Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeatedly paying negative consequences that are interfering with life functioning.

Symptoms related to Alcoholism:

• Craving
  • A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
• Impaired control
  • The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
• Physical dependence
  • Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
• Tolerance
  • The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Alcoholism runs in families, and genetic factors partially explain this pattern.  A person's environment, such as friends, stress levels, and the ease of obtaining alcohol, also may influence drinking and the development of alcoholism.  A child of an alcoholic parent is not automatically at risk to develop alcoholism, but is at a higher risk.   A person with no family history of alcoholism can become alcohol dependent.

More information on Alcoholism

• Is there a cure for alcoholism?
  • Alcoholism is a treatable disease, this page answers the simple question is there a cure for alcoholism?
• What are the signs of alcoholism?
  • A brief questionnaire that was developed by Dr. John Ewing dives into signs of alcoholism
• Alcoholism Treatment Options
  • Read more about the levels of care that are available to treat alcoholism.
• Alcoholism Therapy
  • Several Therapy options for Alcoholism are explained, such as individual, family therapy, and CES.
• Alcoholism and Teenagers
  • Alcohol consumption during adolescence may cause permanent damage to the certain key areas of the brain. Read more about alcoholism in teenagers
• Treatment Options for Alcoholism in Teenagers
  • Similiar to the treatment options for adults, learn more about how to treat alcoholism in teenager
• Tips for Parents regarding Alcohol
  • Discuss the facts of alcohol and read about other tips for parents regarding alcoholism