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By Jeff Jones LPC, CACIII, DAACS 
Is it hard for you to tell when risky behavior becomes a problem?
They say that if you place a frog in a pot of water and begin to heat the pot, the frog will boil to death without even realizing it. Conversely, if you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, the frog will make a quick exit. Now that I have sufficiently terrified my animal rights friends, let me place a much deeper context to the above metaphor.
When does drinking become a problem?
Messages of "enjoyable” drinking are all around us - the media: television, radio, and newspapers. It’s common for most social engagements to have alcohol available. It’s almost too common that many activities include alcohol. Too easily we become like the frog in the pot of water slowly coming to a boil. Before we know it, we’re at problem levels. How do we get a reality check on the water temperature before drinking is a problem?
How can you tell problem drinking?
Problem drinking is a broader category than alcoholism. There’s a continuum of risk associated with different levels of drinking. Like the frog metaphor, when we’re around drinking all the time, it can be difficult to discriminate change in levels of risk. Here’s a model that helps:
At Risk (Risky Drinking)
- Any drinking pattern puts us at some risk for an alcohol problem
- No current negative consequences
- Low risk for potential adverse consequences
Mild to Moderate (Problem Drinking)
- The range of mild to moderate alcohol problem
- When one experiences an adverse consequence due to drinking behavior
Moderate to Severe (Alcohol Abuse)
- Role impairment
- Hazardous use
- Recurrent legal problems related to alcohol
- Social or interpersonal problems due to alcohol
Severe (Alcohol Dependence)
- Increased tolerance
- Signs or symptoms of withdrawal
- Drinking more or longer than intended
- Persistent desire or unsuccessful attempts to control use
- Decreased activities due to alcohol (social, work, recreational)
- Use despite knowledge of physical or psychological consequences
A bit clinical, but useful
Each category melds into the next with little definition. Consistent Moderate to Severe drinking has a significant negative effect on the physical body. Alcoholism is a disease. Enough alcohol over time increases the risk of alcoholism and health problems. The higher on the scale, obviously, the more risk for the problem drinker. But don’t forget about you and your family. When the risk goes up for the problem drinker it also increases the potential risk for the family.
Maybe you’re apprehensive to reach out?
First, I want to acknowledge that for someone who doesn’t easily ask for help, reaching out is no small task.
If the problem has been going on for a while, I’m guessing that however you’ve been handling it is your attempt at remedying the situation. It’s human nature for us to use strategies we believe will get our needs met. However, if the strategy you’ve been using hasn’t been working you probably need to use another strategy. When we look at this last statement from our head, it’s easy to say, "This just makes sense.” But we’re not just our head. For us to take action our head needs to make peace with our heart and gut.
The point is, just because it’s easy to understand in your head doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. Of course, it’s not at all easy. But if you want to make a change, it’s not likely to happen without your taking the first step.
What would need to happen so you really knew the time to act is now?
Remember the story at the beginning: If you place a frog in a pot of water and begin to heat the pot, the frog will boil to death without even realizing it.
Don’t let it happen to you.
Alcohol is the number one family problem
The good news is you’re not alone. The bad news is that alcohol is so prevalent on media and in our culture that it’s normalized. If it’s a problem for you, it’s worth you taking consistent steps towards improving it.
Others have done it and you can to!
To summarize, it’s difficult to assess drinking around you. The prevalence of alcohol in our culture and media creates an illusion of normalcy, when in fact there are levels of risk associated with drinking. There are risks to the drinker and risks to the family.
You can decrease the risk to your family. About the Author...
Jeff Jones is a licensed professional counselor in Lafayette, Colorado. Last Update: 5/21/2008
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