Many people wine with dinner or a few beers while watching a game, but for some alcohol use can become alcohol dependence, a disease called alcoholism. According to the National Institutes of Health, those at risk for becoming alcohol dependent include men who have more than 15 drinks a week, women who have more than 12 drinks a week and people who have more than five drinks at a single occasion more than once a week.
Behavioral Changes
When a person becomes addicted to alcohol, you may begin to notice changes in his behavior or personality, especially as it relates to his drinking. People with alcohol dependence spend a lot of time drinking and often have no control over it. They cannot stop drinking when asked and often drink alone or make up reasons to drink. They may become violent when drinking or become agitated or hostile when someone confronts them about their drinking problem, according to the National Institutes of Health. In some cases, they may become secretive in an attempt to hide their drinking from others.
Tolerance
People who are alcohol dependent will need to drink more than they once did to become drunk or reach the desired effects of the alcohol, according to the National Institutes of Health. This tolerance of the effects of alcohol means they can often drink a lot of alcohol before it appears to effect them. In some cases, people may need to drink alcohol to function normally throughout the day.
Physical Symptoms
People who are dependent on alcohol may also develop symptoms that are physically evident or visible. You may notice they are shaky or have tremors in the morning, before they had had their first drink. They may also experience abdominal pain or nausea and vomiting.
Effects on Nervous System
Alcohol is a depressant, which means consuming it can affect the central nervous system. Because alcoholics drink a lot of alcohol, these effects on the nervous system may be evident in the form of less inhibitions or anxiety than normal. People who are alcohol dependent may also be less active than before.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Because people who are alcohol dependent are addicted, they can suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop drinking or if they go too long without a drink, according to the Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are often similar to those of drug withdrawal. Common signs include sweating, nausea, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, mental confusion, rapid hear rate, increased blood pressure, increase in body temperature, restlessness or nervousness and seizures.
