• Definition

• Stages of Alcoholism

• Signs/Symptoms in the Workplace

Alcoholism can be defined as a disease where alcoholic consumption is at a level that interferes with the person's physical or mental health and negatively impacts social, family, or occupational responsibilities.

• Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and deadly disease that manifests itself with symptoms that affect one physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.

• Denial is its number one symptom.

• The alcoholic is usually the last one to believe he or she has a problem.

• Alcoholism has a ripple effect and affects families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

• Drinking to provide relief from stress and mental fatigue, or to relax

• Increase in Tolerance ***

• Amazed how much they can drink

• Able to drink their friends "under the table”

• Seeking more opportunities for drinking

• Gradual increase in tolerance

• A person begins to depend on alcohol to affect their mood

• Blackouts ***

• Sneaking extra drinks before or during events; gulping the first drink or two; and feelings of guilt

• Alcohol-related incidents

• Fights, DUI/DWI, Hangovers

• Inability to Control Consumption***

• Increased tolerance

Because of increasing tolerance, the person may rarely appear to be drunk.

This stage may continue for a prolonged period of time.

Symptoms include: drinking bolstered with excuses; grandiose and aggressive behavior; persistent remorse; increase in amount and frequency of drinking

•May show up at a party intoxicated

•May recognize they have a problem

• Repeated, failed attempts to control drinking

• Switching alcohol

• Failed promises and resolutions to self and others

• Loss of interests; avoidance of family and friends

• Trouble with money and work

• Problems with the law

• Neglect of food and loss of willpower

• Tremors and early morning drinks

• Beginning of physical deterioration ***

• Stomach ulcers

• Rationalizes and tries to explain away consequences of drinking that accumulate during this stage

• In spite of adverse consequences, drinking continues

Symptoms in this stage include: onset of lengthy intoxications; moral deterioration; impaired thinking; indefinable fears; obsession with drinking; and vague spiritual desires

• Drinking occurs earlier in the day and can go on all day

• Obsessed with drinking

• Physical withdrawal will occur***

• Blackouts Increase

• Continual loss of control

• Decrease in tolerance***

• Loss of friends, job and family

If the alcoholic continues drinking, alcohol will cause the death of the alcoholic either indirectly or directly. From suicide, accidents and related injuries, to direct damage to the body's organs and systems, death will likely be the final outcome of late stage alcoholism.

Alcoholism affects an individual five-fold: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Every alcoholic will suffer from malnutrition. Alcohol in large amounts interferes with thedigestion process and the passage of nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream.

Liver function is damaged, further limiting the conversion of nutrients into a usable form that the body can assimilate. The damaged cells are not receiving the needed nutrients, they cannot repair themselves and the damage continues to worsen.

Nutritional deficiencies cause related health problems to become worse. For example, a vitamin B-1 deficiency common in alcoholics can result in loss of mental alertness and appetite, fatigue, confusion, emotional instability and memory loss.

Heart disease and an increased incidence of mouth and esophageal cancers may have developed by this late stage. Severe forms of withdrawal (DTs) are frequent occurrences in the chronic alcoholic after long years of heavy consumption.

Alcoholism mortality rate - exceeded only by heart disease, stroke and cancer.

• Unexplained or unauthorized absences at work

• Frequent tardiness

• Excessive use of sick leave

• Patterns of absence such as the day after payday or frequent Monday or Friday absences

• Frequent unplanned absences due to "emergencies" (e.g., household repairs, car trouble, family emergencies, legal problems)

• The employee may also be absent from his or her work without explanation or permission for significant periods of time

• Missed deadlines

• Careless or sloppy work or incomplete assignments

• Production quotas not met

• Many excuses for incomplete assignments or missed deadlines

• Faulty analysis

• In jobs requiring long-term projects or detailed analysis, an employee may be able to hide a performance problem for quite some time

• Relationships with co-workers may become strained

• The employee may be belligerent, argumentative, or short-tempered, especially in the mornings or after weekends or holidays

• The employee may become a "loner”

• The employee may also have noticeable financial problems evidenced by borrowing money from other employees or receiving phone calls at work from creditors or collection companies

• Sends late night inflammatory e-mails or text messages to staff

The appearance of being inebriated or under the influence of alcohol might include:

•The smell of alcohol

•Staggering, or an unsteady gait

•Bloodshot eyes

•Smell of alcohol on the breath

• Mood and behavior changes such as excessive laughter and inappropriate loud talk

• Excessive use of mouthwash or breath mints

• Avoidance of supervisory contact, especially after lunch

• Tremors

• Sleeping at work

Not any one of these signs means that an employee is an alcoholic.

However, when there are performance and conduct problems coupled with any number of these signs, it is time to make an appointment and speak to HR.

• HR professionals do not counsel employees regarding substance abuse

• Focus on performance issues

• Refer the employee for professional counseling through EAP

• Respect confidentiality