Notices

30-Day Drinking Test for Alcoholism??????

Old 06-26-2008, 08:21 PM
  # 41 (permalink)  
Member
 
BackToSquareOne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bethlehem, PA.
Posts: 1,781
This is from the website that Rob B. posted :

Who is an Alcoholic?

We have a definition at NCAA that we use, that we think is a pretty good working definition, and it developed right out of the experiences of AA, as to who is and who isn't an alcoholic.

We say the alcoholic is someone whose drinking causes a continuing problem in any department of his or her life. The assumption is that the person who drinks too much on occasions, if it develops into a problem, will not want the problem and will, therefore, take action about it because of the problem. They either cut down their drinking, or they will cut it out for a while. The alcoholic would like to do the same thing, but the alcoholic is totally unable; it is impossible for the alcoholic to cut down on his or her drinking. This is the nature of alcoholism.

In fact, it is the nature of the test that also grew out of AA's experiences, and which I incorporated in my book. I don't believe any true alcoholic can pass this test: the limiting of drinks to not more than three on any drinking occasion, even if it is daily, over a six-month period. Every alcoholic would love to be able to do this. I have never heard of a real alcoholic who could pass that test.

I disagree with this because binge drinkers like myself are able to stop for long periods of time, a year or more is not uncommon for me. The desire to jump back into the abyss of another binge can rear its ugly head at any time so the 30 day test would be a walk in the park for me and would prove nothing.
BackToSquareOne is offline  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:31 PM
  # 42 (permalink)  
Member
 
MnStar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 24
We say the alcoholic is someone whose drinking causes a continuing problem in any department of his or her life. The assumption is that the person who drinks too much on occasions, if it develops into a problem, will not want the problem and will, therefore, take action about it because of the problem. They either cut down their drinking, or they will cut it out for a while. The alcoholic would like to do the same thing, but the alcoholic is totally unable; This is the nature of alcoholism.
I like this definition the best so far instead of how much we drank, how often, etc. The part of that I don't agree with is "it is impossible for the alcoholic to cut down on his or her drinking."

That statement should be changed to read "on his or her drinking permanently."

I guarantee you in my drinking days, if someone threatened to take away my supply unless I cut back, I would cut back. I might even be able to do it for quite a while, white knuckling it. But I could not do it for good.

As for the three drinks a day for six months.....holy cow. I think that person might qualify as an alcoholic right there.....3 drinks every day....."normal" people would never be able to handle that. In fact, after six months that might make you dependent on booze if you weren't before.
MnStar is offline  
Old 06-27-2008, 12:05 AM
  # 43 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 7
To all who have responded with their advice/opinions, you have my most grateful thanks! It has been so interesting to read all of the replies. I read the excerpts from "Under the Influence" as suggested by Carol. They were very hard hitting for me, particularly the parts about blackouts. I have had more of them than I care to number. It is extremely embarrassing to not recall chunks of time or what you did. It is even more humiliating to want to ask someone, but then you didn't for fear of actually finding out, or having them realize that you don't remember.

As I have begun to look at my drinking patterns, I realize I can down them pretty fast, I carefully watch how much the people I am with are drinking so as to not get too far ahead, tend to feel more comfortable with the people who are drinking more/faster, and pick up speed as the evening/event progresses, and have no inclination to stop. Not sure if this is mental/physical/allergic cravings - it just IS. This whole thing is pretty stupid and hypocritical of me, since I am so disgusted by my huband's drinking. I have spent so much time being judgemental of him and now have to look even closer at myself. If not for my kids, I don't see that there would be anything stopping me.

As for the test- well I have to admit I feel a strange sense of anticipation at the thought of actually trying it---Don't know that I really would - But ------

Thanks again very much!!!!
pat555 is offline  
Old 06-27-2008, 03:36 AM
  # 44 (permalink)  
Follow Directions!
 
Tazman53's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
Bugs I have no doubt you are an alcoholic, you quit earlier then I did, no, my dog is not bigger then yours at all. It is a progressive disease, I quit for a year and a half in my early 20's, no real problem at all. When I quit then I was drinking on average 7 cases a week. I was simply further progressed in the disease then you when I finally quit for good. If anything you are a smarter alcoholic then I am, you recognized your problem before the physical addiction was as severe as mine.

We are all different, alcoholism is not a one size fits all disease, the progression varies drastically from one alcoholic to the next.

Bugs I was in no way insinuating that you were not an alcoholic, the only thing I was doing was sharing my experience. You said:

clearly it is what you choose to believe that becomes your reality.
To that I replied that unlike what you insinuated that I "chose to believe" that it was not what I chose to beleive, it was my experience.

I respected your experience, it would be nice if you respected mine as well.

Bugs an alcoholic is an alcoholic, any alcoholic can become a full blown alcoholic if they drink long enough, that does not make them "more" of an alcoholic then other alcoholics, it simply means their disease progressed to a point of physical addiction where the withdrawal from alcohol is severe, in many cases severe enough to require medical detox to withdraw safely.

You share your experience and I share mine, I respect your experience, I do not doubt it, nor do I insinuate that your beleive becomes your reality.

My experience is my reality, just like your experience is your reality.

Taz, the gist of what I read from your post is that you feel I am not an alcoholic...forgive me if I read it wrong.
Forgiven. LOL

I said:

Bugs I am happy for anyone who quits drinking before they cross that line into full blown alcoholism, it is like stepping through the gates of hell. To have a liquid control your very soul is not a place I wish upon even an enemy.
I bolded that what I said applied to everyone, I share my experience in the hopes that other alcoholics will quit before they hit that point, not to try and put myself ahead of or more then anyone.

Think about it, I was an idiot, I refused to accept my disease far longer then you did, I refused to do anything about it until I was what the medical community refers to as a full blown alcoholic. This is not a title I pulled out of my own hat, this is what the specialist in alcoholism and drug addiction told me I was.

Bugs you shoul feel your self way above me, you are an alcoholic that quit while the quitting was good (Not easy I am sure), I was a pig headed fool that took it almost to far.
Tazman53 is offline  
Old 06-27-2008, 05:02 AM
  # 45 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,876
Taz, while your post explains your opinion it still seems as if you are comparing our experiences.

You state that I am an alcoholic that quit while the quitting was good....I am not sure how to respond to that....how many more years beyond the 15 years that I was a slave to the bottle would qualify me as a full blown alcoholic? You state that you were further progressed in the disease than I was...how did you come to that conclusion? Is it the number of years that I drank that leads you to this conclusion? I don't believe that drinking time has much to do with the progression. I met a woman in aa who drank for 2 years, after gastric bypass surgery....she in those 2 years was drinking around the clock...kept a bottle on her night stand so she could take a swig when she woke up in the middle of the night. I never drank like that....truth be told I never drank in the morning.....I didn't wake up and have a shot of rum or a beer to start my day like she did...yet she drank for only 2 years. To me it would seem that length of time drinking has little to do with qualification into the "full blown alcoholic" club.

I admit your post leaves me once again puzzled.
bugsworth is offline  
Old 06-27-2008, 05:42 AM
  # 46 (permalink)  
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
 
CarolD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Thanks Pat...
I'm glad you checked back with us.

Keep us informed .k?
CarolD is offline  
Old 06-27-2008, 05:47 AM
  # 47 (permalink)  
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
 
CarolD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
The Topic is over and done.
I'll close this and do start another
on a different subject.

Thanks ..
CarolD is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:18 PM.