Alcoholism Facts
Introduction
For many
people, the facts about alcoholism are not clear. What is
alcoholism, exactly? How does it differ from alcohol abuse?
When should a person seek help for a problem related to his
or her drinking? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) has prepared this booklet to help
individuals and families answer these and other common
questions about alcohol problems. The following information
explains both alcoholism and alcohol abuse, the symptoms of
each, when and where to seek help, treatment choices, and
additional helpful resources.
A Widespread Problem
For most people who drink,
alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities.
Moderate alcohol use-up to two drinks per day for men and
one drink per day for women and older people-is not harmful
for most adults. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or
can of either beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of
wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)
Nonetheless, a large number of people get into serious
trouble because of their drinking. Currently, nearly 14
million Americans-1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are
alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky
drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. These patterns
include binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular
basis. In addition, 53 percent of men and women in the
United States report that one or more of their close
relatives have a drinking problem.
The consequences of alcohol
misuse are serious-in many cases, life threatening. Heavy
drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers,
especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx
(voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis,
immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus
during pregnancy. In addition, drinking increases the risk
of death from automobile crashes as well as recreational and
on-the-job injuries. Furthermore, both homicides and
suicides are more likely to be committed by persons who have
been drinking. In purely economic terms, alcohol-related
problems cost society approximately $185 billion per year.
In human terms, the costs cannot be calculated.
What Is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as
"alcohol dependence," is a disease that includes four
symptoms:
- Craving: A strong need,
or compulsion, to drink.
- Loss of control: The
inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
- Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when
alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
- Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high."
People who are not alcoholic
sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic can't just "use
a little willpower" to stop drinking. However, alcoholism
has little to do with willpower. Alcoholics are in the grip
of a powerful "craving," or uncontrollable need, for alcohol
that overrides their ability to stop drinking. This need can
be as strong as the need for food or water.
Although some people are able to
recover from alcoholism without help, the majority of
alcoholics need assistance. With treatment and support, many
individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their
lives.
Many people wonder why some
individuals can use alcohol without problems but others
cannot. One important reason has to do with genetics.
Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member
makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may
develop alcoholism. Genes, however, are not the whole story.
In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in a
person's environment influence whether a person with a
genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. A
person's risk for developing alcoholism can increase based
on the person's environment, including where and how he or
she lives; family, friends, and culture; peer pressure; and
even how easy it is to get alcohol.
What is Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol abuse differs from
alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong
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 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
- 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.
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