Alcoholism, Alcohol Addiction and
Alcohol Abuse

There are many facts about alcoholism, alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse that are not clear to most people. What exactly is alcoholism? Are alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction the same? How does alcoholism differ from alcohol abuse? When should a person seek alcohol rehab for a problem related to his or her drinking?

The following information explains alcoholism, alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, the symptoms of each, when and where to seek alcohol rehab, alcohol rehab and alcohol treatment choices, and additional helpful resources.

What Is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism, also known as “alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction” is a disease that has as its base, four definitive symptoms:

         a.   Craving: An intense desire or compulsion to drink alcohol.
         b.   Loss of control: The inability to manage one’s drinking alcohol on any given occasion.
         c.   Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and          anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
         d.   Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to experience the same          effect

Yes, alcoholism is a disease. This has been established by the American Medical Association. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.

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 genetics, environment and lifestyle.

Is alcoholism inherited?

Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Currently, researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is are also factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism.

But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.

Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just as harmful. A person can abuse alcohol without actually being an alcoholic--that is, he or she may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school, or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous--for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.

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.

What Is Alcohol Abuse?

It is estimated that between 12 and 14 million adults in the U.S. suffer from alcohol abuse or are chronic alcoholics. Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year as a result of alcohol abuse and alcohol is a factor in more than half of the country's homicides, suicides, and traffic accidents. Alcohol abuse also plays a role in many social and domestic problems, from job absenteeism and crimes against property to spousal and child abuse.

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely intense 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 alcohol 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; and
• Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking.

Although alcohol abuse is basically different from alcoholism, many effects of alcohol abuse are also experienced by alcoholics.

What Are the Signs of an Alcohol Abuse Problem?

a.   How can you tell whether you may have a drinking problem?
b.   Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
c.   Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
d.   Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
e.   Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (as an “eye opener”) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

One “yes” answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. If you answered “yes” to more than one question, it is highly likely that a problem exists. If this is the case, we recommend that you meet with someone who specializes in the treatment of alcoholism so you can talk about a professional evaluation or seek out an alcohol rehab program for treatment or referral.

Alcoholism Treatment, Alcohol Rehab

The type of alcoholism treatment you receive depends on the severity of your alcoholism and your resources. Generally speaking most people who are dependent on alcohol will require alcohol detox and a stay in an alcohol rehab program.  

Alcohol detox, usually takes place within an alcohol rehab in a medically monitored detox unit. Detox, is the process by which all withdrawal symptoms are medically managed as alcohol use is discontinued. During detox, medications are prescribed to make the patient more comfortable and detox can take between five and seven days depending upon the extent of one’s alcoholism.
If a person is using drugs in conjunction with alcohol, detox may take a little longer and can be a bit more complicated. This being the case, it is imperative that you provide the alcohol rehab program with exact information upon entering detox.

Alcohol rehab or rehab, generally follows alcohol detox and is a combination of group, individual, educational and family therapy. Most people remain in an alcohol rehab program for several weeks in an attempt to resolve many of the feelings they drank over. While in alcohol rehab, each patient is generally seen by a psychiatrist  to rule out or address the possibility of any mental illness. The combination of alcohol addiction and a mental illness is termed dual diagnosis.

For those persons not in need of an alcohol rehab, such as those who may suffer from alcohol abuse rather than alcohol dependence, outpatient alcohol treatment programs are available. Understand, that not everyone is appropriate for an out patient alcohol treatment program and looking to take the “easier, softer way”, can result in repeated relapse and a chronic alcoholic condition, called alcoholism. A professional alcohol assessment should be sought.

Yes, 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.