How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem?

Sometimes it's tough to tell. But here are some signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol: Some people think that problem drinkers are everyday drinkers, disheveled, fiends, poor and homeless. This is just not true. Anyone can have a problem with alcohol regardless of their race, sex or age whether they're rich or poor. They may seem like everybody else but:

• Getting drunk on a regular basis, every weekend would be regular
• Remember the drinking age is still 21 in New Jersey
• Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
• Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun; you can tell if you are at a party or hanging out and there is some drinking going on. When the alcohol is gone people start leaving alcohol gone, party over
• Having frequent hangovers or unexplained bruises
• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even self destructive
• Their personality seems to drastically change; causing concern, verbal confrontations, physical altercations or escalating drama
• Having "blackouts"--forgetting what he or she did while drinking
• They may be extremely defensive if you questioned them about their drinking or what happened to them

If you have any questions see
your counselor for a confidential conversation