Someone you love may be an alcoholic, and you don't even know it. But knowing the symptoms of alcoholism, and the warnings signs people with alcoholism exhibit, will go a long way towards helping you get them the help they need.

Here are some of the most common signs of alcoholism:

Irresponsible behavior. An individual with a drinking problem will begin to behave in ways that are a danger to himself and others. Driving while under the influence of alcohol, physical and mental abuse of a spouse or significant other, getting into fights, putting one's career in jeopardy by missing or coming in late to work are all examples of irresponsible behavior brought on by alcoholism.

About 43% of U.S. adults -- 76 million people -- have been exposed to alcoholism in the family -- they grew up with or married an alcoholic or a problem drinker or had a blood relative who was an alcoholic or problem drinker.

Health problems. The excessive drinking of an alcoholic can lead to some very serious health problems. The alcoholic may experience fatigue, severe headaches, joint pain, anxiety, loss of weight and other potentially serious health issues. And obviously, the long term health consequences of alcohol abuse are well documented and include liver failure and premature death.

Drinking at all hours of the day. An alcoholic is NOT a social drinker, and as such may begin consuming alcohol first thing in the morning, and then continue on (often drinking alone) throughout the day. This symptom of alcoholism is likely to lead to several forms of self-destruction - most prominent among them, losing one's job.

According to the alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics, in 1997, roughly 1.4% of the U.S. population 12 years old and older, namely 3.1 million Americans, received treatment for alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and other alcohol-related problems.  The group of people who received the most treatment was the 26 to 34 year-old group.

Increased tolerance to alcohol. The alcoholic will be able to drink a greater-than-normal amount of alcohol without feeling the effects. They will also have a hard time stopping their drinking "binge" once they have begun - a common signal that their tolerance for alcohol has increased.

Blackouts and memory loss. An alcoholic is likely to drink so much that they experience blackouts - periods where they cannot remember anything about their actions. Memory loss due to alcohol abuse is psychologically damaging and highly self-destructive in nature. Although he personally has no memory of it, the alcoholic may say or do things to friends and family, that leave emotional scars that take a great deal of time to heal.

A person’s environment includes many different influences––from family and friends to socioeconomic status and quality of life in general. Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and parental involvement can greatly influence the course of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction in a person’s life.

Drinking as a response to stress. An alcoholic drinks when life's problems cause him or her stress. If there's a problem at work or at home, a person with a drinking problem will consume more alcohol (relative to how bad the problem is) in an effort to forget about the issue. Therefore, an alcoholic rarely works to solve problems - and instead drinks to escape them.

Breaking promises. The alcoholic commonly breaks promises he makes to family and friends. These broken promises take the form of missing a child's baseball game or not paying back a loan to a friend. But the most common broken promise that comes from an alcoholic is one he makes to himself: that tomorrow he will stop drinking. That he can get his drinking problem under control without assistance.

Research demonstrates that an alcoholic will negatively impact the lives of 4 or 5 other Americans (such as associates, family, and friends) while under the influence of alcohol.

Hallucinations. After excessive drinking, many alcoholics will see things that aren't there. These types of hallucinations can cause psychological damage to the alcoholic and lead to bouts of irrational fear and paranoia. Hallucinations are also prevalent among alcoholics going through withdrawal symptoms as they wait for their next drink.

Continuing to drink after any of the problems above have occurred. The chief symptom of alcoholism is this dreaded behavior. When a person's health is failing because of alcohol abuse, yet they continue to drink. When they have lost their job and their family because of alcohol, but still pick up that glass. This is the downward spiral of alcoholism that has claimed millions of lives around the world.

If drinking alcohol is going to affect your ability to have children, not to mention the negative health consequences that alcohol presents to you who will be having the child, why not simply abstain from drinking alcohol while you are trying to have a child, while you are carrying the child, and while you are breast feeding the child?

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, get them (or yourself) help! See a professional as soon as possible, before the alcoholic harms another person or does irreparable damage to himself.

Scott Briggs contributes articles on alcohol rehab, substance abuse and addictions. For more drug rehab information, visit http://www.rehabinfo.net