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Blackouts
by Kristin Williams, Aug 28, 2000 12:00AM
Hello. I am a 3rd year college student and I have been "partying" since I was a freshman in high school. I have always been able to control myself when it comes to drinking - that is, I usually can consume a decent amount of alcohol and not get too out of control. I also don't consider myself an alcoholic - I drink when I go out to parties and bars and on special occasions, like any other college student. Lately, within the last 2 years, I have found myself drinking basically the same amount of alcohol as I always have when I go out (usually 5+ drinks) and having "blackout" episodes more frequently. On some occasions I don't think I even drink that much and parts of the previous evening are still blurry. I tend to consume individual drinks pretty quickly, which I have thought might be part of the reason for my frequent blackouts. However, I am now also starting to consider the fact that in high school, during my junior year, I experimented with a lot of drugs, namely methamphedamines, LSD, ecstacy and, of course, marijuana. I am getting very worried - I like to go out and party with my friends, I'm young and I want to have fun. But the fact that my memory is consistently failing me makes me think that I may have a problem or that something is wrong with me and eventually could place me in a dangerous position. Do you have any suggestions? Is this any sign of a significant health/neurologic problem?
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Sincerely,
Lindy.
In my opinion you definately sound like an alcoholic and are rapidly building a tolerance to more alcohol amounts. Blackouts usually continue each time an alcoholic drinks alot once they start.
I have never had any real blackouts but know many alkies who have and they only get worse. You are lucky they have not turned to seizures yet. Seizures are not only from alcohol withdrawal but also from alcohol poisoning, from too much in your system or your system not accepting it well anymore.
Your best bet is to quit now and start attending A.A. meetings to get some help. If you stop drinking abrubptly you may experience withdrawal and not understand what is happening to you. Talk to experienced alcoholics and they can truely help you stop if you follow the program and really want to stop. It's not too late to turn things around.
I hope you find help and chose to leave drugs alone. Try hanging with a new crowd of friends and leave your old crowd of friends alone ( the ones you drink and do drugs with). I drink ocassionaly one or two beers. I have also smoked weed, I now feel that by using drugs keeps you from your goals and dreams. I know I missed out on good job oportunities cause I smoked weed. I haven't smoked for about 6 to 7 months and its cool cause if I need to get a job or advace myself I am clean. As far as drinking is concerned my family has had many former drug addicts and alkoholics. So I have to be very careful what I do cause I don't want to be come one. I hope that you will use the advise to chill out and be clean. Do something productive and don't become a SLAVE to your problems break free!