General rule of thumb: If you have a gut feeling that someone's drinking/other drug use is problematic/abusive, it probably is.

A social drinker typically:

• Drinks slowly (does not gulp drinks)
• Spaces out drinks (does not drink more than one drink per hour)
• Eats before or while drinking
• Abstains while taking medication
• Never drives during/after drinking
• Knows and obeys laws related to drinking
• Respects nondrinkers.

A problem drinker typically:

• Drinks to get drunk
• Drinks to cope with problems or stressful life events
• Experiences personality changes or mood swings and may become loud, angry, and violent, or reclusive, remote, and withdrawn
• Drinks when she or he should not--before class, before/while driving, before a game
• May have "blackouts"--alcohol induced amnesia--the person has periods of memory loss while drinking and cannot recall what happened though he or she seemed "drunk normal" to people at the time
• Has lower grades than his or her non-drinking and low-risk drinking peers
• Causes other problems--physically or emotionally hurts himself or herself, family, friends, and strangers
• Is defensive and justifies her or his drinking/other drug use
• May drink to "cure a hangover"
• Seems unable to have a good time or to party unless alcohol or other drugs are available
• Hangs out with other people who have similar drinking habits.

An alcoholic:

• Loses control of her or his drinking--experiences an inability to keep promises to self about limiting drinking or other drug use--unable to stop drinking when she or he wants
• Spends much time thinking/talking about drinking and planning when he or she can drink next
• Hides his or her drinking and keeps bottles hidden for quick pick-me-ups
• Denies drinking
• Needs to drink before facing a stressful situation
• Transitions from having hangovers to more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens ("DTs"), which can be fatal
• Has or causes major problems - with classes, friends, family, police.