The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 26.45 percent of all adults over age 18 claimed they had engaged in binge drinking during the past month. If you fall into this category, you may have asked yourself “Am I an alcoholic?” Learn to recognize the signs of alcohol abuse disorder. If you’re in need of alcohol addiction treatment, admission into an inpatient alcohol rehab center is the first step towards lasting alcohol addiction recovery.
Binge Drinking Defined
According to the NIAAA, binge drinking occurs when an individual imbibes to such a degree that his or her Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reaches 0.08 or greater. For women, this normally requires 4 alcoholic drinks within a two-hour period. Men will usually consume 5 alcoholic beverages in two hours to reach that same level.
If you engage in binge drinking, you may have also asked yourself “Am I an alcoholic?” When does binge drinking become a problem? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) classifies individuals who have engaged in binge drinking during five or more days in the previous month as heavy alcohol users. So if you regularly consume to the point of intoxication, you may want to consider a residential addiction treatment program.
Casual vs. Heavy Drinking
For many, drinking alcohol is a part of their daily routine. Maybe you too are used to having a beer or glass of wine with dinner and are wondering if that is a problem. You may even be asking “Am I an alcoholic if I drink every day but don’t necessarily become intoxicated?”
The NIAAA defines moderate alcohol consumption as being up to one drink each day for women and no more than two drinks daily for men. This should amount to no more than 7 drinks per week for ladies and 14 or fewer drinks for gentlemen.
Alcoholic Drink Defined
In calculating your alcohol consumption, keep in mind that a glass of spirits may actually contain more than one “drink”. Clinicians generally define an alcoholic drink as one containing around 14 grams or so of pure alcohol. This amounts to one shot of liquor, a twelve-ounce beer, or a five-ounce glass of wine.
Other Signs of Alcoholism
While routine, heavy drinking can indicate an alcohol use disorder, you may notice other signs as well. A few of those signs include:
- Drinking even when it is dangerous to do so, for example, when operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery
- Experiencing financial difficulties because you spend too much money on alcohol
- Routinely missing work because you are drunk or hungover
- Spending a great deal of time thinking about your next drink
- Consuming alcohol even in settings where it is forbidden, such as while at work
- Drinking alone or in secret
Do any of these signs apply to you? If so, you can probably answer yes to the question “Am I an alcoholic?” Don’t wait for someone else to point out your drinking problem when help is only a phone call away. Contact a professional rehab center to get on the right path.
Treatment Programs for Alcohol Use Disorder
An alcohol addiction treatment center provides a multitude of addiction treatment programs and addiction therapy programs that treat both the physical symptoms of your drug addiction and the mental health disorders that contribute to your drug addiction.
Upon your admission into an alcohol addiction treatment program at an inpatient drug rehab center, the addiction treatment staff will conduct a mental health assessment to compile a personalized alcohol addiction treatment plan, that you will respond best to based on the unique underlying mental health conditions that contribute to your alcohol addiction. Substance abuse treatment programs and addiction therapy services utilized in alcohol addiction treatment include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy program
- Dialectical-behavior therapy program
- EMDR therapy program
- Life skills training program
- Relapse prevention plan
Reach Out for Help
Your life does not have to revolve around alcohol or drug use. Through the right substance abuse treatment programs, you can overcome any type of addiction and remain sober for life. Get started by finding a quality alcohol treatment program.