Alcohol...When is It a Problem?
A lot of college age students drink alcohol. Usually quite a bit. I had my first taste of booze this past school year, and I'll admit that I'm... more than a fan. I was the type to wake up the morning after and quickly grab one more drink. Then again, I've only had less than a dozen "drinking sessions", so it ain't that bad yet. But it does seem that drinking, whether in binge form or otherwise, is acceptable at the college level. But when is it truly an addiction?

Any stories/opinions about when alcohol use becomes unhealthy?
Do you find that alcohol enhances sex?
How do you feel when your significant other goes out drinking?
And for the hell of it, what's your favorite drink?

And as a side note, a friend of mine is offering a 1 liter bottle of Absolute Vodka (regular or citrion) for $20. I've never had either...which would you recommend?

Do you find that alcohol enhances sex?

Nope. It lowers your inhibitions, and your Standards. So if you don't want to be shocked by what you wake up next to, I'd suggest you hook up sober!

....you'd wake up in the morning and grab another drink? No offense, buddy, but that's nasty. Drinking should be prohibited until after 5pm...

Some people become addicted to alcohol much more than others. This statement makes me think you might be the addictive type:

I was the type to wake up the morning after and quickly grab one more drink.

This is not a good sign at all.

Originally posted by ComicsGn
Alcohol...When is It a Problem?

Well drinking upon rising would be a good place to start. I have never, ever heard of a young person doing that. Usually alcoholics do that to level themselves out when they begin to withdraw.

Blackouts...where you can't remember what you did.

Desire...can't wait until you can have the next one.

Developing a high tolerance level so that you can drink more than most around you would indicate that the liver has developed an ability to process large quantities. This could last for years and then reverses itself as the liver begins to deteriorate.

Unacceptable social behavior.

Saying and doing things which hurt others and make them tend to want to avoid you when you have been drinking.

These would be some good indicators that you are well on your way to a dependency problem.

I've never had a drink so I really can't judge on how it makes you feel or how dangerous it is...

But to wake up and grab a drink... That's just nasty

It has been my experience that when someone starts wondering if they have a problem, they probably do. The drinking in the morning thing is a bad sign. You might want to consider stopping now, because the sooner you deal with a problem of this type the less damage is done to your lif and health. It is easier to quit sooner rather than later.

Never cared for the taste very much.
Always being my own man, I did not have to drink to "fit in."
I found that I could walk around a party with a glass of coke and have just as much fun as anyone else, and remember it the next day.
Had a friend, that was so shy, he drank a few before a date just to give him artificial courage. He later became alcoholic. Had a hard time of it.

Alcohol is pretty rough on the human body, and relationships.

You really do not need the liquid crutch.

Originally posted by ComicsGn
Alcohol...When is It a Problem?

drink, get drunk, fall down, no problem :D


I was the type to wake up the morning after and quickly grab one more drink.

this could be a problem because of how you explained yourself. I find it stupid to put time limits on drinking though. Whether a person drinks at 8 in the morning or 8 at night does not show a problem. The problem comes with how the person acts or how much they decide to go overboard. Lets say you sit by the pool and have nothing else to do most people would say go ahead and have a drink your not bothering anyone. Now what happens if its 8 in the morning, does this make it a bad thing? Sometimes we form opinions based on old stupid laws.

Then again, I've only had less than a dozen "drinking sessions", so it ain't that bad yet. But it does seem that drinking, whether in binge form or otherwise, is acceptable at the college level. But when is it truly an addiction?

Well if you've only been in college for less then a dozen days I would say you have a problem :). Also if all the college kids decided to go jump into a huge fire pit would that be OK?

Any stories/opinions about when alcohol use becomes unhealthy?

Knew a guy that drank heavy every day so bad that it changed his personality{down all the time}. Well he blew his head off a few months ago, I quess this would register as a unhealthy thing??? Knew many folks in high school that drank and got into accidents, and even a few death related deals. Lets not forget the pickled liver..............


Do you find that alcohol enhances sex?

didn't you ever hear of beer goggles?



And as a side note, a friend of mine is offering a 1 liter bottle of Absolute Vodka (regular or citrion) for $20. I've never had either...which would you recommend?

I would recommend 4.0 average in college before you worry about vodka. :) ;)

I like Skyy Vanilla Vodka....so much better than Smirnoff

I dunno. Is it really that bad to wake up and want a drink as long as it isn't much? The most I ever had in the AM was half a Hard Lemonade. I don't use alcohol as a crutch, I occassionally drink when I'm with friends on campus. And for the person who mentioned that getting drunk lowers standards and doesn't enhance sex...I didn't mean getting drunk and having a random lay. I have never and would never do this. I have found that getting a little drunk then having fun with my girlfriend is fun sometimes. For me, I'm able to focus on the physical task and think a little less. This sin't to say it's mindless sex, it's simply more...focused lets say. I'm the type that worries/thinks far too much, and to put my mind at ease and just enjoy bliss is sometimes made possible with a little booze. I dunno, I think its only a bad thing if I had to ALWAYS get drunk before sex. Then it's a problem.

It's pretty commonly known that I have had an occasional drink before...

I don't think that its horrible if taken in moderation. That means no repetitive shots. No drinking down a funnel. If you are drinking a shot drink it and go on. The same for a can or bottle. Whatever you can take.

Originally posted by ComicsGn
Any stories/opinions about when alcohol use becomes unhealthy?

Mixing your booze is unhealthy. I did that the first time I decided to get down and drunk. I cannot for the life of me remember what happened that evening and the next day, all I did was puke. Additionally, any sort of dependency on alcohol (whether it be to fit in, loosen up, etc) with friends or peers is not healthy. Soon it'll become a crutch and then later a third leg you won't be able to get rid of.

Do you find that alcohol enhances sex?

No. Creetwins had the right idea in her comment above.

How do you feel when your significant other goes out drinking?

My SO doesn't drink but my dad is an alcoholic. It's was destroyed my parents' marriage. He'll start drinking after dinner in the evenings and will go through about 3-4 of those huge, 40 ounces. He's a different kind of person then and I've always been uncomfortable with and hated the fact that he drank.

And for the hell of it, what's your favorite drink?

I can't drink without getting sick -- even if it's just a few sips. But I do LOVE virgin strawberry daquris (sp?).

Originally posted by ComicsGn

And as a side note, a friend of mine is offering a 1 liter bottle of Absolute Vodka (regular or citrion) for $20. I've never had either...which would you recommend?

Maybe staying away from both of them would be a good idea for now.

Any stories/opinions about when alcohol use becomes unhealthy?

Well, since you asked, my mom used to be an alcoholic. She was in rehab for a month about three years ago. The funny thing was, when she told me she was going into rehab, I had had no idea that she had a problem with alcohol. I knew she drank sometimes, but she had always been doing it as long as I could remember so I thought it was just normal. Also, she'd stay out late with her friends from work every night so I'd hardly get to see her during the week, and I pretty much thought that was normal too.

A lot of people drink while in college, but if you start getting into bad habits there they're not going to magically vaporize once you graduate. It could go on to become a big problem once you are working or have a family.

sputnik:"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer" --Albert Camus

I have never noticed this in your signature before... it is powerful!!! I love it!

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF ALCOHOLISM?

Here is a self-test to help you review the role alcohol plays in your life. These questions incorporate many
common symptoms of alcoholism . This test is intended to help you determine if you or someone you know needs to find out more about alcoholism; It is not intended to be used to establish the diagnosis of alcoholism.

Do you ever drink heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?

Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink?

Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though your friends said that you did not pass out?

When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others won't know about?

Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?

Are you in more of a hurry to get your first drink of the day than you used to be?

Has a family member or close friend ever expressed concern or complained about your drinking?

Have you been having more memory 'blackouts' recently?

Do you often want to continue drinking after your friends say they've had enough?

Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavily?

When you're sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking?

Have you tried switching brands or drinks, or following different plans to control your drinking?

Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you.made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?

Have you ever had a DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) violation, or any other legal problem related to your drinking?

Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?
Are you having more financial, work, school and/or family problems as a result of your drinking?

Has your physician ever advised you to cut down on your drinking?

Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are drinking?

Do you sometimes have the "shakes" in the morning and find that it helps to have a "little" drink, tranquilizer medication of some kind?

Have you recently noticed that you can't drink as much as you used to?

Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time?
After periods of drinking do you sometimes see or hear things that aren't there?

Have you ever gone to anyone for, help about your drinking?
Do you ever feel depressed or anxious before, during or after of heavy drinking?

Any "yes" answer indicates that you may be a greater risk for alcoholism. More than one "yes" answer may indicate the presence of an alcohol-related problem or alcoholism, and the need for consultation with a alcoholism professional.

WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM?

Alcoholism is a disease which there is impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with alcohol, continued use of alcohol in the face of adverse consequences and distorted thinking. Generally speaking, alcoholism is repeated drinking that causes trouble in the drinker's personal, professional, family or school life. When alcoholics drink, they can't always predict when they'll stop, how much they'll drink or what the consequences of their drinking will be. Denial of the negative effects of alcohol in their lives is common among alcoholics and those close to them.There is no known cure for alcoholism. The disease can be arrested through complete abstinence from alcohol and other addictive drugs. Once abstinent, most alcoholics recover from the damage caused by their drinking. More than 1.5 million Americans are currently in recovery from their own alcoholism.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT ALCOHOLISM?

The self-help fellowship of AA has chapters in nearly every community to help those who want to stop drinking. Al-Anon/Alateen groups, for people affected by someone else's drinking, and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) meet in most communities. Local telephone directories usually list NCADD Affiliates, AA and Al-Anon, and may list other resources under "alcohol.'

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCE
12 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
1-800-NCA-CALL
(212) 206-6770