Impact Of Alcohol On Society
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse have a far-reaching effect on society in many areas.
- Approximately 14 million Americans – about 7.4 percent of the adult population – meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
- More than one-half of American adults have a close family member who has or has had alcoholism.
- The total cost attributable to underage drinking, including costs of traffic crashes, violent crime, injuries, and treatment, is over $52 billion per year.
- In 1995, the estimated annual cost of alcohol abuse in the U.S. was $166.5 billion. Alcohol use disorders cost $56.7 billion more than the estimated annual economic cost of illegal drug use and $36.5 billion more than the estimated annual economic cost of smoking.4
- In 1992, the estimated productivity loss for employees with past or current alcoholism was $66.7 billion. Productivity losses were greatest for male employees who initiated drinking before age 15.
- Nearly 60 percent of 18-to 24-year-old current drinkers who failed to complete high school had begun to drink before age 16.
- In 1996, the average American drank 32 gallons of beer compared to 52 gallons of soft drinks, 24 gallons of milk, and 23 gallons of coffee.
- Adults who consume more than one to two alcoholic drinks per day are at risk for many health problems, including several types of cancer, digestive diseases, cardiovascular diseases, addiction-related mental disorders, accidents, and injuries.
- Alcohol is implicated in more than 100,000 deaths annually.
- In 1996, about 2 million (38 percent) of the estimated 5.3 million convicted offenders under the jurisdiction of corrections agencies were drinking at the time of the offense.
The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.
The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.
www.haveigotaproblem.com was created and is run by 'Advising Communities’, which is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1061055)
Downloads
- Alcohol and Drinking
- Am I a safe drinker?
- Internet therapy versus internet self-help versus no treatment for problematic alcohol use: a randomized controlled trial
- How to Deal With Alcohol Addiction
- Overcoming alcoholism
- Signs and symptoms of alcoholism
- What causes addiction
- What is Alcoholism
- Social and economic problems linked to alcohol use
- Drunk Driving: The Dangers
Quotes
"I like to drink. You could even say I’m a heavy drinker. Does that mean I’m an alcoholic?"
Anonymous
"I tried to blame everyone and everything I knew for my drinking; the death of my child, the ex-husbands, etc. Everyone was responsible for my drinking except me."
Jean
"When I was thirteen, friends would make fun of me if I didn’t have a drink. I just gave in because it was easier to join the crowd"
Samantha
"I woke up on the weekends needing a cup of coffee in one hand and a beer in the other."
Nick
"Because I’m an alcoholic I can’t go to the pub and have three pints then go home, when I drink I drink untill I pass out."
Mike
"You need to realize that the little voice in your head telling you to use is your own."
Maya
"I gave up hope of ever becoming sober. I decided to drink myself to death. It didn't work. Now I am left no choice but facing my problems."
Jean
"It was as if there was a hole inside me, which two or three drinks filled quite nicely."
Jane
"I couldn’t wait to get home and get something to drink. It was the only relief I could get from myself."
George
"For so many years it seemed like such a struggle; suddenly, it isn't a struggle any more."
H.L.
"My life was chaotic. I hardly ate. I wasn't interested in anything except drink."
Suzanne
"When I went to school I made new friends. These new friends liked to drink and stay out at night, so I did the same."
Anonymous
"I am embarrassed about the volume of alcohol I consume, I drink every day and I drink a lot…"
Olivia
"I had friends that didn't drink that way. I didn't want to drink that way, I didn't want to be that way."
Peggy
"I came into recovery because I got tired of losing all the time. I lost my first set of children and turned around was about to lose my second set. But even that's not the reason why I came into recovery."
Theresa
"When I was drinking I would use alcohol to avoid the things I didn't want to deal with or accept. I would wallow in the past with my memories and my bottle or I would fantasize about a future I could never realize unless I let go of the alcohol completely"
Marion
"I was a completely different person when I drank. Trouble brewed wherever I appeared. Yes, some times were fun and I behaved, but majority of the time I was terrible. I did things I would have never done sober."
Jeanette
"I got married at 21 and we drank and fought together. We were together three years and after the marriage ended I really went wild. Drinking became even more important to me and a whole string of relationships followed."
Nancy
"I drank to get drunk from the start. I was a blackout drinker from the start. I never knew if it would take two drinks or 20 to get me to the place I wanted to be. That place was anyplace else."
Gwen
"I lay in the ER from a atempted overdose, that I didn't succeed at doing. I had tried it three times in the past two years. I had to find peace, serenity, happiness. That day was Easter Sunday. I knew I had to go back to AA."
Madeleine
"I was in complete denial of what alcohol was doing to the chemical make up of my body."
Mark
"In May of 2006, I rushed to the emergency room because my hands, arms, feet and legs cramped so bad that I couldn't move them and my face was tingling. I was dehydrated and malnourished. My body was trying to tell me something and I was forced to listen."
Christy
"After a bout of depression at university, I started drinking to relieve anxiety and help me sleep. The quantity quickly escalated and by the time I was 24, I was drinking every day."
Tina
"My children were young when I was active in my addiction. I don’t believe they understood what was going on, though my husband worked to be honest with them. He told them I was sick and would become well."
Deborah
"It was sort of scary at first, but I was certain I was not the only one who needed to approach recovery in a unconventional way."
Deborah
"Along with perceived risk, your teen’s alcohol use can be predicted by the expectation that one will feel a certain way when they drink."
drugfree.org
"The genetic factors that contribute to the full range of alcohol consumption versus alcohol dependence in humans are distinct.”"
Dr Boris Tabakoff
"It reached a stage where I couldn't sleep without a drink, but I couldn't get out of bed without one either"
Steve
"When my wife decided she couldn't live with me anymore, and subsequently left - that was when I knew I had to do something."
Nigel
"Drinking is so ingrained in our culture that to refrain from it may be seen as a denial of that culture or an admission that we cannot conform to what is socially acceptable."
Norm Cohen
"Self-control is key when it comes to drinking"
Norm Cohen
"Enabling is “removing the natural consequences to the addict of his or her behavior.”"
Darlene Lancer, JD
"You may have to weigh the consequences of experiencing short-term pain vs. long-term misery,"
Darlene Lancer, JD
"Always have a Plan B to cope with addicts’ unreliability; otherwise, you end up feeling like a victim."
Darlene Lancer, JD
"When I look in the mirror, I can say I actually like this person; I had to deal with all my emotions and stuff. Before my emotions were in a bottle."
Debra
"I woke up one morning after a heavy night out to find I'd wet the bed, and the babe I'd pulled the night before was missing"
James
"After about five hours of drinking, I vaguely remember a taxi journey home. I also remember falling on my face. Yes, face. Not hands, or knees but face."
Cheezie
"Whichever approach you take, it is important to understand that the family dynamic in drug and alcohol addiction is incredibly powerful"
Steven Gifford
"The goal is to find what works now, and to educate yourself about all the options available"
Mark S Gold, MD
"Many kids have internalized a dangerous and false message: “Unless you are at a large gathering of friends drinking, you are a loser.”"
Roger
"After all, they didn’t know about the college “accidents” that sent me to the hospital emergency room with severe ankle sprains (from falling while drunk) or the night that friends thought I was having a heart attack after a bad combination of alcohol and"
Beth
"If I were more responsible, I would stop waking up in strange places with strange people, or so I told myself."
Beth
"I realized with a sudden force that every time I got into trouble, alcohol was involved"
Beth
"It's just too easy to look at life as a half-empty glass… especially when you've been drinking"
Philip
"There is no law stating that alcohol is a necessary ingredient for holiday cheer"
Drew Edwards
"I’ve seen hundreds of families in this very situation and their dilemma is always the same: they all want to influence their child to get on a better path"
Dr Michael Pantalon
"Occasional intoxication is not a symptom of a disease; it is a choice"
Kenneth
"I lost my job and I lost my family. But the bottle was always there for me"
Ryan
"We knew we were enabling him - but what else is a parent to do?"
Barbara
"I landed back in my suburban city, however, anything but free. I was a 23-year-old, full-blown alcoholic with a lot to show for my school career but little recollection of how I got it."
Beth
"After university, most people stopped going out drinking four times a week. But I was still young, and I wanted to have fun, and I thought I could handle it"
Derek
"I can stop drinking whenever I like. I just don't see the need."
Fred
"I know we’ve got problems, but it’s hard to cut back because all of our friends drink."
Gary
"Things were great before we had kids. But I’m worried. We’ve had some bad fights. And I can’t seem to reach him anymore. Every night he drinks a few beers and just sits in front of the TV."
Sharon
"We just got home from a party. We had a few drinks and a great time. Now we’re bickering again over nothing!"
Sharon
"We went out for a romantic dinner and shared a bottle of wine. We were relaxed and felt close. Then we went to a club and had a few more. Now she’s losing control again and flirting with a stranger. Why does this keep happening? Does she really love me?"
Gary
"Many parents make the mistake of waiting until the child has begun drinking, but if you listen and respond to your child sensitively, you may be able to help prevent problems from developing later."
Mark S Gold, MD
"Two of the more traumatic things I went through were growing up with an alcoholic parent and my parents’ divorce. I tried to stuff the void I experienced with drugs and alcohol"
Alice
"I never even considered the idea that I might become an alcoholic or drug addict, and I swore to myself that I would never end up like my father"
Alice
"I wanted to fit in and feel better about myself. The fact that I gave in to peer pressure is no surprise."
Alice
"Drinking and college go together like “love and marriage”—right? Wrong!"
Rita
"In families with alcoholism, emotions and priorities can get very mixed up — and not just by the alcoholic."
Erika
"I've been an alcoholic for 2 years in my life untill I found the strength to recover, it took a couple of tries and quite some support from friends, but I did it."
Anonymous
"I realized that, through no fault of my own, but rather a strong inherited predisposition, I could not drink alcohol the way other people could. I could not stop once I started, so I knew then that I would have to not drink at all-for life."
Richard
"I felt trapped, lost, and broken. I was walking through hell everyday but I was dragging the people who care right behind me."
Becca
"I’m very insecure as a result of my dad's drinking. And because my dad let me down so many times, I feel like I can’t rely on anyone. I hate the way that alcohol is seen as cool and glamorous."
Charlotte
"For ten years I was a functioning alcoholic. Because I was constantly topping up, I never had withdrawal symptoms, but my health began to suffer. I regret putting my family through this but I feel optimistic about the future."
Loris
"Although they were initially shocked and disappointed when I told them, friends and family have been incredibly supportive."
Jenny
"One bottle of wine a night turned into two, then three, and when I set up my own business working from home it gave me carte blanche to drink all day."
Karen
"Video games were a very important factor in my recovery. They helped take my mind off drinking. Keeping active is key."
Jason
"I stopped drinking 13 years ago after a shock when I thought I had dropped my baby girl over the side of a fishing trawler in a blackout."
Jill
"I feel SO VERY guilty and shameful that I got drunk when I as 17 weeks pregnant. This is by far the worse thing I have ever done."
Lanice
"Smoking kills half of all lifetime smokers."
Dr. Alex Bobak
Tips & Hints
Ask for support
Tell friends and family that you’re trying to cut down on alcohol - they might be more supportive than you think. But beware, some pe...Tell friends and family that you’re trying to cut down on alcohol - they might be more supportive than you think. But beware, some people don’t like to have their drinking behaviour challenged, so be prepared to defend your decision by remembering the benefits that cutting down on alcohol brings.MoreKeep track of the alcohol units you’re drinking
The government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (equi...The government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (equivalent to a 175 ml glass of wine). ‘Regularly’ means drinking every day or most days of the week.MoreAvoid visiting bars and clubs with bars
Instead resort to amusement such as recreational areas, movies, sports events and family events where alcohol isn’t present. That inc...Instead resort to amusement such as recreational areas, movies, sports events and family events where alcohol isn’t present. That includes going to parties that serve alcohol without a family member or friend to support their choice to abstain from drink. If the alcoholic feels bound by duty to attend a party or gathering, then he should be accompanied by a trusted other who will remain with them all the way through the celebration and be prepared to halt them from consuming alcohol.MoreDevelop an alcohol-free daily routine
Wake up earlier, include some exercise into the daily schedule, the potential is endless. Keep in mind that to stop drinking is to make...Wake up earlier, include some exercise into the daily schedule, the potential is endless. Keep in mind that to stop drinking is to make a clean start on its own.MoreSpend as little time alone as possible
For single people this can be a tall order. If you can’t surround yourself with people, get out more and help yourself to generate a ...For single people this can be a tall order. If you can’t surround yourself with people, get out more and help yourself to generate a fresh perspective on life.MoreBe determined
If you are addicted to alcohol, you must admit it and then be determined to seek professional intervention. The detoxification and reco...If you are addicted to alcohol, you must admit it and then be determined to seek professional intervention. The detoxification and recovery process can be stressful and excruciating but with the strong determination to lead an alcohol-free life, you can achieve your end.MoreStay optimistic
During the alcohol addiction treatment, you can feel depressed and initially all your attempts at abstinence can fail miserably. Keep a...During the alcohol addiction treatment, you can feel depressed and initially all your attempts at abstinence can fail miserably. Keep an optimistic frame of mind and strive hard to achieve sobriety, despite odds. Taking the rehab program as a challenge and focusing on overcoming the challenge can help you to be successful in your efforts.MoreFind a support group
It is easy to share your feelings, during your path of recovery to people involved in the same kind of experience as you. A support gro...It is easy to share your feelings, during your path of recovery to people involved in the same kind of experience as you. A support group can be very useful in sticking to the rules, realizing your objectives and following alcohol addiction treatment offered by detoxification and rehabilitation centres exactly.MoreStay away from bars
It is important to avoid visiting bars with friends and colleagues which may lead you to drink alcohol, before your realize it, althoug...It is important to avoid visiting bars with friends and colleagues which may lead you to drink alcohol, before your realize it, although it seems obvious to say it. Staying away from bars will help you to avoid the temptation of using alcohol again.MoreFind a hobby
Many people indulge in drinking alcohol since they are bored and have no activity to engage in. Finding a new leisure time activity or ...Many people indulge in drinking alcohol since they are bored and have no activity to engage in. Finding a new leisure time activity or pastime will help you with alcohol addiction treatment, given that you have a new hobby or distraction to indulge in without being bored.MoreTry meditation
Meditate or practice yoga and explore your spiritual side, while you enrol yourself in alcohol detoxification programs. Meditation can ...Meditate or practice yoga and explore your spiritual side, while you enrol yourself in alcohol detoxification programs. Meditation can give you inner peace and calm your nerves which are stressed out owing to the abstinence and rehabilitation process.MoreExercise
Exercising can increase the levels of endorphins or feel good hormones in your body that make you feel happy. How about trying jogging,...Exercising can increase the levels of endorphins or feel good hormones in your body that make you feel happy. How about trying jogging, swimming, cycling or walking?MoreIndulge in sports
Revive your interest in some kind of sport that you enjoyed earlier and spend more time playing it with friends and family....Revive your interest in some kind of sport that you enjoyed earlier and spend more time playing it with friends and family.MoreHypnosis
Considered an excellent alcohol addiction treatment, hypnotherapy can allow you to remove an affinity to alcohol. This complimentary tr...Considered an excellent alcohol addiction treatment, hypnotherapy can allow you to remove an affinity to alcohol. This complimentary treatment can help you practice and sustain abstinence.MoreRecognize there is a Problem
The first thing that you need to realize is that an alcohol addiction is extremely dangerous. Alcoholism is considered by many experts ...The first thing that you need to realize is that an alcohol addiction is extremely dangerous. Alcoholism is considered by many experts to be a drug addiction. With every drink, you are slowly killing your body and brain cells.MoreDrinking water
The body needs water at the cellular level to function. Detoxing from alcohol is very taxing on the body's functions, and on the immune...The body needs water at the cellular level to function. Detoxing from alcohol is very taxing on the body's functions, and on the immune system. Good, filtered water, drunk in appropriate amounts throughout the day helps to fortify the cells, as well as flush the toxins from the body.MoreKnow your "no"
You're likely to be offered a drink at times when you don't want one. Have a polite, convincing "no, thanks" ready. The faster you can ...You're likely to be offered a drink at times when you don't want one. Have a polite, convincing "no, thanks" ready. The faster you can say no to these offers, the less likely you are to give in. If you hesitate, it allows you time to think of excuses to go along. Also, see the short module to help you build drink refusal skills.MorePlan to handle urges
When you cannot avoid a trigger and an urge hits, consider these options: Remind yourself of your reasons for changing (it can help to ...When you cannot avoid a trigger and an urge hits, consider these options: Remind yourself of your reasons for changing (it can help to carry them in writing or store them in an electronic message you can access easily). Or talk things through with someone you trust. Or get involved with a healthy, distracting activity, such as physical exercise or a hobby that doesn't involve drinking.MoreGet Rid of All Your Alcohol
Go through your cabinets and throw away every single bottle of alcohol. If you have a spouse or roommate who drinks alcohol, kindly ask...Go through your cabinets and throw away every single bottle of alcohol. If you have a spouse or roommate who drinks alcohol, kindly ask if they could drink when you're not around.MoreUse Visualization Techniques
Visualize yourself and how it will be when you've completely kicked the alcohol habit. Visualization is very powerful in instilling int...Visualize yourself and how it will be when you've completely kicked the alcohol habit. Visualization is very powerful in instilling into your subconscious that you are committed to this goal. Do these visualization exercises in the morning and evening.MoreDo Not Skip Meals
Perhaps the most important tip to quit drinking is to NEVER skip a meal, as that simply opens the door to alcohol abuse. Not only does ...Perhaps the most important tip to quit drinking is to NEVER skip a meal, as that simply opens the door to alcohol abuse. Not only does eating 3 or 4 healthy meals a day give your body all the necessary nutrients to help you look and feel your best, but you will actually have LESS of a desire to drink alcohol when your stomach is full of food.MoreBe Powerful
Do NOT talk, think or act as if you are powerless before your addiction. Alcohol is powerless before you, and not vice versa. Remember,...Do NOT talk, think or act as if you are powerless before your addiction. Alcohol is powerless before you, and not vice versa. Remember, NO drink or drug can ever enter your body without your approving of it, so don't allow yourself to fall into the victim mentality of being powerless before alcohol - because that's simply a ready-made excuse to keep drinking.MoreDon’t guilt trip yourself whenever you are unsuccessful
Getting upset with yourself for any temporary drawback will be non productive, and will make people more prone to not quit. Should you ...Getting upset with yourself for any temporary drawback will be non productive, and will make people more prone to not quit. Should you fall, forget it and move forward. This is addiction to alcohol, one of the greatest difficulties you are ever likely to encounter.MoreLimit the amount of money you have on you and leave your credit card at home
Take a certain amount of money with you if you go out and hold yourself to that amount. Once it is spent, call it a day or night and si...Take a certain amount of money with you if you go out and hold yourself to that amount. Once it is spent, call it a day or night and simply have water for the remainder of the time.MoreHelp Other People
You can also help yourself to quit drinking alcohol by helping other people do the same thing. The battle against alcohol cravings is n...You can also help yourself to quit drinking alcohol by helping other people do the same thing. The battle against alcohol cravings is not easy but you should take time to help other people too because this can be the source of your strength to deal with your own problem. Maybe, you can give friends who are also heavy drinkers some pointers on why alcohol is bad. If they are not interested about it, it is fine. Also, make sure that you are not going to be swayed by their persistence that you take another sip.MoreCreate an alcohol free day-to-day schedule
Get up earlier, include some physical exercise into the daily schedule, the potential is countless. After all, to stop drinking alcohol...Get up earlier, include some physical exercise into the daily schedule, the potential is countless. After all, to stop drinking alcohol will be to create a clean start by itself.MoreTreat Other Illnesses
Alcohol May seem to be “quick” answer to relief of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems. However, the effec...Alcohol May seem to be “quick” answer to relief of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems. However, the effect is short-lived and drinking a lot of alcohol often makes these conditions worse. If you feel that these conditions are the underlying problem then see your doctor. Medication and talking treatments such as CBT often work well for these conditions, and are a much better long-term option than heavy drinking.MoreDrink Slowly
Only take a few sips of your drink at the time. Do not drink multiple drinks in an hour. Your body absorbs alcohol more than 90 minutes...Only take a few sips of your drink at the time. Do not drink multiple drinks in an hour. Your body absorbs alcohol more than 90 minutes after your last sip, so you may not realize right away how it will affect you. If you're tempted to drink more, avoid purchasing alcoholic drinks or accepting drink offers from others.MoreResist the pressure to drink
At social events, it isn’t rude to refuse an alcoholic drink or substitute it with a soft option....At social events, it isn’t rude to refuse an alcoholic drink or substitute it with a soft option.More12 Step Programs
Alcoholics Anonymous isn’t for everybody. In some places there will be a strong emphasis on using religion to conquer your addiction,...Alcoholics Anonymous isn’t for everybody. In some places there will be a strong emphasis on using religion to conquer your addiction, and in other cases people just don’t find it an effective way of recovering from alcoholism. Don’t be afraid to try other ways of recovering if AA fails you.MoreAsk yourself:
Of all the time, energy and tears I have invested in trying to make them stop drinking, what has been successful? If the answer is “n...Of all the time, energy and tears I have invested in trying to make them stop drinking, what has been successful? If the answer is “nothing,” you are in good company. Anger, tears and empty threats have never cured one single disease.MoreRock Bottom
Don’t wait for your loved one to hit rock bottom before attempting to fix their problem. Rock bottom might be jail or intensive care,...Don’t wait for your loved one to hit rock bottom before attempting to fix their problem. Rock bottom might be jail or intensive care, but you could possibly avert this by acting soon.MoreRelationships
Is alcohol ruining your relationship? Or is the influence of alcohol bringing relationship issues to the fore? Consider getting help, ...Is alcohol ruining your relationship? Or is the influence of alcohol bringing relationship issues to the fore? Consider getting help, and cutting down on your drinking when together to avoid conflict and settle issues with a calm and clear head.MoreEnabling
Enabling is defined as “removing the natural consequences to the addict of his or her behaviour”. This basically involves anything ...Enabling is defined as “removing the natural consequences to the addict of his or her behaviour”. This basically involves anything you do that negates the harm they are inflicting on themselves and allows them to see their drinking in a more positive light, for example letting them move in when they lose their house.MoreHow to stop enabling
Leave evidence of the alcoholic’s destructive behaviour - don’t clean up vomit or wash their soiled bedding, because they caused th...Leave evidence of the alcoholic’s destructive behaviour - don’t clean up vomit or wash their soiled bedding, because they caused this problem. Harsh as it may sound, they must learn to take responsibility for their actions again. This can be difficult but it is important to weigh up the consequences of fixing the problem in the short term (ie the pain you feel by not helping) and allowing it to continue in the long term (the long road of crime, imprisonment, unemployment, health issues and possible death).MoreStart with drinking a soda or other non alcoholic drinks
If you start by drinking a soda instead of drinking an alcoholic drink first, you will reduce the chance of you getting drunk quickly. ...If you start by drinking a soda instead of drinking an alcoholic drink first, you will reduce the chance of you getting drunk quickly. Then intersperse your alcoholic allowance with more non-alcoholic drinks during the occasion.MoreJust because you don’t remember it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen
You still have to take responsibility for the things your Evil Twin did last night. Another good reason to avoid blackouts. Hemmingway...You still have to take responsibility for the things your Evil Twin did last night. Another good reason to avoid blackouts. Hemmingway said, “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” This is good advice.MoreKeep good friends, and listen to their advice
There are many people who can stop you from making bad decisions. Listen to them and try to look at yourself from outside....There are many people who can stop you from making bad decisions. Listen to them and try to look at yourself from outside.MoreWhy do I drink?
For many people, the triggers that make them start drinking are pretty clear. Learn what situations, ideas or feelings make you want to...For many people, the triggers that make them start drinking are pretty clear. Learn what situations, ideas or feelings make you want to drink and you will know much better how to deal with your addiction.MoreDecide whether your goal is abstinence, or controlled or social drinking
Only you can decide on what your achievable goal will be. If you really believe you can cut down, then set days and times when you can ...Only you can decide on what your achievable goal will be. If you really believe you can cut down, then set days and times when you can and cannot drink. If you believe you are the type of person who cannot stop at one or two drinks then you will have to go for abstinence.MoreDo not set unachievable goals
When setting goals, don’t be too hard on yourself. It's about knowing and accepting yourself. For example, if you’re not a person w...When setting goals, don’t be too hard on yourself. It's about knowing and accepting yourself. For example, if you’re not a person who likes sitting around, you’re not going to read a lot of books. If you want a clean, organized home but you hate housework it's going to be difficult, and you will be unlikely to reach or maintain the goal. You can only do what you are able to do. ACCEPT YOURSELF for who you are. Feeling guilty seems to increase some people’s need to drink.MoreTell your story to yourself
Some people find it helpful to pretend that they are listening to a friend talking about their own situation. Imagine what advice you w...Some people find it helpful to pretend that they are listening to a friend talking about their own situation. Imagine what advice you would give if it were a friend telling you his or her story. Does this approach make you see your own situation differently?MoreWhat do you associate with NOT drinking?
You may have to put yourself in situations where you do not drink. For example, some people go for a walk, go somewhere with the childr...You may have to put yourself in situations where you do not drink. For example, some people go for a walk, go somewhere with the children, or watch TV, or read in bed, as they do not associate drinking alcohol with being in bed. Some people go to bed earlier, and get up earlier in the early days of abstinence.MoreLearn to say “NO”
One big factor in alcoholism is peer pressure. Learn to say “NO” also to your friends because you prioritize your health rather tha...One big factor in alcoholism is peer pressure. Learn to say “NO” also to your friends because you prioritize your health rather than drinking with them because it will not give you any good effect. Lying is bad but it is also acceptable if we have white lies for our own good.MoreDon't do anything you don't feel ready to do
If going to the beach is a time when you drank a lot. Don't go this year. If going to a certain friend's home for dinner is a time when...If going to the beach is a time when you drank a lot. Don't go this year. If going to a certain friend's home for dinner is a time when you drank a lot - get a rain check this time. Protecting your sobriety is the most important thing you are doing right now. Take care of you! Don't worry about everyone else right now.More
