What is “at-risk” drinking?
You don’t have to be an alcoholic for alcohol use to cause problems for yourself or others. In the United States, most alcohol-related harm involves people who are not addicted, but who use alcohol in a hazardous or harmful manner.
How alcohol can harm you or others
- Decreased productivity.
- Poor performance or absence from work or school.
- Job loss or expulsion.
- Interpersonal problems.
- Arguments.
- Divorce.
- Strained relationships.
- Violence.
- Health-related problems.
- Interactions with medications.
- Birth defects.
- Expensive medical bills.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Other drug use.
- Heart disease.
- Liver disease.
- Driving under the influence.
- Prison.
- Death.
Warning signs that your drinking is harmful to you or others
- Taking risks while under the influence.
- Drinking and driving.
- Unprotected sex.
- Lying about or covering up how much you drink.
- Feeling guilty after drinking.
- Blackouts or “losing time” after drinking.
- Preoccupation with drinking.
- Reducing other activities that don’t include alcohol.
- Problems at work or school, with family or friends, or with finances.
- Health problems that might be caused by or made worse by heavy alcohol use.
- No interest in friends who don’t drink.
How to make a change
The final article in this series, Become a “low-risk” drinker, will provide tips to change a harmful drinking pattern.
