What Are the Common Signs of Alcohol Abuse?

Alcoholism is nothing to laugh about.

In fact, heavy alcohol use can ruin lives and destroy families faster than you might imagine possible. It tends to be a sneaky disease that starts with a drink or two and then escalates to a problem that dominates every moment of your life. That’s why it’s important to seek help as soon as possible.

But how can you recognize signs of alcohol abuse when you see them? This article can help.

Here we take a look at the most common signs of alcoholism when someone in your life has developed a substance abuse problem. Keep reading to learn more about alcoholism and how San Diego rehab centers can provide the help they need.

Slurred Speech

If you’ve ever been around someone with slurred speech, it’s easy to see that there’s definitely a problem. That’s because it’s impossible to hide slurred speech.

This is also a clear sign of alcohol use, regardless of the time of day. So if you’re noticing slurred speech in the morning or at work, it should be extremely concerning.

Inability to Walk Properly

The inability to walk without staggering is another of the most common alcoholic behaviors. When a person has been drinking and can no longer walk, they have become a danger to themselves and to those around them.

You’ve probably witnessed this type of behavior at a party or late at night at home, but when you notice it at work or during the day, you should take this as evidence that the person needs help at quality alcohol treatment centers San Diego as soon as possible.

Frequent Hangovers

Anyone who has ever experienced a night of heavy drinking understands how miserable a massive hangover can feel. But you should never have frequent hangovers because this means you’re drinking too much.

It’s important to keep in mind that hangovers during the day are a clear sign of an alcohol use disorder that needs immediate attention. This is true for you or anyone in your life because it shows that your alcohol consumption is beginning to dominate your life and you’ve lost your ability to drink within healthy limits. 

Neglecting Responsibilities

When a person is drinking too much and alcohol begins to consume their lifestyle, you will likely notice that they start neglecting important responsibilities. For example, they will either be late for work or not show up at all. 

They might also ignore their families, be late for important appointments, fail to show up for special occasions, and drop off the radar for hours at a time.

It’s important to understand that alcohol addiction is a serious disease that takes over the mind and body, often making it nearly impossible to function normally or to fulfill everyday obligations that most people take for granted. 

Drinking at All Hours of the Day

The worse the disease becomes, the more an alcoholic will need to feed their system the drug it so desperately craves. This means they will often start drinking in the morning and continue drinking throughout the day. Ironically, the more they drink, the more they need. In other words, the disease is never satisfied.

When a friend or loved one says they are slipping away from a quick drink during work hours or earlier in the day, it’s a sign that you might need to have a conversation with them about their alcohol use.

This is when it is important to help your loved one find a good facility for San Diego alcohol rehabilitation.

Sudden Change In Friends

When people start abusing alcohol and other types of drugs, they will often stop hanging out with their normal friends in favor of drinking buddies. This is largely because they want to spend their time with other alcoholics. Why? Well, it’s actually quite simple: alcoholics don’t just each other. After all, they share the common bond of addiction.

You might notice a friend or family member choosing to spend time with people you’ve never met, especially at bars and other places where alcohol is readily available. This is one of the clearest signs of alcohol abuse that you need to be aware of. Fortunately, addiction treatment programs can help, especially rehab centers in San Diego.

Abandon Favorite Hobbies

Alcohol use disorder takes over every aspect of an addict’s life. In fact, they often lose interest in everything else, even their favorite hobbies. You might notice that someone close to you no longer shows up for movie night or other activities they’ve always enjoyed. 

When this happens, it’s important to pay attention to how they’re spending their time, who they’re spending time with, and how they’re acting. And if you become convinced that substance abuse is involved, it might be wise to organize an intervention.

Pull Away From Family and Friends

There’s a lot of shame surrounding alcoholism. That’s because being an addict is embarrassing. You’ve lost control over yourself and your impulses. You’re sick and need help, but you’ll go to great lengths to avoid acknowledging that you have a serious problem.

That’s why so many alcoholics pull away from the people who most care about them. In fact, they will often hide from loved ones and avoid answering the phone because they don’t want to be confronted about their disease.

Drinking In Secrecy

Alcoholics want to drink all the time. But because this isn’t normal or healthy behavior, they will often choose to drink in secrecy to try to hide their addiction for as long as possible. The problem is that hiding their alcoholic behavior only serves to make the addiction even worse.

Increased Irritability and Mood Swings

An alcoholic can also become increasingly irritable and exhibit extreme mood swings. And as the disease increasingly takes over their life, they will have far less tolerance for the structure of a daily routine. This can cause them to lash out at those around them.

A Guide to Common Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Overcoming the grip of alcohol abuse disorder is one of the biggest challenges a person will ever face. The key is to admit there’s a problem and seek help sooner rather than later. Fortunately, this guide to identifying the most common signs of alcohol abuse will help you understand when the time has come to say enough is enough.

Please contact us today to learn how we can help you or someone you love to get started on the road to recovery from alcohol abuse.