Some of the workers from the trauma center emergency room were talking during a break one day when Gloria, one of the emergency room nurses, made the following statement:

“Why do some individuals who experience alcohol poisoning symptoms begin drinking in an abusive manner sometimes as soon as they get out of the hospital?

Wouldn’t you believe that a near-death experience like an alcohol overdose would send a message that the individual needs to substantially reduce the amount of alcohol he or she consumes?

On the one hand it makes sense when the patient is alcohol dependent and can’t think about drinking in a responsible and logical manner.  On the other hand, what about various individuals who get intoxicated perhaps one or two times per year, go to the ER for alcohol poisoning treatment, and then continue to get inebriated once or twice year after year?  There are some things in life that I will never understand.”

Recently, Randy has been drinking more than ever.  Not only this, but his job performance at work has been deteriorating, he has had more heated arguments than ever with his girlfriend, he recently received his second DUI in the past two months, and he just hasn’t felt like his old, energetic self.

In addition, Randy has become concerned about having to drink more and more to get the same “buzz.”  In fact, he often drinks so much to experience an alcohol “high” that he gets inebriated several times every week.  Ironically, he has always been a health-conscious individual who watched his diet and exercised on a daily basis.

Now, however, he has not only lost all interest in keeping physically fit but he has begun to eat nothing but fast food and junk food.  Acutely aware of all of these issues, he has begun to wonder if his alcohol-related problems are alcoholism signs.

Stated another way, he has started to wonder if he might be alcohol dependent.  The good news, however, is that he has been so concerned about his drinking behavior that he decided to schedule an appointment with his doctor to discuss his excessive drinking.