What is Alcoholism?

As defined by the American Medical Association, alcoholism is a "primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations." Before sufficient medical research was performed, alcoholism was not considered to be a disease, but rather a lack of will power on behalf of the alcoholic. There came to be a social stigma associated with alcohol abuse and people with alcohol addictions were deemed to lack good moral fiber. However, medical researchers have now determined that alcoholism is indeed a disease just like cancer or diabetes, and it should be treated as such. There are many different alcohol treatment options available today, and recovery is possible when people commit to and work through the programs.

There are many different factors that influence one's likelihood to become an alcoholic at some point in their life. There are both physical and mental characteristics that should be taken into account, and certain people have a higher chance of having alcoholism abuse problems in their life than others. According to the World Health Organization, there are roughly 140 million alcoholics worldwide, and about 10 percent of the American population suffers from the disease of alcoholism.

Circumstances such as social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnicity and gender all play a part in how likely someone is to become an alcoholic. Those who are constantly surrounded by alcohol or people that are always drinking will have a higher chance of having alcohol problems themselves. Studies have also shown that people with high-stress jobs also drink more alcohol. Genetics has a lot to do with alcoholism. If your family has a history of heavy drinking, unfortunately you are predisposed to have these problems as well. Not to say that everyone who has alcoholic parents or grandparents will turn into an alcoholic themselves, but the chances are higher. Certain ethnicities also have higher rates of alcoholism, and research has shown that more men are alcoholics than women.

But what makes an alcoholic? And what is the difference between someone who simply drinks a lot and a full-blown alcoholic? This is somewhat of a blurred line, kind of like the one that someone who has had too much to drink might see. Even if someone only drinks on the weekends but still consumes massive amounts of alcohol, they might still be an alcoholic. Some of the telltale signs of alcoholism include an extended period of frequent and heavy alcohol consumption, the inability to stop drinking once you have started, withdrawal symptoms when coming down from alcohol, the need to drink more and more (building up a tolerance) to achieved the desired effect of alcohol, and social, legal and family or relationship problems resulting from alcohol abuse. If you or someone you know exhibits one or more of these symptoms, visiting a drug and alcohol therapist or counselor may be a good idea in order to regain control.

Having alcohol withdrawal syndrome when you do not have alcohol in your system is one of the major indicators of alcoholism. Symptoms of withdrawal are much more than the normal hangover sensations such as headache, nausea and fatigue. Withdrawal includes symptoms such as shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and sweating. Severe withdrawal can be deadly due to cardiac arrest or stroke. Anyone experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, or convulsion should immediately seek medical attention. Alcoholism is a deadly disease, and it kills millions of people every year. Knowledge is the best way to prevent people from falling into the trap of alcoholism, and educating the youth about the dangers of alcohol abuse will hopefully keep them from getting involved into this vicious cycle.