Defininition of an "active" alcoholic?

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03-04-2008, 05:26 AM

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AnotherAnais

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Defininition of an "active" alcoholic?

Sorry if I've missed this on a sticky, but how does one define an "active" alcoholic? Is there a set time in recovery, or between relapses, or is it situational?

03-04-2008, 05:49 AM

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FindingMe

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An "active alcoholic" is someone that has admitted they are an alcoholic and continues to drink.

03-04-2008, 06:07 AM

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AnotherAnais

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OK, thank you. If someone has quit drinking for 2 weeks, are they an active alcoholic? Two months?

03-04-2008, 06:10 AM

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Barbara52

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Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherAnais

OK, thank you. If someone has quit drinking for 2 weeks, are they an active alcoholic? Two months?

IF they are working some sort of a recovery program, they may be a recovering alcoholic. Depends on what they are doing. A couple of months is a very short period of time to consider it anything yet.

My AH quit drinking for about 5 months but never went into a recovery program, never admitted he is an alcoholic. He is now back to drinking like he was before.

03-04-2008, 06:18 AM

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AnotherAnais

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I'm sorry, Barbara. I can't imagine how painful that must be for you.

03-04-2008, 06:23 AM

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FindingMe

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"dry drunk" someone who has quit drinking, but is "not working" on improving the problems that lead them to drink (AA, therapy, reading, life coach, etc..) Sometimes called "white knuckling".

"Recovering Alcoholic" Someone who is working a program to help change their life and keep them from ever drinking again.

These are short answers and can have many interpretations.

03-04-2008, 06:25 AM

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Barbara52

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Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherAnais

I'm sorry, Barbara. I can't imagine how painful that must be for you.

Painful doesn't fit my feelings anymore. It did once but no longer. Now its just sadness that he is so far in denial and refuses to admit to and deal with his alocholism. I left him almost 8 months ago and will be divorced soon. I saved myself from my lapse of good judgement (falling in love and getting stupid at the same time) and am working my own issues of codependency and all the other stuff that goes along with being raised by 2 alcoholics. I'm doing fine and haven't been this happy with my life in a very long time.

03-04-2008, 06:29 AM

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Pick-a-name

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FindingMe

An "active alcoholic" is someone that has admitted they are an alcoholic and continues to drink.

Of course,there are lots of the "unadmitted" who also fall into this classification.

03-04-2008, 06:30 AM

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AnotherAnais

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I am very glad to hear that!

03-04-2008, 06:57 AM

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denny57

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I think alcoholism is a disease and so an alcoholic is always alcoholic, just like a diabetic. That's why labels don't matter to me, as don't lengths of time sober, drinking, volumes consumed, etc.

Today I keep the focus on me and decide which people I want in my life, regardless of their drinking history or practices.