Helping people addicted to alcohol


What is alcoholism

The term alcoholism is used to meanto the illegal use of any substance.
various things in different contexts.Within the broad field of medicine,
For common and historical usage, itabuse sometimes refers to use of
refers to any condition that results inprescribed medication in excess of the
continued consumption of alcoholicprescribed dosage or to use of a
beverages despite negative consequenses.prescription drug without a
Medical definitions invariably describeprescription. Within religion, abuse can
alcoholism as a disease and addiction.refer to any use of a poorly regarded
Definitions of alcoholism commonly refersubstance. The term is often avoided
to a loss of control over one's alcoholbecause it can cause confusion due to
consumption, a preoccupation with oraudiences that do not necessarily share
compulsion for alcohol, and an impaireda single definition.
ability to recognize the effects ofDependence also has multiple
alcohol consumption. Some definitionsdefinitions, but is not as commonly used
specify a current use of alcohol andas abuse outside of the medical
include the effects of long-term heavyprofession. Physical medicine considers
alcohol use, including dependence anddependence to be the body's physical
withdrawal.adaptation to the persistent presence of
While alcohol use is necessary toalcohol. Psychological medicine
develop alcoholism, many people consumeconsiders dependence to be a person's
alcohol without developing alcoholism.mental reliance upon something to
Although the biological mechanism ofmaintain their mental status quo. These
alcoholism is uncertain, some risktwo are occasionally differentiated as
factors for alcoholism have beenphysical and psychological dependence.
identified. These factors may include aWithin the field of psychiatry, alcohol
person's social environment, emotionaldependence is the term referring to
health and genetic predisposition.alcoholism. As a result, a diagnosis of
Terminologyalcohol dependence does not necessarily
Many terms are applied to a drinker'sindicate the presence of physical
relationship with alcohol. Use, misuse,dependence.
heavy use, abuse, addiction, andThe precise definition of addiction is
dependence are all common labels used todebated, but in general it refers to any
describe drinking habits, but the actualcondition which causes a person to
meaning of these words can vary greatlycontinue behaviors demonstrated as
depending upon the context in which theyharmful to that person. For alcoholism,
are used. Even within the medical field,that behavior is the consumption of
the definition can vary between areas ofalcoholic beverages. Some conditions
specialization. The introduction ofwhich contribute to alcoholism include
politics and religion further muddlesphysical dependence, neurochemical
the issue and exacerbates ambiguity.conditioning, and a person's perception
Use refers to simple use of a substance.that alcohol benefits them
An individual who drinks any alcoholicpsychologically or socially.
beverage is using alcohol.Remission is often used to refer to a
Misuse, problem use, and heavy use dostate where an alcoholic is no longer
not have standard definitions, butshowing symptoms of alcoholism. The
suggest consumption of alcohol beyondAmerican Psychiatric Association
the point where it causes physical,considers remission to be a condition
social, or moral harm to the drinker.where the physical and mental symptoms
Social and moral harm are highlyof alcoholism are no longer evident,
subjective and therefore differ fromregardless of whether or not the person
individual to individual.is still drinking. They further
The term abuse has a variety of possiblesubdivide those in remission into early
meanings. Within psychiatry, the DSM-IVor sustained, and partial or full.
has a specific definition involving aOthers (most notably Alcoholics
set of life circumstances which takeAnonymous) use the term recovery to
place because of substance use. Withindescribe those who have completely
politics, abuse is often used to referstopped consumption of alcohol.



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