Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from Equilibrio and more videos in the Alcoholism category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at http://www.howcast.com/filmmakers/apply. Not all alcoholics fit the stereotype of the down-and-out drunk. Learn to recognize the warning signs in yourself or a loved one. To complete this How-To you will need: Reflection Observation skills Honesty Step 1: Weigh the importance of alcohol to you or a loved one. Is there a general preoccupation with drinking, like when, where, and with whom the next round will begin? Is it difficult to stop drinking once it starts, or to stick to a limit? Is a life without drinking impossible to imagine? Step 2: Consider how much alcohol is consumed. Does drinking take place on a daily basis? Is binge drinking — more than five drinks in one sitting — a commonplace event? Do hangovers and blackouts occur frequently? Tip: The compulsion to finish every drink -- and even other people's -- is a red flag. Step 3: Examine the motives for drinking. Using alcohol as a mood enhancer or coping mechanism is common among alcoholics. Step 4: Think about the guilt, if any, associated with drinking. Have there been promises to cut down? Lies told about the amount consumed, or about drinking altogether? Step 5: Measure tolerance for alcohol. Being able to consume a lot of liquor with few signs of intoxication is not a badge of honor; it's a sign of addiction. Step 6: Don't be fooled by the ability to hold down a job. As many as half of the 18 million American alcoholics are considered high-functioning, meaning they can spend years maintaining the facade of a normal life while drinking to excess, until something catastrophic happens. Step 7: If you see these signs in yourself or a loved one, call The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service toll free at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for help. Thanks for watching How To Detect the Signs Of Alcoholism! If you enjoyed this video subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast