Are You Drinking Too Much?
Alcohol is a staple in our society today—and that’s not necessarily a good thing.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a dinner party, birthday party, or other social events where alcohol wasn’t present. We’ve come to associate alcohol with celebrations and moments of joy. So much so, that refusing a drink when it’s offered to you can be uncomfortable or even frowned upon.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 140 million Americans over age 12 said they had consumed alcohol in the past month. This is one reason why people may need to take an online alcohol addiction test to see if you’re drinking too much. We’ve come to a point where having a few drinks with dinner or heading to the bar after work is socially acceptable. Generally speaking, most people are able to control their drinking and limit the amount of alcohol they consume in one sitting.
However, that’s not the case for everyone. The NSDUH survey also found that about 65.8 million people had admitted to binge drinking within the last month. The CDC classifies binge drinking as having at least five drinks in a two hour period for men and having at least four drinks in a two hour period for women.
Data shows that binge drinking is most common in younger adults between the ages of 18–34, although it’s still an issue among people who are 35 and older. Heavy drinking has been found to be about twice as common in men compared to women. Surprisingly, a majority of binge drinkers are high-income individuals who make $75,000 or more and have a higher education degree.
Some of the common symptoms an alcohol addiction test will address include:
- Not being able to stop drinking once you start
- Drinking more than you plan to
- Blacking out or forgetting things that happened after drinking
- Having cravings for alcohol
- Drinking in secret or hiding alcohol
- Lying about drinking
- Developing a tolerance for alcohol
If you are concerned that you may be drinking more than you should, there is a way to find out.
More About Heavy Alcohol Use
When heavy alcohol use is part of your everyday life, it can be consequential.
Heavy drinking often leads to serious health complications, like certain types of cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and more. Not to mention, excessive drinking can cause other risks, like car accidents, unintentional injuries, and alcohol poisoning.
One of the greatest threats facing heavy drinkers is the potential to develop an alcohol addiction. The NSDUH survey determined that 14.5 million people in the United States met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Young adults between the ages of 18-25 were the most likely to have an alcohol use disorder, at a rate of 9.3%. Just over 5% of adults over age 26 met the criteria for alcoholism, and only 1.7% of adolescents under 17 had an alcohol use disorder diagnosis.
If you surround yourself with people who drink heavily, you might start to wonder if your drinking is becoming a problem. It’s important to monitor your behavior and get help if you think your drinking is getting out of control. Take this short alcohol addiction test to find out if you’re drinking too much.
Take the Test
What Now?
Alcohol abuse, whether it’s frequent heavy drinking or alcoholism, is a serious disorder.
Quitting alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous, so anyone struggling with problem drinking should consult with a professional. People with severe alcohol issues often start treatment in a medical detox program, where they can safely and comfortably detox from alcohol under the guidance of a doctor.
At Nexus Recovery, we offer a variety of treatment programs that can help you control your drinking, address underlying mental health issues, and give you the tools to get sober. Clients can enroll in our partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient program depending on where they are in their recovery journey.
Alcohol misuse often stems from unresolved traumas and mental health issues. Part of treatment is addressing those issues and finding ways to cope with triggering thoughts and emotions without substances. In addition to individual therapy, clients also participate in family therapy, group therapy, 12-step meetings, nutrition, mindfulness, spirituality, and life skills sessions.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an alcohol use disorder based on this alcohol addiction test, contact our team at (310) 881-9151 for a free and confidential consultation.
