Alcohol dependence and alcoholism are other names for alcohol addiction. The initial consequences of alcohol abuse tend to be mild and intermittent. Continued alcohol exposure builds tolerance, and the alcoholic may deny that drinking is causing his problems. Eventually, alcohol's effects may lead to serious health and social problems.
History
Alcohol dependence has been recognized as a disease, with characteristically progressive signs and symptoms, by the American Medical Association since 1956. In 1976, psychiatrists Griffith Edwards of England and Milton Gross of the United States collaborated to formed a clinical picture of alcoholism called alcohol dependence syndrome. The work focused primarily on tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, and was published that year in the "British Medical Journal." According to an April 2003 article in "American Family Physician," continued use of alcohol, despite compelling medical or social consequences, constitutes addiction.
Significance
A disease definition of alcohol addiction has medical, social and treatment significance. People with a disease are not at fault, although each is responsible for his own recovery by being compliant with treatment recommendations. Family members are able to get help by learning about the disease, and how they can support the alcoholic in a continuing program of recovery. Treatment may include counseling and self-help, with or without medications.
Features
The National Institutes of Health lists some of the main features of alcohol addiction: strong cravings or a need to drink, not being able to stop after the first drink, physical dependence as evidenced by withdrawal symptoms and a tolerance to larger and larger amounts of alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms may be mild or severe, depending on the degree of addiction, and may include shakiness, clammy skin, nausea, muscle cramps, ringing in the ears and nervousness.
Identification
The New York Times reports that experts have developed several questionnaires to help professionals screen for signs of alcohol dependence. One, the CAGE test, is an acronym for four questions meant to assess whether or not the patient has ever felt the need to cut down on drinking, gotten angry because of another's remarks about his drinking, experienced guilt about drinking, and had alcohol as an eye-opener first thing in the morning. Answering yes to two questions indicates a risk for alcohol dependence.
Amounts
A diagnosis of alcohol dependency may apply to people who regularly exceed the American Society of Addiction Medicine's parameters for moderate drinking. By this definition, men who ingest more than 14 drinks per week or more than four drinks per occasion may warrant a positive diagnosis. Because of the way the female body disperses and eliminates alcohol, women are allowed only seven drinks per week or three per occasion before they would receive a diagnosis of alcohol dependency. A drink is approximately 12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits, according to the American Heart Association.
References
- "British Medical Journal," Alcohol Dependence: Provisional Description of a Clinical Syndrome, G. Edwards and M.M. Gross; May 1, 1976
- "American Family Physician," Recognition of Alcohol and Substance Abusel D Mersy; April 1, 2003
- Medline Plus: Alcoholism
- The New York Times: Alcoholism
- American Heart Association: Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease
