The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
The Times World News

.

Adele called herself a 'borderline alcoholic'. But is that a real thing?

  • Written by Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University
Someone with hand over glass of red wine, saying 'no' to a top up

British singer-songwriter Adele says she has quit drinking, describing herself[1] as a “borderline alcoholic” when she was in her 20s.

She joins a growing number of people[2] who are trying to quit or reduce their drinking.

But what does “borderline alcoholic” mean and is it a real thing?

Read more: Why are young people drinking less than their parents’ generation did?[3]

It’s not all-or-nothing any more

In the early days[4] of alcohol treatment, people used to think of problems with alcohol as all-or-nothing. They used to believe there was something different about people who had problems with alcohol and those who didn’t. That’s how the idea of the “addictive personality[5]” came about.

But now we think of drinking on a continuum. It goes from not drinking at all to dependent drinking. And people can move up and down that continuum at different points in their lives. The old saying “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” doesn’t apply any more.

Read more: Is there really such a thing as an 'addictive personality'?[6]

How much is it OK to drink?

The Australian national alcohol guidelines[7] say healthy men and women should drink no more than ten standard drinks[8] a week and no more than four a day. So that’s about two to three drinks three to four times a week. Most Australians[9] drink within these guidelines.

If you drink over those guidelines you are more likely to experience a number of long- and short-term problems[10] including alcohol dependence, cancers, diabetes and heart disease. The risk of problems increases the more you drink and the more frequently you drink.

About 25% of Australians drink at risky levels[11] and around 6% drink at such high levels that they would probably be dependent. Daily drinking is associated with dependence.

Someone with hand over glass of red wine, saying 'no' to a top up
How much do you drink a week, or on any one day? Shutterstock[12]

So when is someone an alcoholic or a borderline alcoholic?

The term “alcoholic” is rarely used by health professionals any more. It can make people believe there is nothing they can do about the problems they might be experiencing. Historically, that’s what the early treatment providers believed in the 1930s and that myth has continued[13]. But some people find identifying as an “alcoholic” helpful to maintain their goal of quitting drinking.

Health professionals have never used the term “borderline alcoholic”. But in describing herself that way Adele is really saying alcohol is having too much of a negative impact on her life, and like many others has decided to do something positive about it by taking a break.

Read more: Many define Adele's voice by its power. But the true artistry comes from her fragile, authentic self[14]

Which terms do we use now?

Now, we tend to talk about “dependence” on a continuum from mild to moderate to severe. We also talk about the range of problems other than dependence that people can experience, which also lie on a continuum.

The threshold for whether someone is a problem or dependent drinker is not just how much they drink (although that is important), but also how severe the alcohol-related problems are.

Problems with alcohol don’t always correlate with consumption. Some people can drink a moderate amount and have a lot of problems and others can drink a lot and appear not to have many negative consequences.

Read more: Do different drinks make you different drunk?[15]

I’m worried about my drinking. What next?

If you are wondering if you are drinking too much you can check online[16] with a free and anonymous assessment.

Signs you may have a problem with alcohol[17] include:

  • having trouble stopping once you start drinking

  • wanting or trying to cut back but slipping up frequently

  • spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking

  • having cravings to drink alcohol, such as if you come home from work and reach straight for a drink

  • dropping the ball at work, study or home because you’ve been drinking, such as not being able to do your work because you’re hungover

  • continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it’s causing problems with your health, friends, work or relationships

  • giving up or reducing social and work activities to drink instead

  • drinking when it’s not safe, such as before driving or swimming.

Read more: Did you look forward to last night's bottle of wine a bit too much? Ladies, you're not alone[18]

Friends drinking alcohol, clinking glasses, outside If you cannot quit alcohol like Adele, you can cut down. Shutterstock[19]

If you find you aren’t getting the same effects from alcohol as you used to or you need more and more alcohol to get the same effect, you have probably developed a dependence.

Sometimes people who are very dependent can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop – strong cravings, nausea, sweating, agitation and anxiety.

The more of these signs you have, the more likely you are to be dependent on alcohol.

If you have any of these signs, taking a break from alcohol for a few months or longer can help. If you find that’s too hard, you can try sticking within the Australian alcohol guidelines by reducing the number of drinks per occasion and increasing your drink-free days.

Read more: Trying to cut back on alcohol? Here's what works[20]

There’s help

Sometimes when people experience some of these problems they need a bit of help to keep them on track. You can talk to your GP who can refer you to a psychologist or treatment service. Or you can try self-help options such as the Hello Sunday Morning’s Daybreak app[21] (a community of people supporting each other to change their relationship with alcohol). If your problems are more severe, you can try something like SMART Recovery[22] (evidence-based group support for alcohol and other drug problems).

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s alcohol or other drug use, you can contact the National Alcohol and other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free, confidential advice.

References

  1. ^ describing herself (www.theguardian.com)
  2. ^ growing number of people (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ Why are young people drinking less than their parents’ generation did? (theconversation.com)
  4. ^ early days (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ addictive personality (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ Is there really such a thing as an 'addictive personality'? (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ guidelines (www.nhmrc.gov.au)
  8. ^ standard drinks (alcoholthinkagain.com.au)
  9. ^ Most Australians (www.abs.gov.au)
  10. ^ problems (www.nhmrc.gov.au)
  11. ^ risky levels (www.aihw.gov.au)
  12. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  13. ^ myth has continued (theconversation.com)
  14. ^ Many define Adele's voice by its power. But the true artistry comes from her fragile, authentic self (theconversation.com)
  15. ^ Do different drinks make you different drunk? (theconversation.com)
  16. ^ check online (hellosundaymorning.org)
  17. ^ problem with alcohol (alcoholtreatmentguidelines.com.au)
  18. ^ Did you look forward to last night's bottle of wine a bit too much? Ladies, you're not alone (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  20. ^ Trying to cut back on alcohol? Here's what works (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ Daybreak app (hellosundaymorning.org)
  22. ^ SMART Recovery (smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/adele-called-herself-a-borderline-alcoholic-but-is-that-a-real-thing-215987

Mirvac Harbourside

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an onli...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beau...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data anal...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right c...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in t...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is ...

The Times Features

Do kids really need vitamin supplements?

Walk down the health aisle of any supermarket and you’ll see shelves lined with brightly packa...

Why is it so shameful to have missing or damaged teeth?

When your teeth and gums are in good condition, you might not even notice their impact on your...

Australian travellers at risk of ATM fee rip-offs according to new data from Wise

Wise, the global technology company building the smartest way to spend and manage money internat...

Does ‘fasted’ cardio help you lose weight? Here’s the science

Every few years, the concept of fasted exercise training pops up all over social media. Faste...

How Music and Culture Are Shaping Family Road Trips in Australia

School holiday season is here, and Aussies aren’t just hitting the road - they’re following the musi...

The Role of Spinal Physiotherapy in Recovery and Long-Term Wellbeing

Back pain and spinal conditions are among the most common reasons people seek medical support, oft...

Italian Lamb Ragu Recipe: The Best Ragù di Agnello for Pasta

Ciao! It’s Friday night, and the weekend is calling for a little Italian magic. What’s better than t...

It’s OK to use paracetamol in pregnancy. Here’s what the science says about the link with autism

United States President Donald Trump has urged pregnant women[1] to avoid paracetamol except in ...

How much money do you need to be happy? Here’s what the research says

Over the next decade, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire[1]. The Tesla board ...