What’s Alcoholism?

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Alcoholism can be defined in several ways. As defined as addiction by the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), it is characterized by at least three of the following symptoms that have lasted for a year or more:
Increased tolerance to alcohol
Withdrawal symptoms if you stop using alcohol
Drinking more alcohol than intended on a regular basis
Inability or desire to control use
Excessive time spent obtaining or figuring out how to obtain alcohol, either using alcohol or recovering from its use
Continued use despite negative physical and psychological consequences
Decreased ability to function socially or previous level of recreational or occupational activities.

There is quite a bit of debate as to whether alcoholism is technically a “disease” or an addiction. Also there are numerous explanations for the cause. It is known that some alcoholics appear to have a genetic attraction to the condition; however not all people with these genes show it. However, if you have a lot of family history of alcoholism, it may be prudent not to consume alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol could make you more prone to addiction.

In general, the addiction created by alcoholism tends to gradually cause problems in the alcoholic’s personal, social and work life. In most cases, these problems alone cannot help the alcoholic stop drinking, a sure sign of alcoholism. In fact, many recovering alcoholics believe that most alcoholics need to hit extreme “rock bottom” before they can commit to sobriety.

Also, excessive drinking is essentially poisoning the body. Alcoholics risk destroying the kidneys, liver and numerous components of heart disease when they continue to drink. Alcoholism remains a major health concern in the United States, where an estimated $170 billion US dollars (USD) annually is spent on alcohol-related health problems. There is also the collateral damage of alcoholic behavior. A drunk driver, a pregnant alcoholic, or a spouse who becomes abusive because of alcohol, risks destroying not only himself, but others as well.

There are many different treatment modalities for alcoholism, and some are more successful than others. Recently, some alcoholics have preferred to participate in modified drinking programs. However, these programs are new and probably not as effective as complete abstinence. The theory behind their lack of success for many is that each drink reduces judgment, making it more likely that the alcoholic will exceed previously set limits.

Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have been successful for many, but AA has its detractors. In particular, some alcoholics felt that taking any psychiatric medicine was considered “cheating.” Some AA programs are now labeled “dual diagnosis” programs. They deal with the person’s alcoholism and other substantial mental illnesses at the same time. These have often proven effective for those who have become alcoholics to mask the symptoms of significant mental illness.

Others use a combination of psychological and drug therapy. Some drugs create aversion to alcohol or block the body’s pleasure by releasing the hormonal response to alcohol. The latter may over time help the drinker quit, because there are no mental rewards to be had from continuing to drink. The former can help you stop drinking because they cause serious illness if you drink. However, these drugs can be physically dangerous to use if the alcoholic continues to drink.

Regardless of the program one uses to stop alcoholism, all true alcoholics are at extreme health risk when they first stop drinking. Severe alcoholics experience delirium tremens, which can cause life-threatening seizures during the first day up to several days after they stop drinking. Therefore, stopping drinking should be done under the guidance of medical professionals, who can help administer drug therapy that prevents seizures.

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