Years ago, an alcoholic was seen as a bum, someone who slept on park benches while holding onto a paper bag with a bottle of alcohol inside. These were men who had become homeless, rejected by their families, and ignored by society. Usually these were older men who were dirty, wore ragged clothing, and couldn’t speak without slurring their words. They begged on street corners for change to get another drink.

How times have changed! Now there are some rehab centers that cater to people who are in their teen years. These centers concentrate on the specific needs of those who are in that age group.

Are they “real” alcoholics? Most of them still attend school and some are even involved in extracurricular activities like sports, band, and choir. While they attend school, their clothing is usually clean and neat. They probably look just like any other student at their school.

How can you spot a “real” alcoholic? Most of the time, you can’t. If you are at a party that is populated with teens, can you spot an alcoholic there? It is possible that you can notice some signs of alcoholism, but it really isn’t possible to be sure that the person is actually an alcoholic.

So, how can you tell if you are an alcoholic? First, your age has nothing to do with it. Second, it isn’t about how much you drink or what type of alcohol you drink. Many alcoholics have tried switching from beer to vodka to gin to change the affects of their drinking. It doesn’t work.

If you notice that you are drinking to change how you feel, you may have a problem. If you drink more than you intend to, that could be something to look at. One thing that could be helpful is to write down some things about your drinking pattern.

Do you drink when you are feeling stressed or pressured?

Do you drink when you don’t really want to, but you want to feel different?

Has your behavior changed since you started drinking?

Do you choose to hang out with people who drink?

After writing some of these things down, you might consider talking to a substance abuse counselor or calling a group who could help you clarify whether you have an alcoholic problem. There is help.

Here are resources you can use to find help:

Houston, Texas | Drug Addiction Rehab Center and Drug Relapse Prevention

Plano, Texas | Alcohol Addiction Rehab Center and Alcohol Relapse Prevention

Plano, Texas | Drug Addiction Rehab Center and Drug Relapse Prevention