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How do you judge an alcoholic?

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135

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    #62
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,030 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    MagicMarker wrote: »
    If you can't go through a day without having a beer then you have a dependency on alcohol.

    Can you point me to a reputable source for this claim?


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    #63
    Cedrus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Cedrus


    I disagree with the label 'Alcoholic'. As somebody has already said in this thread it is a pseudo scientific appelation, but, if it helps someone to adopt this name and go to meetings with people who will help them out of a hole, Fair Play to them and all of their supporters.

    However, I think that a lot more people have drinking problems than will ever go to AA and say the "my name is ...." There is a fear of going over to the dark side that will prevent many people from ever admitting publicly the fact that they often know themselves for years.

    I prefer to think of 'problem drinking' as this is a more step by step progression. If someone in your life has a problem with your drinking you MUST deal with it.

    Can't get up for work? Cut down or cut it out.
    Partner/Parents/Children/Friends are unhappy with your drinking? Cut down or cut it out.
    Can't remember how you got to bed? cut down or cut it out.

    Don't worry about the stigma , get your life back on track.


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    #64
    Dozen Wicked Words
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,325 ✭✭✭✭Dozen Wicked Words


    Alcoholics, and people who drink alcohol to excess generally, no matter how you judge them, are a burden on the health service.

    Few facts here:
    http://alcoholireland.ie/alcohol-facts/alcohol-related-harm-facts-and-statistics/


    Deaths from complications related to alcohol are particularly nasty.


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    #65
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I was in a rehab in Texas years back. One of the patients was a policeman, who came in with wet brain syndrome. He was wheeled in from the hospital on a stretcher. Days later he was wheeled from his room to take meds and eat with the rest of us. He drooled, he couldnt put a sentence togther. I had never even heard of it till I saw this man.

    Story was his partner had been shot dead some time before, and this man turned to the drink. He almost ended up a vegetable.
    Glad to say though, by the time I left he was on the mend.

    Images of him will stay with me a long time


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    #66
    Nettle
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭Nettle


    Jake1 wrote: »
    I was in a rehab in Texas years back. One of the patients was a policeman, who came in with wet brain syndrome. He was wheeled in from the hospital on a stretcher. Days later he was wheeled from his room to take meds and eat with the rest of us. He drooled, he couldnt put a sentence togther. I had never even heard of it till I saw this man.

    Story was his partner had been shot dead some time before, and this man turned to the drink. He almost ended up a vegetable.
    Glad to say though, by the time I left he was on the mend.

    Images of him will stay with me a long time

    I have met somebody with this condition, its more commonly known as weirnick korsafic syndrome, exceptionally sad for the individual and their families! It's also on the increase in Ireland


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    #67
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Nettle wrote: »
    I have met somebody with this condition, its more commonly known as weirnick korsafic syndrome, exceptionally sad for the individual and their families! It's also on the increase in Ireland

    Its horrific to see someone brought to their knees like that isnt it?

    I did not know it was on the increase, but Im not surprised .


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    #68
    Nettle
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭Nettle


    Jake1 wrote: »
    Nettle wrote: »
    I have met somebody with this condition, its more commonly known as weirnick korsafic syndrome, exceptionally sad for the individual and their families! It's also on the increase in Ireland

    Its horrific to see someone brought to their knees like that isnt it?

    I did not know it was on the increase, but Im not surprised .

    Yep sure is, it's premature dementia, it is cause by malnutrition and excess alcohol, kinda makes you wonder how alcohol can still be so easily available!


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    #69
    token101
    Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭token101


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    Can you point me to a reputable source for this claim?

    To be fair, if you can't get through the day it means you're dependant on alcohol really. That's alcoholism surely? It's not the same as having a beer or two every day. It's when you need it you're in trouble. That's my opinion anyway.


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    #70
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,030 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    token101 wrote: »
    To be fair, if you can't get through the day it means you're dependant on alcohol really. That's alcoholism surely? It's not the same as having a beer or two every day. It's when you need it you're in trouble. That's my opinion anyway.

    A lot of people can't get past an hour awake without a cup of tea or coffee.

    Are they tea-aholics coffee-aholics?


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    #71
    whirlpool
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭whirlpool


    maiden wrote: »
    Tell that to all the kids I have fostered! Im not sure they would agree

    An (of course) entirely understandable (what I assume to be an expression of your) opinion, but biased and therefore unfair.


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    #72
    whirlpool
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭whirlpool


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    A lot of people can't get past an hour awake without a cup of tea or coffee.

    Are they tea-aholics coffee-aholics?

    Yes :-/ Precisely.


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    #73
    whirlpool
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭whirlpool


    dooferoaks wrote: »
    Alcoholics, and people who drink alcohol to excess generally, no matter how you judge them, are a burden on the health service.

    Few facts here:
    http://alcoholireland.ie/alcohol-facts/alcohol-related-harm-facts-and-statistics/


    Deaths from complications related to alcohol are particularly nasty.

    Everyone who uses the health service is a burden on the health service. What's your point exactly?


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    #74
    whirlpool
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭whirlpool


    Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »
    So you are an alcoholic if you need or are dependent on it.

    What of a person needs alcohol to chat up the opposite sex? They clearly depend in it so by the above definition they are alcoholics.

    No. There is a difference between being dependent on something to simply get you through the day, and being dependent on something to chat up a girl at the bar.


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    #75
    whirlpool
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭whirlpool


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    Can you point me to a reputable source for this claim?

    What? It's not a "claim." The first half of the sentence equals the second half of the sentence. Unable to go without something = depending on something.


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    #76
    cometogether
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭cometogether


    I pity them to be honest, what a waste of your life. I only hope that they can get cured of it, if you abuse alcohol too much then there's no turning back the damage it does to your body.


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    #77
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,030 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    whirlpool wrote: »
    Unable to go without something = depending on something.

    But they're not unable to. If you remove tea/coffee from a tea/coffee dependent person they're going to get over it.


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    #78
    cometogether
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭cometogether


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    But they're not unable to. If you remove tea/coffee from a tea/coffee dependent person they're going to get over it.

    But by that logic nobody can ever be addicted to anything?


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    #79
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,030 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    cometogether wrote: »
    But by that logic nobody can ever be addicted to anything?

    Ultimately addiction is a choice. The substance does not make you take it.


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    #80
    JustAThought
    Registered Users Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    Well - unless it's an addictive substance!
    Luke meth or something - supposed to be instantly addictive. Scarey.


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    #81
    3rdDegree
    Registered Users Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭3rdDegree


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    whirlpool wrote: »
    [COLOR="Red"]Unable [/COLOR]to go without something = depending on something.

    But they're not unable to. If you remove tea/coffee from a tea/coffee dependent person they're going to get over it.

    Same with alcohol. If you remove it from a dependent person, they will also get over it. But only after withdrawal. So what exactly is your point?


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    #82
    Stereomaniac
    Registered Users Posts: 6,166 ✭✭✭Stereomaniac


    If they get over it, then they should be able to have it reintroduced. I am a recovering alcoholic.


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    #83
    3rdDegree
    Registered Users Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭3rdDegree


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    cometogether wrote: »
    But by that logic nobody can ever be addicted to anything?

    Ultimately addiction is a choice. The substance does not make you take it.

    TAKING a substance is a choice, you're correct. And I guess in a sense, you could say becoming addicted is a choice since you choose to continue to take the substance until you are addicted. But I do not think that the actual change in your body or chemistry which makes you addicted is a choice. That part is involuntary.


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    #84
    Stereomaniac
    Registered Users Posts: 6,166 ✭✭✭Stereomaniac


    Yeah, but I don't think anyone ever sets out to become addicted. I for one, didn't. I just have a very addictive personality, with everything I do. So eventually, you just have to learn what it's alright to be addicted to and what to stay away from.


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    #85
    Allyall
    Registered Users Posts: 10,381 ✭✭✭✭Allyall


    In Good 'ole USA Alcoholics are told it's a Disease.

    According to Mitch Hedberg, it's the only Disease you can get yelled at for having.


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    #86
    Stereomaniac
    Registered Users Posts: 6,166 ✭✭✭Stereomaniac


    It is a disease. I was in treatment and I learned that. It's the only disease in the world that will convince you you don't have it.


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    #87
    Dozen Wicked Words
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,325 ✭✭✭✭Dozen Wicked Words


    whirlpool wrote: »

    Everyone who uses the health service is a burden on the health service. What's your point exactly?

    Same way as people who can't moderate their eating or who smoke, or any other lifestyle choice which affects health, not making a judgement, just stating a fact. If you can't see the point there, not a lot I can say that will help you. Exactly or not.


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    #88
    3rdDegree
    Registered Users Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭3rdDegree


    I personally do not believe it is a disease, no more than I believe that smoking or heroin addiction is a disease. I believe that alcoholism is simply an addiction. But others will disagree very strongly with this.


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    #89
    bradknowell
    Registered Users Posts: 739 ✭✭✭bradknowell


    maiden wrote: »
    Tell that to all the kids I have fostered! Im not sure they would agree

    Good "thanks" post .


    Some people are functioning alcoholics and others are not.
    My uncle is a functioning alcoholic now because he lost everything over the years. Don't know how the man is still alive


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    #90
    bradknowell
    Registered Users Posts: 739 ✭✭✭bradknowell


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    Ultimately addiction is a choice. The substance does not make you take it.

    Try inject heroin once so


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    #91
    3rdDegree
    Registered Users Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭3rdDegree


    bradknowell wrote: »
    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    Ultimately addiction is a choice. The substance does not make you take it.

    Try inject heroin once so

    But Chuck's point is that you would be "trying it". The heroin would not be "making" you take it. Semantics, I know. Addiction itself is not a choice. Starting to take the drug is.


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