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Recognize the signs of alcohol tolerance. Identify any health problems you've experienced. Acknowledge any social problems in your life. Assess any legal issues you've faced. Learn how to drink responsibly.
One of the most common signs of alcohol abuse/misuse is tolerance. Tolerance occurs when your body becomes accustomed to consuming a certain amount of alcohol with recurring frequency, meaning you may need six drinks instead of three or four to feel intoxicated.  Do you find that you need to drink more alcohol to experience the same effects? Take note of how much you drink on a given occasion, and on how many occasions you drink in a given week. The good news is that you can decrease your alcohol tolerance and its subsequent health risks fairly easily on your own. You can do this by either moderating the quantity and frequency of your alcohol consumption, or taking a break from alcohol altogether for a few weeks. There are many health risks associated with alcohol abuse. These health problems may be physical, mental/emotional, or both. Talk to a qualified medical professional if you've experienced any of the following as a result of drinking alcohol:  nausea vomiting diarrhea excessive sweating mood swings depression anxiety insomnia chronic fatigue blackouts (not remembering what you said/did while drinking) high-risk behavior frequent falls, injuries, and accidents other substance abuse problems (including heavy tobacco use) seizures tachycardia (abnormally rapid heart rate) After health problems, social problems may be one of the most prevalent effects in your life if you have a drinking problem. Some of these may not be immediately noticeable to you, but they will most likely be noticeable to your friends, relatives, and coworkers. Assess your social and professional relationships to determine if you've ever experienced any of the following:  traffic accidents workplace-related problems (performance problems, tardiness/missed work, etc.) family and domestic problems interpersonal violence Many people with alcohol problems eventually face legal repercussions as a result of their drinking. You might be ticketed or arrested for public intoxication, carrying an open container in public, urinating in public, driving under the influence, or even engaging in violence because of your drinking. All of these citations/crimes can have serious repercussions on your ability to drive or be qualified for certain job opportunities.  Have you ever been arrested or ticketed by police for actions you committed while under the influence of alcohol? Has anyone ever brought a lawsuit against you for actions you committed while under the influence? This may include property damage, harassment, or acts of violence. Have you been through court-mandated alcohol counseling and/or rehabilitation? Some people who abuse or misuse alcohol can reduce their alcohol consumption to a safe, responsible level. However, many individuals with more serious alcohol problems, including dependence/addiction, will need to give up alcohol entirely. Only a qualified medical expert can advise you on whether it's safe for you to drink alcohol responsibly in the future, or whether you should quit altogether. If you are told by a medical expert that it is safe for you to drink in the future without risk of alcohol abuse problems, it's imperative that you drink responsibly and in moderation.  Set drinking limits for yourself. Count your drinks and monitor your drinking behavior. Try switching to drinks with less alcohol, slowing down your pace of drinking, or spacing your drinks further apart. Alternate alcoholic beverages with nonalcoholic beverages. Try drinking a glass of water (slowly) after you've finished an alcoholic beverage, and wait until you've finished your water before ordering another drink. Don't overindulge. The U.S. government recommends limiting yourself to no more than one or two drinks per day in order to maintain a safe level for alcohol consumption.  Never drink and drive. Have a designated driver or plan on an alternate transportation method, such as walking or taking a taxi. Limit your weekly drinking habits. Stick to 9 or fewer drinks per week for women, or 14 or fewer drinks per week for men. Consider quitting alcohol altogether. Even though abusing alcohol is not necessarily the same as an alcohol dependency/addiction, abuse can quickly lead to those and other health problems over time.