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

Ask Dr. Bob

QUESTION
I'm a 19 year-old college student. Sometimes I drink so much with my friends that I pass out and have a bad hangover the next day. But when it's time to party again, I'm there. Does this mean I'm alcoholic?


ANSWER
Your question is a good one and all too common on college campuses. Binge drinking, particularly on weekends, has become a recognized problem throughout our country.

Whether or not you are an alcoholic is not a simple matter to answer. Your pattern of drinking is certainly "alcohol abuse" (i.e., maladaptive in that it regularly results in intoxication, passing out, hangovers and your own worry that you might be "alcoholic"). This in itself is a significant problem and should cause you concern enough to ask for help if you cannot moderate the drinking!

"Alcoholism" is a diagnosis you usually cannot make in yourself. This is because of the psychological defenses (denial) most of us use when we become dependent on alcohol. Let me ask you some questions an addiction professional would review in your case: is there a family history of alcoholism? are you using any other drugs (pot, cocaine, heroin, etc.)? are there any other consequences of your drinking (DUI, arrests, medical problems, accidents)? is any one close to you concerned about your drinking? do you attempt to cut down/or not drink prior to your binges? A positive answer to any of these questions would increase your reason to "do something."

In sum, it seems there is enough evidence to cause you to try to change. Help may be available through your college counseling services, an alcohol information center, a treatment program, Alcoholics Anonymous or an NCADD Affiliate. Good luck and thank you for being concerned.

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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)