When are too many alcoholic drinks too much?

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There really is no set answer to this question, because people metabolize alcohol at a different weight. Someone with a slender build may not be able to drink but one drink before she starts feeling the effects of the alcohol, while someone with a larger frame can consume several drinks before any effects are even noticeable.

It has been said that women can’t “hold their liquor” as well as men. The same characteristics—height, build, and overall physical condition—enter into the picture where alcohol metabolism is concerned, no matter if the drinker is male or female.

About the only way to determine if a person has had too much to drink is by observing physical signs of drunkenness. These can include slurred speech, loss of coordination, red eyes, and in some instances, skin flushing. This last may be more apparent in very fair-skinned people than in those with darker skin.

Changes in temperament—a normally quiet person becomes noisy and raucous, a relatively even-tempered person becomes angry at the slightest provocation—can also be indicators of excessive alcohol consumption.

Marked drowsiness or even losing consciousness completely are definite signs of too much alcohol. If these are present, the person should be watched closely, as he not only may be intoxicated, but may also be suffering from alcohol poisoning.

If you even suspect that a person has had too much to drink, do not let that person drive away. Take the keys, disable the car in some way, or do whatever it takes to keep him from getting behind the wheel and possibly killing himself or someone else.

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Staging an Intervention

When you have an addict living with you, you may not know what to do. Youmay be at your wit’s end, and nothing seems to be helping you or the family member or friend who is addicted.

If the addict is a teen, perhaps you have tried simple things like making sure she gets exercise outside every day, or even redoing his room. You thought finally getting rid of that twin bed and switching it out for the double bed with that comforter she has been nagging you for forever might do the trick.

But you can tell she is still doing drugs, and it is breaking your heart. Don’t panic or give up yet. Try planning what is called an intervention. This is a technique that gets your daughter or son — the addict — to admit that they need help. It takes some planning and thought, but the results can be well worth it.

First, educate yourself about the substance abuse and the methods that work to stop addictive behavior, and then carefully make a plan. Is counseling the best way? Will your budget allow a rehab center? What about a group like Alcoholics Anonymous?

Gather together a group of family and friends to help you conduct a practice intervention session with your teen. Participants will want to carefully think about their feelings toward the addict and what addiction is doing to the family before expressing them to the addict. You need to determine what the consequences will be if the addict does not get help — and be ready to follow through on those consequences.

If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry. There are plenty of resources to help you through the process. Do some research online. Talk with counselors. Attend a meeting. In no time, you will have the information and support you need to help your teenager beat addiction.

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What Are the Twelve Steps?

Many organizations use the twelve-step program when overcoming addictions including alcohol and narcotics. It was originally proposed by founding members of Alcoholics Anonymous and published in 1939. Here is an overview of what the twelve-step are.

Twelve Steps

1. Because of my addiction to [fill in the blank], my life has become unmanageable. I am powerless to my addiction.
2. There is a Power greater than myself out there who can help me to restore my sanity.
3. However I understand God to be, I turn my will over to Him.
4. I will make a moral inventory of my life that is honest and complete.
5. I will admit my wrongs to God, myself, and to one other person.
6. I am completely ready for God to remove these defects in my character.
7. I ask God humbly to remove my shortcomings.
8. I have made a list of all the people that I have harmed, and I am willing to make amends to all of those who are on that list.
9. If it’s possible, I will make those amends to the person directly. If it may cause injury to that person or to others, then I will not make amends directly.
10. I will continue to take a personal inventory and when I am wrong, I will admit it quickly.
11. Depending on how I understand God, I will pray or meditate so I can be closer to Him, and I will pray to know what His will is for me and I will pray for the courage and ability to carry out His will.
12. I will tell all those who suffer from an addiction to [fill in the blank] about how much better I am because of these steps and I will practice these steps daily.

This is just a summary of the twelve steps as outlined by the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Over 200 organizations use these steps and addictions can be drug or alcohol related or behavior related (including sexual addiction, gambling, and overeating). Support groups surround these addictions giving participants support to break free.

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