Whether you're an alcoholic depends on how you react to alcohol, not how often or how much you drink. In the beginning, drinking blocks troubles, melts fears, and reduces tension. By the time you lose control over your drinking, however, you probably have suffered serious personal, job-related, health, and family problems. If you're a problem drinker, you must be ready to face the fact that alcohol is ruining your life and that you can't control your drinking. You have to want to stop before any assistance will be effective.
Most alcoholics require professional treatment.
In life-threatening situations, the police must be contacted and you need to be hospitalized. Copyright 2001 Contra Costa Crisis Center.