What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol. Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a debilitating and progressive condition, consisting of physical dependency and psychological compulsion.

It is incurable, but its progress can be halted and managed, with the right kind of help.

The American Medical Association published this definition of alcoholism:

"Alcoholism is a primary chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, mostly denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic."

The causes of alcoholism and dependence are complex, but the old-fashioned idea that alcoholism is a result of moral or ethical weakness is widely discredited. Alcoholism is a disease.

Regular and Binge Drinking

There are two main patterns of alcohol abuse: regular and binge.

The regular abuser drinks every day. The binge drinker rarely sees themself as an alcoholic because they often go for days or even weeks without touching alcohol. However once they start drinking they cannot stop.

As the liver adapts to the destruction by alcohol, the person needs more to achieve the same level of intoxication, the next step may be drinking in private, in secret, drinking alone at any time of the day and night.

As the drinking increases the person wakes feeling jittery and vulnerable and will have alcohol instead of breakfast to calm the nerves. Sudden withdrawal can cause sweating, anxiety and trembling and in extreme cases fits and delirium.

Getting someone to admit he or she has a drinking problem can be extremely difficult and presents the greatest challenges. Alcoholism is made far more difficult to treat because social drinking is found everywhere.

Other information about alcoholism:

• Alcoholism Treatment at Lynwode Manor
• 12 Step Programme
• Alcoholism Family Counselling
• Signs of Alcoholism
• Physical Effects of Alcoholism
• Alcoholism in the Workplace
• Alcohol Facts and Figures