by Roxie
The month of April is designated as Alcohol Awareness Month to bring the progressive disease of alcoholism to the forefront. Many of us have experienced, first-hand, the insidious ravages of alcoholism that devastate and even destroy families and relationships. Until the establishment of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1934 by a courageous alcoholic named Bill W., there was no help available to those fighting a losing liquid battle. He was the mainstay who solidified sobriety for millions of men and women who are clean and sober today through following the 12 Steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Please use this month to become more vigilant to invisible signs that may signal that an intervention is needed in a drinker’s life. The following is a 20 question survey that may help you or others determine if one is slowly staggering toward the road to alcohol addiction.
1. Do you
lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is your drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt guilt or remorse after drinking?
6. Have you ever got into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution because of drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is your drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt guilt or remorse after drinking?
6. Have you ever got into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution because of drinking?
What's your
score?
-If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, there is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic.
-If you
have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you are an alcoholic.
-If you
answered YES to three or more, you are definitely an alcoholic.
(It has
been said that these test questions were once used at Johns Hopkins University
Hospital, Baltimore, MD, in deciding whether or not a patient is an
alcoholic.).
Survey attributed to http://www.step12.com/alcoholic-20-questions.html
Show your support by being their support! Accompany the person to their first AA meeting. If you are in the greater Pittsburgh area,
find a meeting listed here. For
meetings anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, check out this link.
The month of April may become their
first step toward sobriety, as you purposely help to save their life.
“To the world you may be one person, but to that one person you
may be the world.” ― Bill W.
1 comment:
Roxie,
Thanks so much for writing this post to make us aware of Alcohol Awareness Month. It's a reminder of how many families across our nation are affected by alcoholism. Although none of us can make an alcoholic want to quit, we can be there when our friend or loved one is ready to take those first steps toward sobriety.
I love the Bill W quote at the end of your article, and will be using it as a future Quote of the Week for our blog!
Jenn
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