signs of alcoholism

Signs of alcoholism

The signs of alcoholism are often masked by the passage of time...

...what we perceive to be normal drinking levels, may be clouded by how we differentiate between an alcoholic and a long term problem drinker.

"Remarkably, there are four problem drinkers for every “hard core” alcoholic, but these individuals do not fit the conventional alcoholic profile and are often reluctant to seek treatment, it is this reluctance that has the potential to lead to serious consequences."

Problem drinkers face a gradual erosion of their physical and mental health via the long term consumption of alcohol. Although not immediately apparent, the constant intake of alcohol will gradually break down the bodys defences, eventually lead to bad health, induce mood swings and create irrational behaviour that can be detrimental to both employment and family commitments. Its a of cycle of abuse that day by day, year after year, can eventually consume the very heart of what is normal happy existence.

But it does not have to be this way - all it takes is the recognition of the evidence that is before you and the desire to stop drinking a fluid that has been scientifically proven to cause you harm.

Today you have the opportunity to reveal that evidence - by participating in simple on-line test, you will be given access to essential screening data - information that will literally help turn to your life around.

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This site exists solely to help identify a certain category of drinkers who tend to fall off the alcoholism map - the problem drinker - a category of dependence that may possibly reflect your current lifestyle.

If you are concerned about your current level of alcohol intake, then I would like to offer you the chance to take a very simple on-line test, one that can help you judge how your present level of drinking is likely to affect your future well-being. It will not take long and you are guaranteed of complete anonymity. At the very end of it, you will offered advice on how you can bring your drinking under control - or if you wish - embrace sobriety.

This test has been created, using data from the World Health Organisation  publication 'Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test'. AUDIT is a highly regarded questionnaire that is used by health professionals to identify persons with hazardous and harmful patterns of alcohol consumption.

By completing the 10 multiple choice questionnaire below, you can find out more about your drinking habits over the past year and in the process get an indication of how alcohol is impacting your health and well-being.

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How to use this test.

Simply check one of the multiple choice buttons which are found under each of the 10 main questions. When you have completed all 10, click on the 'results' button and your test results will appear in the same browser window.

How to decide what is a unit of alcohol?

In question 2 you will be asked "How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?" to answer this accurately, use the guidelines found below.

Alcohol units - drinks per day.

Because of the way different countries define they're standard alcohol units, this test uses the guidelines set out in the World Health Organization - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and assumes that a standard drink is equivalent to10 grams of alcohol.

As a rough guide, this equates to...

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1 can beer (330 ml) at 5% x (strength) 0.79 (conversion factor) = 13 grammes of ethanol - 1 Drink

1 glass wine (140 ml) at 12% x 0.79 = 13.3 grammes of ethanol - 1 Drink

1 shot spirits (40ml) at 40% x 0.79 = 12.6 grammes of ethanol - 1 Drink

Ref: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Guidelines for Use in Primary Care © World Health Organization 2001

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Please be assured that the signs of alcoholism on-line test, is free, confidential and that no data is either recorded or stored. You are guaranteed complete anonymity.

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