Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism)

What Is It?

Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is a long-lasting illness that is characterized by:

• A craving for alcohol

• A physical dependence on alcohol, which means a person develops physical symptoms when he or she stops drinking)

• A continued need for alcohol despite alcohol-related psychological, interpersonal and physical problems

There is no absolute number of drinks per day that indicates a person has alcoholism, although alcoholics do eventually develop tolerance - the gradual need for greater and greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same alcohol effects. There is also no absolute rule that says how frequently a person must drink to be considered an alcoholic. What really defines the illness of alcoholism is dependence - the fact that the patient has come to rely on alcohol psychologically and emotionally in his or her everyday life. Also, the patient's body has come to depend on the presence of alcohol when it performs its normal functions, including chemical reactions in the brain. This means that when alcohol use suddenly stops, the body's accustomed internal environment changes drastically, causing symptoms of withdrawal such as tremors, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, fever, insomnia, hallucinations and seizures.

Alcoholism can be linked to a long list of psychological, interpersonal, social, economic and medical problems. Alcoholism can increase the risk of depression and suicide and play a role in violent crimes, including homicide and crimes of domestic violence (abuse of a spouse or child). It can lead to traffic accidents and even accidents involving intoxicated pedestrians who decide to walk home after drinking. Alcoholism also can lead to unsafe sexual behavior, resulting in accidental pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

Alcohol dependence increases the risk of liver disease (hepatitis and cirrhosis), dangerously irregular heart rhythms ("holiday heart" syndrome), stomach ulcers, brain damage, stroke and other health problems. In pregnant women who drink alcohol, there is also the danger that the child will develop fetal alcohol syndrome, a cluster of health problems including unusually low birth weight, facial abnormalities, heart defects and learning difficulties.