Kinds of Drinking Patterns

RESPONSIBLE: (social use)

Uses on Social Occasions
Low volume consumers
Sets reasonable limits/goals, sticks with them
Always in total control
Drinks with sense of responsibility towards home, family, job, money, society
Plans ahead (stay there, designated driver...)
Drinking / use creates no problems
Individual drinks for "social" reasons
Drinking adds to the pleasure of occasion
Not to drink at all for some people
Being aware of triggers

IRRESPONSIBLE: (abuse)

Drinking / use results in or causes a problem
Loss of control--occasional at first
Don't always drink with a sense of responsibility; high risk behaviors seen
Totally unaware of alcohol's effects and their relationship with alcohol
Personality changes seen
Frequently has a hangover
Drinks to get drunk
Starts to drink for tension relief
Blackouts/greyouts begin
Arrests / DWI

PRE-ALCOHOLIC STAGE: (early stage dependancy)

Loss of control increases
Lowered sense of responsibility
Using alcohol as a mood changer, problem solver, to take sexual advantage of another (date rape), doing things they wouldn't do sober
Start to experience withdrawal
Increasing hangovers, blackouts, etc.
Not heeding concerns of others
Denial / alibi system develops

ALCOHOLIC: (middle stage dependency)

Loss of control over start, amount, or behavior while drinking
Denial of problem
Loss of friends, family, job
Life becomes alcohol-centered
Health affected
Sneaking, gulping drinks
Tolerance increases
"Eye-opener-drinking" to avoid withdrawal
Personality changes when not drinking
Protecting the supply
Benders / binges
Going on the wagon

LATE STAGE: (late stage dependency)

Tolerance decreases
DTs or tremors upon withdrawal
Long term benders
Does not take care of self (does not eat,
lack of personal hygiene)

• Out of every ten drinkers, three experience problems and one becomes dependent.

• Only 3 - 5% of alcoholics are "skid row".