioral Health Systems
Lafayette, LA
Multiple Levels of Care
888-494-6620
Newport Institute for Young Adults – Southern California
Santa Ana, CA
Multiple Levels of Care
877-604-7184
Northlake Behavioral Health System
Baton Rouge, LA
Full Spectrum of Care
855-402-5289
St. John’s Recovery Place – Deland
Deland, FL
Multiple Levels of Care
877-660-1713
Northeast Addiction Treatment Center
Quincy, MA
Multiple Levels of Care
855-831-4406
Willow Lane Health – Telehealth Addiction Treatment Services
Charlotte, NC
Telehealth
877-648-6250
Bayside Marin Treatment Center
San Rafael, CA
Multiple Levels of Care
866-886-6071
Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center
Williamsburg, PA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-225-6578
Huntington Creek Recovery Center
Shickshinny, PA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-892-1288
Ambrosia Treatment Center – Westcoast
Beverly Hills, CA
Multiple Levels of Care
866-970-0918
Pocono Mountain Recovery Center
Henryville, PA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-589-1547
Recovery Unplugged Lake Worth Detox, Rehab, and Treatment Center
Lake Worth, FL
Multiple Levels of Care
888-283-0199
Silver Lining Recovery
Huntington Beach, CA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-940-0031
Bowling Green Brandywine
Kennett Square, PA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-797-7507
Blue Ridge Mountain Recovery Center
Ball Ground, GA
Multiple Levels of Care
844-498-9407
Steps Recovery Center – St. George
St. George, UT
Full Spectrum of Care
844-919-0017
Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital
Valdosta, GA
Multiple Levels of Care
866-692-1694
Newport Academy – Teen Rehab Center
Bethlehem, CT
Multiple Levels of Care
833-768-7536
MeadowWood Behavioral Health
New Castle, DE
Multiple Levels of Care
855-609-4051
New England Recovery & Wellness
Concord, NH
Multiple Levels of Care
844-408-1433
Recovery Unplugged Fort Lauderdale
Fourt Lauderdale, FL
Full Spectrum of Care
855-900-6613
Recovery Unplugged Austin Treatment Center
Austin, TX
Full Spectrum of Care
844-291-5968
Right Path Addiction Treatment Centers
Virginia Beach, VA
Multiple Levels of Care
855-982-0704
Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital
Tukwila, WA
Multiple Levels of Care
855-419-6205
Newport Institute for Young Adults – Northern California
Sunol, CA
Multiple Levels of Care
877-604-7184
Southeast Addiction Center – Nashville
Nashville, TN
Multiple Levels of Care
1-855-404-9855
Options Behavioral Health Hospital
Indianapolis, IN
Multiple Levels of Care
844-530-2836
Moonlight Mountain Recovery – Nampa
Nampa, ID
Multiple Levels of Care
855-248-2193
St. John’s Recovery Place – Beachside
Cocoa Beach, FL
Multiple Levels of Care
855-807-1577
Lakeview Behavioral Health Hospital
Norcross, GA
Multiple Levels of Care
855-337-9509
Newport Academy – Teen Rehab Center – Washington
Port Townsend, WA
Multiple Levels of Care
833-768-7536
Signs of a Drinking Problem
Because so many people drink, it can be hard to tell when someone is struggling with an alcohol problem. Some people will drink occasionally and never have an issue. Others will develop habits and addictions to alcohol that will impact their health, careers, families and relationships.
Some of the signs of a drinking problem, as designated by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, include:
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You want to quit drinking, but you can’t.
You find yourself consistently doing things you regret while intoxicated. You wish you could cut down on drinking or quit altogether, but you keep drinking anyway.
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You’ve developed a tolerance to alcohol.
You can drink significantly more than you could when you first started drinking. You find that it takes more alcohol for you to feel drunk now. Additionally, you drink faster and with the intention of getting drunk rather than just to enjoy the social experience. At the same time, the same amount of alcohol does not affect you in the same way, meaning you have to drink more to get the desired effect.
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You find yourself in dangerous or risky situations.
Excessive drinking has landed you in situations that could harm you or someone around you. Examples include: driving under the influence, getting into fights and having unprotected sex.
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You have a different personality when drinking.
Your sober personality and your personality when you’ve had a lot to drink are dramatically different. This is often a sign of not only a drinking problem but also an underlying emotional or psychological issue that urges you to turn to drinking as the solution.
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You have consistent memory lapses or “black-outs.”
Having frequent gaps in your memory can be attributed to problem drinking. Blacking out doesn’t always mean passing out, as problem drinkers can be conscious for periods without memory of what happened.
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You experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking.
Your body has become so accustomed to the presence of alcohol that it can no longer function “normally” without it. When you stop drinking, you begin to experience uncomfortable and potentially deadly withdrawal symptoms, including agitation, anxiety, headaches, shaking, seizures, nausea, tremors, and vomiting.
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You no longer participate in activities that you previously enjoyed.
As a result of your alcohol abuse, you have decreased the amount of time you spend participating in social activities, hobbies, and other activities you previously enjoyed. Instead, you spend your time drinking or recovering from drinking.
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You are experiencing interpersonal issues.
You find yourself having problems with friends, family members, co-workers, and others as a result of your drinking or the consequences you experience from drinking.
Get Help for an Alcohol Problem
If you think you may be struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, and you want someone to talk to about it, we can help. Our treatment providers can talk to you about your problem and help you find healthy ways to overcome it.
Last Edited:
Author
Jeffrey Juergens
Jeffrey Juergens earned his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. Jeffrey’s desire to help others led him to focus on economic and social development and policy making. After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. Jeffrey’s mission is to educate and inform the public on addiction issues and help those in need of treatment find the best option for them.
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. (2012). 7 Signs You Have a Drinking Problem. Retrieved on August 13, 2014, from: http://ncadd.org/in-the-news/692-7-signs-you-have-a-drinking-problem
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. (2012). Alcohol Abuse Self Test. Retrieved on August 13, 2014, from: https://ncadd.org/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-abuse-self-test
Clinically Reviewed:
Clinical Reviewer
Cindy Hardy
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Dr. Cindy Hardy is a Licensed Psychotherapist with over 17 years of experience in the mental health and substance abuse field. She is a professional member of the National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAAP) and Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (LPCA). Dr. Hardy holds a Doctorate Degree in Behavioral Health, Masters in Psychology, and Master in Health & Human Services from Upper Iowa University and Grand Canyon University.
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