What is an Alcohol Abuse Disorder? 

An Alcohol Use Disorder (“AUD”) is a medical condition described by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD can range from mild patterns to more severe over time such as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. If you or a loved one is having difficulties with alcohol, there are different ways to identify the problem and confront the issue.

What are the Signs of an Alcohol Problem?

The first step is to identify the issue. Many people drink alcohol in social settings and for leisure. As a result, it may be a bit tricky to pinpoint a deeper issue. Here are some signs of alcohol-related problems. 

  • Responsibilities at home, work, or school become neglected as a result of drinking or recovering from drinking
  • Consistently drinking more than what was set out to or drinking a lot in one sitting
  • Lying about alcohol intake
  • Not being able to remember what you did or said while you were drinking
  • Using alcohol as a way to numb difficult feelings associated with anxiety, or depression, for example 
  • Disregarding problems drinking is causing with relationships between you and others

If you start to notice these signs in a friend, it may be good to have a conversation with them. If you find these signs in yourself, take a look at the self-help options listed below. Also consider reaching out to a friend for accountability. After this, it may be wise to seek out other options, treatment, and resources to help.

How to Talk to A Friend about their Alcohol Intake

If you are thinking a conversation may need to be had with your friend, it’s important to consider the following. 1) maintain a non-aggressive approach, so you don’t scare them, 2) prepare for the conversation prior to (with examples and resources), and 3) be specific (e.g. about your concerns). The topic may cause them to become defensive and act out of character, but it is still worthwhile having a conversation to prevent them from harm in the future.

  •  Have your conversation when your friend is not drinking
  • Sharing your concerns in a calm, loving, and caring way
  • Create space for your friend to be comfortable and  room to be open about what they are feeling
  • Think about having a meeting with close friends or family to intervene

It’s important to remember that this is not your fault. Do not feel like you need to take the blame for your friend’s alcohol difficulties. You do not have to make excuses for them or try to protect them from the negative consequences of their actions. 

Boundaries to Put on Yourself if you have an Alcohol Problem

If you are having difficulties with alcohol and do not want issues to escalate, follow safe drinking tips to create boundaries for yourself and prevent issues down the line. 

  • Know your tolerance. Are you able to have one drink in social settings or can you have a few? Knowing your tolerance can help you know when you’ve had one too many drinks.
  • Eat before and after drinking. Make sure you are hydrated and eating properly. When you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol enters the bloodstream more quickly.
  • Do not feel pressured to say yes to drinks or to participate in drinking games.
  • Consider slowing down your intake with alcohol-free drinks. Our bodies can process one standard drink per hour (a can or bottle of mid-strength beer, 100ml of wine, or 30 ml shot of spirits). The more you drink in that period of time, the higher your blood alcohol concentration will be and the higher likelihood that the alcohol will affect you.

More Resources

Depending on how the conversation goes with your friend, you may want to provide additional resources to them or for yourself in order to come alongside them in this process.

Reminder: Take care of yourself too. It is easy to become emotionally impacted throughout this process. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed or stressed, consider talking with a therapist or participating in a program designed for friends and family members of people struggling with alcoholics.

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