Addiction to Alcohol

Alcohol Dependence

Repeated episodes of bout drinking or increased drinking as a reaction to stress may in a percentage of people lead to a condition known as alcohol dependence and previously referred to as alcoholism. This often has a genetic link and is more prevalent when there is a family history of alcoholism.

Help is at hand from your GP, the College Health Service, the counselling service, and in the case of staff the Employee Assistance Programme.

The following questions may help you to evaluate your drinking

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking habits
• Have you ever felt worried about your level of drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink in the morning to steady your nerves or get over a hang over

Other indicators of a personal drink problem

• Drinking faster than others in the group
• Ordering doubles or sneaking drinks
• Avoiding alcohol free functions
• Drinking alone or secretly
• Out of character aggressive behaviour with alcohol
• Violence
• Breakdown in relationships
• Disharmony at home or with the family
• Financial problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Frequent absences from College
• Depression
• A tendency to be accident prone
• Black outs or memory loss following a drinking session

Remember it's your future. Help is available.