My DH has 2-3 drinks per night - is he an alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

I think he is probably a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings.

[Anonymous]

Everytime I see one of these threads, I'm reminded of an adage I once heard: "Most people consider anyone who drinks more than they do an alcoholic, and anyone who drinks less a boring teetotaler."

I'm not saying that there aren't true alcoholics out there, but I also think people have judgment skewed by their own personal experience. Go on a website populated primarily by fathers, and I'm guessing you'll get a very set of answers than you're getting here.

Note also that according to online BAC calculators, 2-3 drinks per night for a 190 pound man is roughly equivalent to 1-2 drinks per night for a 145 pound woman. Would you consider a woman having 1-2 drinks per night an alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a difference between full-on alcoholism and alcohol dependence. He's dealing with that latter.

Actually the latest DSM just rolled the two diagnoses into one diagnosis. They are now one issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a difference between full-on alcoholism and alcohol dependence. He's dealing with that latter.

Actually the latest DSM just rolled the two diagnoses into one diagnosis. They are now one issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/us/dsm-revisions-may-sharply-increase-addiction-diagnoses.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not the number exactly, but the way you drink. Are you drinking alone even if you're in a group? Are you thinking about it all day? That kind of thing.

You and the PP before you do not understand or know what alcoholism is, do you?

O wise one, please do tell us. I'm the child of an alcoholic who has been through rehab and AA, but I'm sure you can enlighten me. You probably read a book about it once.

Whoa. So am I. You're not the only daughter of alcoholics (plural). I stand by what I said, my opinion differs from yours, but good for you! Glad you needed to throw your "expertise" into the ring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn't impact his life, and he can go a day without it he isn't an alcoholic. But if he can't skip a day or it negatively impacts his life, he is an alcoholic.

No, if he can skip a week and it doesn't impact his life, then he's not an alcoholic. Really any addict can stop for one day. And if he's dependent on alcohol to relax - and after 3 liquor drinks a night I hope he is relaxed - then yes, he's dependent on alcholic (i.e., an alcoholic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not the number exactly, but the way you drink. Are you drinking alone even if you're in a group? Are you thinking about it all day? That kind of thing.

You and the PP before you do not understand or know what alcoholism is, do you?

O wise one, please do tell us. I'm the child of an alcoholic who has been through rehab and AA, but I'm sure you can enlighten me. You probably read a book about it once.

Whoa. So am I. You're not the only daughter of alcoholics (plural). I stand by what I said, my opinion differs from yours, but good for you! Glad you needed to throw your "expertise" into the ring.

Uh no. Saying "[we] do not understand or know what alcoholism is" implies that YOU do and whatever we think it is, is wrong. That's not "expressing your opinion." That's stating that you know is fact and we think we think, because it is opposite, is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Get help now.

[Anonymous]

I would say yes. 2-3 drinks on a weekend when you are out is one thing. 2-3 drinks every single night = problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a difference between full-on alcoholism and alcohol dependence. He's dealing with that latter.

Actually the latest DSM just rolled the two diagnoses into one diagnosis. They are now one issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/us/dsm-revisions-may-sharply-increase-addiction-diagnoses.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Doesn't this article say that this is a mistake, and will artificially inflate number and falsely diagnose people? I have no dog in this fight - but that article isn't exactly overwhelmingly in favor of combining.

[Anonymous]

My father did this. Bourbon most nights. I never saw him drunk and it didn't affect his life at all. Never had a drink during the day. I don't think he was an alcoholic. I'm sure it was a comfort/habit thing, but it might as well have been ice cream for all it affected his/our family's life.

[Anonymous]

The way I look at it is what if DH was drinking three Cokes or rootbeers or coffees to "relax" every single night? Would you think that was excessive? I would. And as an aside, I went to a family day at a local rehab (Father Martins Ashley) and I believe they define it as anything more than 7 drinks in a week. Unfortunately, several family members afflicted with this disease and each of them highly functioning, successful, married but totally dependent on alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Functioning alcoholic

[Anonymous]

Live life on the edge don't be surprised if you fall off and die

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH has 2-3 drinks per night. Mainly scotch. Sometimes martinis. Sometimes beer.

Is he an alcoholic?

He doesn't seem drunk. His behavior doesn't change at all, although he seems more relaxed. Is he an alcoholic, or can someone really have that much to drink per night and not be?

21 or more drinks a week a.d one ounce alcohol per drink comes to about 2/3 of a fifth of liquor per week. Yes, he has a problem.