Definition

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a chronic disease, characterized by the consumption of alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical and mental health and with family and social responsibilities. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious health, family or legal problems. Alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse.

Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime. It usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities
Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk
Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking


Although alcohol abuse is basically different from alcoholism, alcoholics also experience many effects of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States—1 in every 13 adults—abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age—for example, at age 14 or younger—greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.

Alcohol's effects do vary with age. Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing, and a lower tolerance to alcohol's effects put older people at higher risk for falls, car crashes, and other types of injuries that may result from drinking. Older people also tend to take more medications than younger people. Mixing alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medications can be very dangerous, even fatal. More than 150 medications interact harmfully with alcohol.

Alcohol affects women differently than men. Women become more impaired than men do after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account. This is because women's bodies have less water than men's bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman's body than in a man's. In other words, it would be like dropping the same amount of alcohol into a much smaller pail of water. That is why the recommended drinking limit for women is lower than for men.

In addition, chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men. Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain, heart, and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.

Symptoms

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes four symptoms:

Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink
Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion
Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking
Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high”

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

People who abuse alcohol can identify if they have a drinking problem if they have:

Considered reducing the amount of alcohol consumed
Become annoyed by criticism of drinking behavior
Experienced guilty feelings about drinking behavior
A drink first thing in the morning (as an “eye opener”) in order to get rid of a hangover or to steady their nerves.
Solitary drinking
Secretive about drinking behavior

One “yes” answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. A “yes” to more than one question indicates that it is highly likely a problem exists. In either case, it is important to consult a doctor or other health care provider right away to discuss these responses. He or she can help you determine if they have a drinking problem and, if so, recommend the best course of action.

Even if you answered “no” to all of the above questions, if you encounter drinking-related problems with your job, relationships, health, or the law, you should seek professional help. The effects of alcohol abuse can be extremely serious — even fatal — both to you and to others

Provided by Psychology Today