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Ariella Williams, Head of Alcohol and Harm Reduction and Associate Director of Nursing at Change Grow Live – the largest provider of alcohol and drug treatment services in the UK – shares her expert opinion on the subject.
The first signs of alcohol addiction may “vary from person to person,” Ariella says, but there are a few things to watch out for.
Quoting Drinkaware, the following signs may indicate alcohol addiction:
- Need to drink more to get the same effects
- Appearing tired, sick or irritable
- A lack of interest in previously normal activities
- Appear intoxicated more regularly
- Inability to say no to alcohol
- Anxiety, depression or other mental health problems
- Becoming secretive or lying to friends, family, employers
Review last year, did you notice any of the following signs?
- An irresistible desire to drink
- Inability to stop or control harmful drinking
- Withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking
- Alcohol tolerance test
- Pursuing alcohol consumption with the exclusion of alternative pleasures
- Continue drinking despite clear evidence of harmful consequences
Do you have a problem with alcohol?
If you have already recognized that you have a drinking problem, you have taken a “vital first step”.
“The next step is to think about what level of support might be right for you to help you cope with your alcohol use,” says Ariella.
“This can be difficult to resolve on its own and depends on many factors,” he explains. These include:
- How often and how much are you drinking;
- How easy it is to stop having started drinking;
- And the impact of alcohol on your life in general.
“That’s why we developed a quick online quiz on alcohol advice,” says Ariella.
“It takes less than three minutes to complete and was designed to make it easier to identify which level of support might be right for you and where to start.”
Someone I care about has a drinking problem
What can you do if someone you care about has problems with alcohol? Arielle suggests having an “initial conversation”.
While it can be “embarrassing and upsetting”, it can help people “look at their drinking habits and think about seeking support.”
“Sometimes it’s helpful to ask people for their opinions on how drinking might affect their health, mood, work life or personal relationships,” advises Arielle.
Regardless of a conversation, “it can take some time for someone to recognize the impact of the drinking problem in their life.”
To help out, “referring someone to the direction of Change Grow Live – and other alcohol support groups – can be extremely helpful.”
This is because “many people will need specialist and professional support”.
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