Two glasses of wine next to place setting on tableNot everyone who drinks alcohol has a drinking problem. Most people fall on a continuum of alcohol use throughout their lives. An increase in alcohol use and problems associated with it is typically gradual. No one becomes dependent on alcohol upon their first sip.
Check out where you fall on the spectrum of alcohol use:
Experimental Use
This first stage is often driven by curiosity about what alcohol does and what it tastes like. This often occurs during the teenage years. First-time alcohol users often want to see what all the fuss is about. After trying it, some decide they can take it or leave it. Others will have too much, pray to the “porcelain god,” and not drink again for a long time, having gained a better understanding of their limits.
A small percentage of first-time drinkers will describe their first intoxication as “meeting my best friend,” “finding the answer to my problems,” or “something I couldn’t wait to do again.” This population has experienced not only the chemical change associated with alcohol, but also a physiological rush. Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse since 2003, describes this as a hijacking of the brain. It is like flipping a switch. Once on, it stays on. This group of drinkers may develop addiction if their alcohol use continues. The experimental use of alcohol becomes potentially dangerous when curiosity is quenched, yet the person returns for more.
Occasional Use
Occasional users are not preoccupied with drinking. They often drink only in social situations like when they go out to eat, attend a party, celebrate an important event, or want to relax on some weekends. Left unsupervised, teenagers may choose to consume alcohol as part of an event like homecoming, prom, or a concert. This type of drinking is often not a major concern; however, younger drinkers tend to drink more for effect and to binge drink to become intoxicated, potentially leading to problematic or dangerous behaviors.
Situational Use
Situational use is also not usually a problem. However, the amount and frequency of alcohol use begins to increase. What was once special-occasion drinking becomes more consistent and may be associated with specific events such as every weekend, parties, birthdays, sporting events, clubs, and other such things.
Bingeing can be a part of normal experimentation. The person who experiences the consequences of drinking too much and refrains from use for a period of time may not develop a problem, whereas a problem drinker may experience the consequence yet do the same thing the very next night, weekend, or party.
Binge Use
A binge drinker is someone who consumes a large quantity of alcohol—usually five or more drinks in two hours for men and four or more drinks for women—with the intent of becoming intoxicated. Bingeing can be a part of normal experimentation. The person who experiences the consequences of drinking too much and refrains from use for a period of time may not develop a problem, whereas a problem drinker may experience the consequence yet do the same thing the very next night, weekend, or party.
In this middle part of the spectrum are individuals who drink too much or drink on a regular basis. They may drink in college, in early adulthood, after a breakup, in a crisis period, or because of grief. Many people in this group recognize that their drinking, either the amount or the frequency, is getting out of control and can make some behavioral and lifestyle changes to bring it back to a non-detrimental level.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates about 28% of adults drink at levels that put them at risk for alcohol dependence and alcohol-related problems. They include these next two areas:
Alcohol Abuse
This consumption pattern tends not to occur every day and is not a problem every time a person drinks; however, it is beginning to cause problems. Many drinkers will slow down or stop drinking when they have had a fight, developed a health problem, or faced legal consequences. People who abuse alcohol tend to continue their drinking patterns despite recurrent problems.
The person who abuses alcohol tends to drink in a larger amount than others and does so more frequently. However, at this stage, many people either minimize the existence of a problem or deny alcohol’s impact. They may say such things as “I can stop anytime I want,” “It’s not like I drink every day,” or “I’m not as bad as _____.”
Alcohol Dependence
At this stage, alcohol use has become a serious problem, and the person may be commonly described as an “alcoholic.” Someone who is dependent on alcohol tends to imbibe on a very regular basis and in large quantities, needing it to function despite having suffered severe consequences such as DUIs and losing something of importance or value to them—spouse, child, job, home, or health.
When someone is dependent on alcohol, the body has changed. The person has developed a tolerance to alcohol, meaning increasing amounts are necessary to achieve the same effect. This person may also experience withdrawal symptoms if denied alcohol, including physiological responses such as delirium tremens (the shakes), seizures, hallucinations, delusions, heart attack, or stroke. These are dangerous, can be life-threatening, and may require medical attention.
Only a small percentage of the population, about 6%, is dependent on alcohol. People who are alcohol dependent or experiencing a severe alcohol use issue are what many nondrinkers, drinkers, and even treatment providers picture when they think of someone with a drinking problem. This 6% of individuals may be the ones you compare yourself to in order to validate that you do not have a drinking problem.
So, where do you fall on the spectrum of alcohol use? What are you willing to do about it?
Where Do You Stand on the Alcohol Use Spectrum?
Understanding your drinking patterns is vital to managing your relationship with alcohol
Throughout their lives, the majority of people adhere to a pattern of alcohol consumption. Most of the time, an increase in alcohol consumption and the problems that are associated with it occurs gradually. This gradual progression is significant to be aware of, as after taking their first drink, no one ever develops a dependency on alcohol.
Take a look at where you can fall on the spectrum of alcohol consumption:
Use for Experimentation
Curiosity about the effects of alcohol and the flavour of the substance is typically the driving force behind this initial stage. It is common for this to take place during the teenage years. People who are trying alcohol for the first time frequently want to know what all the fuss is about. After giving it a try, some people conclude that they can either take it or leave it. After gaining a better understanding of their limits, some people will drink much more than they should, pray to the “porcelain god,” and then refrain from drinking for a considerable amount of time.
Only a tiny fraction of people who have never consumed alcohol before will say that their first experience with alcohol was like “meeting my best friend,”” finding the answer to my problems,” or” something I couldn’t wait to do again if I ever had the chance.” This population has not only experienced the chemical change that is associated with alcohol, but they have also experienced a rush in their physiological state. This is like turning on a switch. Once it is turned on, it remains on. If this group of drinkers continues to consume alcohol, they run the risk of developing an addiction to it. The use of alcohol for experimentation becomes potentially hazardous when the individual’s curiosity is satisfied, but they continue to consume more of it, leading to potential risks.
On a sporadic basis
Infrequent drinkers are not overly concerned with alcohol consumption. It is common for them to only consume alcohol in social settings, such as when they go out to eat, when they go to a party, when they celebrate an important event, or when they want to relax on certain weekends. Teenagers may choose to consume alcohol as part of an event such as homecoming, prom, or a concert if they are not allowed to be supervised. This kind of drinking is not a significant cause for concern; however, younger drinkers tend to drink more to get an effect and binge drink to become intoxicated, which may result in behaviours that are problematic or dangerous.
The use on situations
On the other hand, situational use is typically okay. However, both the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption start to rise. Drinking that was once reserved for special occasions becomes more regular and may be associated with particular occasions, such as every weekend, parties, birthdays, sporting events, clubs, and similar events.
The act of bingeing can be considered a typical type of experimentation. A problem drinker may experience the consequences of drinking too much and refrain from using for some time, but they may still engage in the same behaviour the very next night, weekend, or party. On the other hand, a person who has a drinking problem may experience the consequences of drinking too much but refrain from using it for some time.
Binge drinking
An individual who consumes a large quantity of alcohol to become intoxicated is referred to as a binge drinker. By binge drinking, a person typically consumes five or more drinks within two hours for men and four or more drinks for women. The act of bingeing can be considered a typical type of experimentation. A problem drinker may experience the consequences of drinking too much and refrain from drinking for some time, but they may still engage in the same behaviour the very next night, on weekends, or party. On the other hand, a person who has a drinking problem may experience the consequences of drinking too much but refrain from using it for some time.
The individuals who fall into this middle part of the spectrum are those who drink excessively or drink regularly. It’s possible that they started drinking when they were in college, when they were young adults, when they were going through a difficult time when they were in a crisis, or when they were grieving. Many members of this group are aware that their drinking, either in terms of the quantity or the frequency, is spiralling out of control. They can make some adjustments to their behaviours and lifestyle to bring their drinking back to a level that is not detrimental to their health.
According to estimates, approximately 28 per cent of adults consume alcohol at levels that put them at risk for alcohol dependence and other issues related to alcohol consumption. The following two areas are included in them:
Misuse of alcoholic beverages
This consumption pattern does not typically occur daily and does not pose a problem each time a person drinks; however, it is starting to cause problems. When they have been involved in a fight, developed a health problem, or faced legal consequences, many people who drink will either reduce their drinking or stop drinking altogether. Abusers of alcohol tend to continue their drinking habits even though they experience recurrent problems.
A person who is addicted to alcohol is more likely to consume a greater quantity of alcohol than other people and to do so on a more frequent basis. At this point, however, a significant number of individuals either downplay the existence of a problem or attempt to deny the impact that alcohol has. A few examples of the statements that they might make include “I can stop drinking whenever I want,” “It’s not like I drink every day,” and “I’m not as bad as _____.”
Dependence on alcohol
At this point, the individual’s consumption of alcohol has developed into a significant issue, and they may be referred to as “alcoholics.” People who are dependent on alcohol tend to consume large amounts of alcohol regularly. They require it to function, although they have experienced severe consequences, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and losing something significant or valuable to them, such as their spouse, child, job, home, or health.
An individual’s body transforms when they are dependent on alcohol. Tolerance to alcohol has developed in the individual, which means that increasing the amount of alcohol consumed is required to achieve the same kind of effect. If this individual is denied alcohol, they may also experience withdrawal symptoms, which include physiological responses such as delirium tremens (also known as the shakes), seizures, hallucinations, delusions, heart attack, or stroke. These are hazardous, have the potential to put one’s life in danger, and may necessitate medical attention.
There is only a small percentage of the population that is dependent on alcohol, which is approximately 6%. People who rely on alcohol or who are going through a severe alcohol use problem are the people that many people, including those who do not drink, those who do drink, and even those who provide treatment, picture when they think of someone who has a drinking problem. There is a possibility that you are comparing yourself to this 6% of people to demonstrate that you do not have a drinking problem.
How would you describe your level of alcohol consumption on the spectrum? What are you willing to do to address the situation?
Remember, recovery from alcohol dependency starts with detox. Now, you can avail yourself of safe, effective home detox services in the comfort of your home. Call Freephone at 0800 140 4044 for a prompt response.
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