• The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

Ask Dr. Bob

QUESTION
How long does drinking go on before alcoholism occurs? Since becoming unemployed one month ago, my mother has been drinking in the morning and all day. Has she been alcoholic all along? What should she do now for treatment?


ANSWER
A very good question which hits a number of key alcoholism concepts! As a rule, alcoholism develops over time and it is not uncommon for someone to drink "socially" for a number of years before showing signs of this disease. Of course, one may not know of secret heavy drinking that is going on in some persons! However, a number of my patients did indeed drink without problems for many years before a rather gradual increase in tolerance led to excessive drinking. This was much more common in the "older generation" which grew up prior to the drug using 1960s. The latter change in our society has seemed to speed up the process of becoming addicted to alcohol, and more young people now begin drinking to "get high" similarly to using other drugs, rather than beginning their drinking as a social habit, as was common in earlier years. Naturally, if one starts to drink to get high, one begins by using a greater "dose" than a social user would, thus speeding up the addictive process!

If your mother lost her job by acting differently than you know her (you mention that she's "changed"), and at the same time was seen to have memory lapses, mood changes and depression, the chances are that her drinking had escalated during this time. And the excessive drinking which she now admits to having only since her job loss has likely been going on for quite a while, though it is now being "blamed" on the unemployment! You should know that drinking alcoholics seldom see themselves accurately, often deny the drinking problems, frequently blame others or situations! You might look through some of our previous answers that review characteristics and symptoms of alcoholism.

Your mother needs as effective alcoholism treatment as is available! This should begin with an evaluation by an alcoholism professional and include medical assessment to search for alcohol related disease. If she remains depressed after beginning therapy, she should be seen by an addiction-trained psychiatrist to determine whether this requires treatment apart from sobriety. Appropriate treatment may include AA (she should be evaluated even though she goes to meetings), group therapy, individual counseling, specific medication for alcoholism, and follow-up appointments!

Your sister and yourself may benefit from family counseling to help understand the disease and your role in recovery!

Thank you for your inquiry, and we wish you the best!

Dr. Bob



Previous Questions

---

Do you have a question for Dr. Bob? Questions will be selected on the basis of general relevance and will be posted once a month. Click here to submit your question. If your question is selected, you will be notified.

---

Disclaimer

Dr. Bob does not provide specific medical advice or a medical diagnosis for any particular condition described, nor verify the authenticity of any information described in the questions presented. Patients should always consult their physician to discuss any specific symptoms, conditions, or modes of therapy for any particular mental or physical difficulties, diseases or conditions.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/269-7797   fax: 212/269-7510 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)