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- Do you feel you should cut back on alcohol?
- Do you get angry when others ask you about your alcohol consumption?
- Do you feel guilty about drinking alcohol?
- Do you ever drink an “eye-opener” (A drink of alcohol first thing in the morning.)?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then read on.

If you think you may have alcohol dependence, then first assess your safety.

Alcohol Dependence is a disorder that affects many people. Some people have genes that make them more likely to become alcohol dependent. This is particularly true in some men whose father’s had alcohol dependence. So if there are others in your family who you feel have had or currently have a problem with alcohol, know that you are at increased risk and should take care to watch for signs of alcohol dependence in yourself.

Alcohol dependence is characterized by:

• Tolerance of alcohol (Increased amounts needed to achieve the same effect)
• Withdrawal signs 12 to 72 hours after your last drink of alcohol (these include feeling anxious, tremors in your hands, increased blood pressure, increased heartrate)
• Seizures occurring 1 to 7 days after your last drink of alcohol
• Larger amounts of alcohol consumed over longer periods of time
• Failed attempts to cut back on alcohol use
• Legal problems relating to alcohol
• Continued use despite physical and psychological problems from alcohol (High blood pressure, weight gain, arguments with friends or spouse while drinking, fights while drinking)
• A lot of time is spent in obtaining alcohol, using alcohol or recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up due to the use of alcohol.

If you think you may have alcohol dependence, then first assess your safety. Know that detoxing from alcohol is actually the most dangerous substance to detox from… more dangerous than cocaine, or even heroin. You can actually die from not getting medical treatment for your detox if you develop seizures from withdrawal or Delerium Tremens (hand tremors, “shakes”, confusion, or hallucinations, etc). If you have any questions about this, then you need a medical evaluation. In emergency, go to the emergency room or call 911. If it is the daytime, call your primary care doctor or see a psychiatrist.

After and during detoxification you will need to get involved in treatment for alcohol dependence. This varies from individual therapy, cognitive therapy (therapy that addresses your thoughts and patterns of thinking), motivational therapy, group therapy, family therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, Rational Recovery and many other treatment programs. If you have tried one of these in the past and didn’t like it, give something else a try! There really is something for everyone.

Medications can sometimes help, but are not the solution to alcohol dependence. They are most helpful if you have another symptom that may be complicating your alcohol dependence, such as getting anxious in social situations or trouble falling asleep. Be aware that some of these medications used are not safe for people who have alcohol dependence. Make sure that your doctor knows that you don’t want any medication that can be addictive!