Toranfield House

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a disabling addictive disorder. It is characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative effects on the individual’s health, relationships, and social standing. Like other drug addictions, alcoholism is medically defined as a treatable disease.

Alcoholism, which is also known as 'alcohol dependence syndrome,' is characterized by the following elements:

	Craving: A strong need or compulsion to drink.
	Loss of control: The frequent inability to stop drinking once a person has begun.
	Physical dependence: The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. These symptoms are usually relieved by drinking alcohol or by taking another sedative drug.
	Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high.'

Alcoholism can be defined in several ways. When defined as "alcohol dependence" by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), alcoholism is characterized by at least three of the following symptoms that last for a year or longer:

	Greater tolerance to alcohol
	Withdrawal symptoms if alcohol use stops
	Drinking more alcohol than intended regularly
	Inability or lack of desire to control use
	Excessive time spent obtaining or figuring out how to obtain alcohol, using alcohol or recovering from its use
	Continued use despite negative physical and psychological consequences
	Reduction in ability to function socially or in previous level of recreational or work activities

Progressive Disease

Compounding the problem is the progressive nature of the disease. Long-term alcohol abuse produces physiological changes in the brain such as tolerance and physical dependence. Such brain chemistry changes maintain the alcoholic's compulsive inability to stop drinking and result in 'alcohol withdrawal syndrome' upon discontinuation of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, including the brain. Because of the toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse, the abuzer risks suffering a range of medical and psychiatric disorders. Alcoholism has profound social consequences for sufferers, for the people in their lives and for society in general as a whole.

Causes, risk factors, incidence

Alcoholism is a type of drug addiction. There is both physical and mental dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism is divided into 2 categories: dependence and abuse.

Physical dependence:

	A need for increasing amounts of alcohol to get drunk or achieve the desired effect (tolerance)
	Alcohol-related illnesses
	Memory lapses (blackouts) after drinking episodes
	Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped

The most severe drinking behaviour includes long drinking binges that lead to mental or physical problems. Some people are able to gain control over their dependence early in the disease’s progression before they 'cross through the looking glass' and completely lose control. But no one can know which heavy drinkers will cross over from abuse to dependence.

There is no known common cause of alcoholism. However, several factors may play a role in its development. A person who has an alcoholic parent is more likely to become an alcoholic than a person without alcoholism in the immediate family.

Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes or how they work is not yet known.

Psychological risk factors may include:

	A need for anxiety relief
	Conflict in relationships
	Depression
	Low self-esteem

Social risk factors may include:

	Ease of getting alcohol
	Peer pressure
	Social acceptance of alcohol use
	Stressful lifestyle

The incidence of alcohol intake and related problems is rising. A study conducted by the World Health Organization indicates the following percentage of the populations could be diagnosed as alcohol dependent:

Country	% of Problem Drinkers	% Diagnosable as Alcohol Dependent
		Male Drinkers	Female Drinkers
United States	15%	10.8%	4.6%
Canada	20%	14%	4.5%
United Kingdom	38%	7.5%	2.1%
Ireland	47%	9.25%	5.1%

Myths about Alcoholism

MYTH: Addiction to alcohol is often psychological.

REALITY: Addiction to alcohol is primarily physiological. Alcoholics become addicted because their bodies are physiologically incapable of processing alcohol normally.

MYTH: An alcoholic has to want to be helped.

REALITY: Most drinking alcoholics do not want to be helped. They are sick, unable to think rationally, and incapable of giving up alcohol by themselves. Most recovered alcoholics were forced into treatment against their will. Self-motivation usually occurs during treatment, not before.

MYTH: All sorts of social problems - marriage problems, a death in the family, job stress - may cause alcoholism.

REALITY: As with psychological and emotional problems, alcoholics experience all the social pressures everyone else does, but their ability to cope is undermined by the disease and the problems get worse.

MYTH: When the alcoholic is drinking, he reveals his true personality.

REALITY: Alcohol's effect on the brain causes severe psychological and emotional distortions of the normal personality. Sobriety reveals the person's true personality.

MYTH: The fact that alcoholics often continue to be depressed, anxious, irritable, and unhappy after they stop drinking is evidence that their disease is caused by psychological problems.

REALITY: Alcoholics who continue to be depressed, anxious, irritable, and unhappy after they stop drinking are actually suffering from a phenomenon called 'the protracted withdrawal syndrome.' The physical damage caused by years of excessive drinking has not been completely reversed. They are, in fact, still sick and in need of effective therapy.

MYTH: If people would only drink responsibly, they would not become alcoholics.

REALITY: Many responsible drinkers become alcoholics. It is the nature of the disease - not the individual - that they may then begin to drink irresponsibly.

MYTH: Some alcoholics can learn to drink normally and can continue to drink with no ill effects as long as they limit the amount.

REALITY: Alcoholics can never safely return to drinking, because drinking in any amount will sooner or later reactivate their addiction.

MYTH: Tranquilizers and sedatives are sometimes useful in treating alcoholics.

REALITY: Tranquilizers and sedatives are useful only during the acute withdrawal period. Beyond that, these substitute drugs are destructive and, in many cases, deadly for alcoholics.

MYTH: I can quit by myself

While some people are able to recover without help, the majority of sufferers need outside assistance to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.

Are you looking for help?

If you, or someone you care about, are suffering from addiction, be assured that you are not suffering alone. Reach out to someone you trust, and ask for help.

When you are ready, we are here to help you rebuild your life.

Contact us today

+353 (0)1 276 1000 (Ireland)	1 866 558 0518 (USA)

0800 051 8858 (UK)	1 877 492 4503 (CAN)