5 Hidden Signs of a Drinking Problem

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 15 million people struggle with alcoholism in the United States. Less than 10 percent of the people struggling with alcohol use disorder get treatment. Alcoholism, as it’s commonly referred to, is rampant among the young and the old. The condition wears many masks and can easily go unnoticed. Here are five reliable, tell-tale signs of a drinking problem.

Problems at Home, Work, or School

Excessive alcohol is bound to cause problems at work, school, or at home. These problems may not happen immediately, but eventually, everyone with a drinking problem faces problems at home, work, or school. The negative consequences of alcoholism are hard to miss even for high functioning alcoholics. These include lateness, absenteeism, mistakes at work, etc. If such problems begin to manifest, seek treatment in one of the established Utah drug treatment centers.

Mysterious or Unexplainable Injuries

One of the biggest signs of a person hiding a drinking problem is cuts, bruises, sprains, and bumps that lack an adequate explanation. These are common among binge drinkers. Falls and blackouts are frequent, leading to one ending up with injuries, which they have a hard time explaining.

Drinking Before and After Parties

A person nursing a drinking problem out of sight and under the radar will often drink before and after a party and other social situations. Persons struggling with the onset of a drinking problem often drink alone and in secret, rather than in public. That’s because a compulsive drinking problem often manifests as an internalized sense of shame.

Hiding Alcohol in Unlikely Places

Alcohol abuse is probably a culprit if prized souvenir bottles of tequila suddenly go missing from your liquor cabinet and turn up in a spouse’s desk drawer or under your son’s bed. Some people can be very creative when hiding their stash, so it’s not easy to find.

High Tolerance for Alcohol

How quickly can someone become impaired or intoxicated after they start drinking? Tolerance refers to how the body responds to the functional effects of alcohol. A high tolerance for alcohol is a sign of a hidden drinking problem.

A full blown alcohol use disorder was once a seemingly harmless social drinking. Anyone who drinks alcohol can develop a drinking problem, even without knowing it. Identifying the signs of a drinking problem can be difficult for family and friends of those struggling with the condition. If you suspect that a loved one is struggling with a drinking problem, contact Pathways Real Life Recovery for assistance and treatment for the condition.


Author statement:
Michelle Amerman is a licensed therapist and President of Pathways Real Life Recovery. Pathways is a mental health counseling and addiction recovery center in Utah. Her treatment approach is based on 30 years' worth of groundwork and has been assessed and validated by pioneers in the field of recovery research.

Pathways Real Life Recovery
8706 South 700 East #205
Sandy, UT 84070
801-895-3006