Levels of Use
Experimentation
- use once or only a few times.
Recreational/Social
- occasional, moderate use with no adverse consequences.
Habituation/Dependency
- reliance on a drug for a particular outcome (that could be achieved
without a drug), such as to relax, to get to sleep, to wake up and be
more alert, to relieve discomfort, etc.
Abuse
- occasional excessive use, resulting in intoxication; some negative
consequences may result.
Addiction
-
1) Compulsion
- preoccupation, drug-seeking, drug-using.
2) Loss of Control
- inability to use in moderation; inability to stop using
altogether.
3) Life Problems
- continued use in spite of adverse consequences.
Key Symptoms - Early Stage Alcoholism
1) Control - tendency to
continue drinking once buzzed; difficulty using in moderation.
2) Blackouts -
occasionally does not remember things that happened while drinking
excessively the night before.
3) Family History of
Alcoholism - an inherited body chemistry that is susceptible to
alcoholism.
4) Daily Life Problems -
problems (friendship, relationship, academic, work, legal, financial,
etc.) begin to appear in the drinker's life that would not be there if
they weren't drinking the way they are; they continue drinking in spite
of these problems.
5) High Tolerance -
ability to drink more than most of their peers and still appear fairly
normal and functional.
6) Behavior Change -
tendency to act noticeably different than usual when intoxicated
(usually shows up either as aggressive or depressed behavior).
7) Euphoria - tendency to
get a markedly euphoric, enhanced sense of well-being from the drug
alcohol.
