How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in Its Early Stages

Rating:
Summary: Learn to spot the problem before tragedy strikes!
Review: A step-by-step guide to aid the reader in identifying one of the most misunderstood illnesses, alcoholism, Mr. Thorburn takes the reader through the various stages, beginning with identifying the problem, redefining alcoholism, early stage and middle stage clues, using comprehensive case studies and examples. The final and most important chapter for anyone who has a family member, friend or co-worker that is addicted to alcohol, is: `So What Do You Do?" The book includes an in depth chapter on biochemistry which helps explain why alcoholics drink in spite of the social, physical and emotional ramifications.

How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics provides the tools for spotting the signs and aids the reader in making an informed decision to intervene. It provides insight and understanding of the condition, allowing the best possible solutions to avoid tragedy.

Alcoholism has no social or economic boundaries. To be useful, a guide to spotting this problem must be in layman's terms. This book definitely fits within these parameters. Research is without reproach; writing style is simple and concise, all in all an excellent book for people of all walks of life- from professional counselor to family member.

Author and addiction expert, Doug Thorburn is president and founder of the PrevenTragedy Foundation, a non-profit organization. He is one of the world's foremost experts in identifying alcoholism.
Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews

Rating:
Summary: Learn how to recognize early signs of alcoholism
Review: Author Doug Thorburn is not a medical doctor, nor does he have any psychological background that would make him an expert on alcoholics. However, after becoming involved with one he dedicated himself to studying the problem and with the help of several addiction experts has produced this fascinating book. One of the problems with alcoholism is that it has a tendency to not be diagnosed until it is too late and the person has ruined their health and their life. Doug takes the view that by recognizing the behavioral clues we can find the hidden alcoholic while there is still time to prevent tragedy.

The book is divided into three distinct parts. First is a section that redefines alcoholism so that earlier diagnosis and prevention is possible. The second section is a detailed examination of the various clues that point to early-stage alcoholism. The last section discusses middle-stage clues and clues of multiple drug use.

Many of the behavior items listed and detailed are indicative of addictive behavior in general and not necessarily just alcoholism. The primary value in this book is that it is the first one I have seen that is designed for the general public and focuses on the early signs of alcoholism. In fact, many of the professional level books do not deal with recognizing alcoholism at this early stage. "How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics" should be required reading for everyone and especially so for those who deal with counseling others whether in a professional, volunteer, or pastoral capacity.

Rating:
Summary: Don't read this book once, read it twice and THINK!
Review: Doug Thorburn had no understanding of alcoholism before becoming romantically involved with an alcoholic. Professionally, he is an "Enrolled Agent and Certified Financial Planner Licensee."

Deciding to never again go through such a traumatic experience, he began researching and studying the problem. He's never looked back. With the help of experts, Doug Thorburn has authored an informative, easy-to-understand, concise guide on spotting the alcoholic before it's too late.
 
This book should be treated as a "guide" and not as a "bible."  In all honesty, I had a hard time with this book based on the author's background.I hate labels and would rather see them on tin cans than on people. Not every alcoholic displays the same behaviors nor do people who display a particular behavior, are alcoholics. After reading it twice, I have found that the information presented is an accurate description of the behavior patterns exhibited at various stages of alcoholism, particularly the hidden, early stage.
 
Thorburn uses brief, well-organized chapters with many case studies and examples. Taking the reader through the three stages of alcoholism, he describes the behaviors and significance of each stage and, amazingly, explains why the addict acts the way he or she does. The "New Thorburn Addiction Recognition Indicator" is a helpful short-cut that can be profitably used by those suspecting alcoholism in a close person.  The most important chapter is the last, entitled "So What Do You Do?" This book should be required reading for anyone who wants a tool-kit for identifying the alcoholic before becoming romantically or professionally entangled, as well as for those who simply wish to understand alcoholism.

Rating:
Summary: Don't read this book once, read it twice and THINK!
Review: Doug Thorburn had no understanding of alcoholism before becoming romantically involved with an alcoholic. Professionally, he is an "Enrolled Agent and Certified Financial Planner Licensee."

Deciding to never again go through such a traumatic experience, he began researching and studying the problem. He's never looked back. With the help of experts, Doug Thorburn has authored an informative, easy-to-understand, concise guide on spotting the alcoholic before it's too late.
 
This book should be treated as a "guide" and not as a "bible."  In all honesty, I had a hard time with this book based on the author's background.I hate labels and would rather see them on tin cans than on people. Not every alcoholic displays the same behaviors nor do people who display a particular behavior, are alcoholics. After reading it twice, I have found that the information presented is an accurate description of the behavior patterns exhibited at various stages of alcoholism, particularly the hidden, early stage.
 
Thorburn uses brief, well-organized chapters with many case studies and examples. Taking the reader through the three stages of alcoholism, he describes the behaviors and significance of each stage and, amazingly, explains why the addict acts the way he or she does. The "New Thorburn Addiction Recognition Indicator" is a helpful short-cut that can be profitably used by those suspecting alcoholism in a close person.  The most important chapter is the last, entitled "So What Do You Do?" This book should be required reading for anyone who wants a tool-kit for identifying the alcoholic before becoming romantically or professionally entangled, as well as for those who simply wish to understand alcoholism.

Rating:
Summary: Prevent Tragedy
Review: Doug Thorburn has produced his third and perhaps most enlightening work deserving of special praise because "How to Spot Alcoholics" represents a plain English distillation and expansion of certain points originally underscored in his original treatise, "Drunks, Drugs and Debits".

I particularly like this book's organization, brevity, and clarity. The brilliance of this book lies in the accessibility of the information and the provision of a novel explanation that sheds light on one of the most baffling and destructive problems of all: addiction.

In this book, Doug reveals why alcoholism/addiction is so difficult to conquer; and perhaps more importantly from the viewpoint of the non-addict: why it is so difficult to detect the presence of an alcoholic/addict in one's life, especially in early stage addiction.

What I find most remarkable about early stage addiction, is that the addict's drug of choice fuels their ego, transforming some persons into the most charming, eloquent and energetic over-achievers ever seen; and thus, the unsuspecting non-addict is easily drawn into their web and seduced whether the context is political, business, romantic or familial.

Whatever the context, if the association with an alcoholic/addict is a close one, the non-addict is typically rendered dazed and confused and sent spiraling out of control until they experience carnage by betrayal, financial disaster, and/or physical injury and sometimes death unless they are equipped with the tools to detect the warning signs and prevent tragedy.

Doug provides the quintessential tools in "How to Spot Alcoholics" and they are easy to apply. And let me make clear, Doug sees the misbehaviors of the alcoholic/addict as primarily driven by drugs and the physiologically-based addiction to those drugs. Without the drugs giving rise to destructive behaviors, the person is inherently good. So from this standpoint, Doug also compassionately redeems the positive potential residing within the addict.

Being that alcoholics/addicts comprise approximately 10 percent of the population in every walk of life, and likely directly affect another 20-30 percent, I highly recommend this book to all. I found Doug's hypotheses/conclusions intuitively accurate, extremely helpful and very refreshing. For those who wish to delve deeper, also pick up Doug's seminal work, "Drunks, Drugs and Debits".

-W Chris Van Duyne, Esq.

Rating:
Summary: Prevent Tragedy
Review: Doug Thorburn has produced his third and perhaps most enlightening work deserving of special praise because "How to Spot Alcoholics" represents a plain English distillation and expansion of certain points originally underscored in his original treatise, "Drunks, Drugs and Debits".

I particularly like this book's organization, brevity, and clarity. The brilliance of this book lies in the accessibility of the information and the provision of a novel explanation that sheds light on one of the most baffling and destructive problems of all: addiction.

In this book, Doug reveals why alcoholism/addiction is so difficult to conquer; and perhaps more importantly from the viewpoint of the non-addict: why it is so difficult to detect the presence of an alcoholic/addict in one's life, especially in early stage addiction.

What I find most remarkable about early stage addiction, is that the addict's drug of choice fuels their ego, transforming some persons into the most charming, eloquent and energetic over-achievers ever seen; and thus, the unsuspecting non-addict is easily drawn into their web and seduced whether the context is political, business, romantic or familial.

Whatever the context, if the association with an alcoholic/addict is a close one, the non-addict is typically rendered dazed and confused and sent spiraling out of control until they experience carnage by betrayal, financial disaster, and/or physical injury and sometimes death unless they are equipped with the tools to detect the warning signs and prevent tragedy.

Doug provides the quintessential tools in "How to Spot Alcoholics" and they are easy to apply. And let me make clear, Doug sees the misbehaviors of the alcoholic/addict as primarily driven by drugs and the physiologically-based addiction to those drugs. Without the drugs giving rise to destructive behaviors, the person is inherently good. So from this standpoint, Doug also compassionately redeems the positive potential residing within the addict.

Being that alcoholics/addicts comprise approximately 10 percent of the population in every walk of life, and likely directly affect another 20-30 percent, I highly recommend this book to all. I found Doug's hypotheses/conclusions intuitively accurate, extremely helpful and very refreshing. For those who wish to delve deeper, also pick up Doug's seminal work, "Drunks, Drugs and Debits".

-W Chris Van Duyne, Esq.

Rating:
Summary: Hot to Spot Hidden Alcoholics
Review: Doug Thorburn's book, `How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics', makes us stop and think about the behavior of those around us and what it means. Alcoholics are often diagnosed when it's too late and the lives of the alcoholic, family and others have been negatively affected, with sometimes deadly consequences. Thorburn provides essential clues that help us spot likely dangers early. In many if not most cases, psychiatrists, physicians and other health-care professionals miss alcoholism as the underlying problem and misdiagnose, confusing symptoms with disease. I would have avoided a tumultuous marriage and divorce had I known the clues; I now have the tools with which to prevent future similar ordeals. Thank you, Doug Thorburn, from the bottom of my heart for your amazing and invaluable insights.



Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading!
Review: This book is filled with pertinent, easily understood and astounding truths about the disease of alcoholism and its impact on all of our lives. The knowledge gained by reading this book willl allow the reader to quickly spot behavioral clues so as to avoid relationships with thlose people who are dependent on alcohol BEFORE their own lives are negatively affected. Too bad we can't teach this book in middle school classrooms. A GREAT READ!!!