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1. Does drinking cause you to miss work or school?
2. When you drink do you feel more confident and less shy?
3. Has your drinking affected other's opinions of your character?
4. Have you drank to escape from home, work or school problems?
5. Do you become bothered when someone points out that they think you drink too much?
6. Do you need a drink before you go out to, or during a social occasion?
7. Has buying alcohol ever gotten you into money troubles?
8. Has your drinking caused you to lose friends?
9. Is alcohol often around when you are with your friends?
10. Do you drink more than your friends do?
11. Do you drink until the bottle is empty?
12. Has your drinking caused you to have a loss of memory?
13. Have you ever ended up in jail or in the hospital from drinking and driving?
14. Do you get irritated when you sit through classes or lectures on drinking?
15. Do you have a problem with alcohol?
A 'yes' answer to two or more of these questions almost certainly means that you are developing, or already have a problem with alcohol.
10 OTHER INDICATIONS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM
1. Increased drinking and frequent periods of intoxication
2. Ability to drink more and more alcohol (building high tolerance)
3. Drinking to escape problems, blaming everyone else for his/her problems
4. Uncontrollable need for a drink or gulping down drinks
5. Making excuses for drinking
6. Secret or solitary drinking, sneaking drinks
7. Personality deterioration, persistent family problems due to drinking
8. Tremors of the hands and/or noticeable weight change
9. Evidence of physical harm to the body (stomach, liver, heart, brain, etc.) from drinking
10. Emotional immaturity, egocentricity, mood extremes, perfectionist for self and others
WHERE TO GET HELP
Care about yourself. Be true to you. You are not alone. If you are acutely ill, go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital or go to your private physician. If your life is affected by an alcoholic in your family, you must take care of you also. These Alcohol-help organizations are listed in most telephone books: Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon (for hurting family members), Alcoholic Rehabilitation clinics, Alcoholism Councils, and local Health Departments. Call them.