| The term alcoholism is used to mean | | | | to the illegal use of any substance. |
| various things in different contexts. | | | | Within the broad field of medicine, |
| For common and historical usage, it | | | | abuse sometimes refers to use of |
| refers to any condition that results in | | | | prescribed medication in excess of the |
| continued consumption of alcoholic | | | | prescribed dosage or to use of a |
| beverages despite negative consequenses. | | | | prescription drug without a |
| Medical definitions invariably describe | | | | prescription. Within religion, abuse can |
| alcoholism as a disease and addiction. | | | | refer to any use of a poorly regarded |
| Definitions of alcoholism commonly refer | | | | substance. The term is often avoided |
| to a loss of control over one's alcohol | | | | because it can cause confusion due to |
| consumption, a preoccupation with or | | | | audiences that do not necessarily share |
| compulsion for alcohol, and an impaired | | | | a single definition. |
| ability to recognize the effects of | | | | Dependence also has multiple |
| alcohol consumption. Some definitions | | | | definitions, but is not as commonly used |
| specify a current use of alcohol and | | | | as abuse outside of the medical |
| include the effects of long-term heavy | | | | profession. Physical medicine considers |
| alcohol use, including dependence and | | | | dependence to be the body's physical |
| withdrawal. | | | | adaptation to the persistent presence of |
| While alcohol use is necessary to | | | | alcohol. Psychological medicine |
| develop alcoholism, many people consume | | | | considers dependence to be a person's |
| alcohol without developing alcoholism. | | | | mental reliance upon something to |
| Although the biological mechanism of | | | | maintain their mental status quo. These |
| alcoholism is uncertain, some risk | | | | two are occasionally differentiated as |
| factors for alcoholism have been | | | | physical and psychological dependence. |
| identified. These factors may include a | | | | Within the field of psychiatry, alcohol |
| person's social environment, emotional | | | | dependence is the term referring to |
| health and genetic predisposition. | | | | alcoholism. As a result, a diagnosis of |
| Terminology | | | | alcohol dependence does not necessarily |
| Many terms are applied to a drinker's | | | | indicate the presence of physical |
| relationship with alcohol. Use, misuse, | | | | dependence. |
| heavy use, abuse, addiction, and | | | | The precise definition of addiction is |
| dependence are all common labels used to | | | | debated, but in general it refers to any |
| describe drinking habits, but the actual | | | | condition which causes a person to |
| meaning of these words can vary greatly | | | | continue behaviors demonstrated as |
| depending upon the context in which they | | | | harmful to that person. For alcoholism, |
| are used. Even within the medical field, | | | | that behavior is the consumption of |
| the definition can vary between areas of | | | | alcoholic beverages. Some conditions |
| specialization. The introduction of | | | | which contribute to alcoholism include |
| politics and religion further muddles | | | | physical 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 alcoholic | | | | psychologically or socially. |
| beverage is using alcohol. | | | | Remission is often used to refer to a |
| Misuse, problem use, and heavy use do | | | | state where an alcoholic is no longer |
| not have standard definitions, but | | | | showing symptoms of alcoholism. The |
| suggest consumption of alcohol beyond | | | | American 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 highly | | | | of alcoholism are no longer evident, |
| subjective and therefore differ from | | | | regardless of whether or not the person |
| individual to individual. | | | | is still drinking. They further |
| The term abuse has a variety of possible | | | | subdivide those in remission into early |
| meanings. Within psychiatry, the DSM-IV | | | | or sustained, and partial or full. |
| has a specific definition involving a | | | | Others (most notably Alcoholics |
| set of life circumstances which take | | | | Anonymous) use the term recovery to |
| place because of substance use. Within | | | | describe those who have completely |
| politics, abuse is often used to refer | | | | stopped consumption of alcohol. |