What Is Alcoholism?

Many individuals think that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same. Even though both concepts are similar and focus on drinking problems, they are not the same. One point, however, is clear: if a "problem drinker" continues abusing alcohol over a long period of time, his or her alcohol abuse can become alcohol addiction.

Also known as alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcohol dependency, alcoholism is a progressive debilitating disease that unlike alcohol abuse, includes the following four symptoms:

1. Craving:  having a strong urge or need to drink.
    
2. Tolerance:  the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to feel a "buzz" or to get "high."
    
3. Physical dependence:  withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, headaches, perspiration, "the shakes," and anxiety when refraining from alcohol.
    
4. Loss of control: an inability to stop drinking after the first drink.

Although alcohol abuse and alcoholism are examples of drinking problems and are similar, it is these four characteristics stated above that differentiate alcohol abuse from alcoholism.

Alcoholism Treatment

As debilitating as alcoholism is, fortunately it can be treated.  The treatment of alcoholism usually involves a combination of counseling and doctor-prescribed medications to help problem drinkers such as alcohol abusers and alcoholics quit drinking.

Although most alcoholics and problem drinkers need professional help to recover from their dependency, research has shown that with support and effective alcoholism treatment, many problem drinkers and alcoholics are able to abstain from drinking and reclaim their lives.

Providing Access to Quality Alcoholism Treatment

Not unlike other diseases and illnesses, alcoholism can be overcome with prevention, quality treatment, and increased research efforts.  By providing more people with a drinking problem with access to effective alcoholic treatment, the costly drain on society and the psychological, physical, and financial burdens alcoholism places on families can be substantially minimized.

Effective Alcoholism Treatment and Related Problems

A review of the recent alcohol abuse and alcoholism literature demonstrates that successful prevention and effective alcoholism treatment programs can lead to significant reductions in child abuse, traffic fatalities, heart disease, unwanted pregnancy, HIV, crime, cancer, and strokes.

Moreover, top quality drug and alcoholism treatment programs improve a person's health, job performance, and quality of life while at the same time reducing family dysfunction, drug abuse, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

When an alcohol dependent individual abruptly quits drinking alcohol, he or she usually experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms.  Alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are basically responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of alcohol to which they have become accustomed.

The Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

There are a number of different techniques currently available for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.  While some of these treatment methodologies use drugs, many, however, do not.  Indeed, according to the current research literature, the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without drugs.

Such types of non-drug detoxification interventions approaches use screening and comprehensive social support throughout the entire withdrawal process.  Other non-drug detoxification programs, additionally, use vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) and proper nutrition and when treating mild withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Therapeutic Medications

Numerous alcoholism researchers and practitioners claim that alcohol dependent individuals who cannot continue their sobriety and individuals who experience severe withdrawal symptoms need to receive therapeutic medications to manage and control their alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Treating Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms With Benzodiazepines

Current alcoholism research shows that the drugs most likely to produce effective results when treating alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are the benzodiazepines.  Examples include the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Serax and Ativan and the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Valium and Librium.

The Use of Doctor Prescribed Medications to Help Prevent A Relapse

Another aspect of alcoholism treatment with therapeutic medications focuses on various doctor prescribed medications such as naltrexone (ReViaT) or disulfiram (Antabuse) that are administered by a doctor to help prevent a person with a drinking problem from returning to drinking after he or she has consumed alcohol and experienced a relapse.

Traditional Alcoholism Treatment Interventions

There are a number of traditional alcoholism treatment approaches that are considered "mainstream" treatment interventions.  The following alcoholism treatment therapies fall into this "traditional" category: Therapeutic Medications, Outpatient Alcoholism Treatment and Counseling, Detoxification, Residential Alcoholism Treatment Programs and Inpatient Alcohol Rehab, Behavioral Treatment, and Family and Marital Counseling.

Alternative Alcoholism Treatment Approaches

Although the findings in the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature are inconclusive, there are a number of alternative alcoholism treatment programs that are becoming more available and widely accepted.  Examples of such "natural" forms of alcoholism treatment include various vitamin and supplement therapies, "Drumming out Drugs" (a form of therapy that employs the use of drumming by clients), and the naturalistic and holistic approaches employed by Traditional Chinese Medicine.  As promising as these alternative treatment approaches have been, more research, however, is needed to assess their effectiveness and to determine if they lead to long-term alcoholism intervention success.

Alcoholism and Depression

It is important to emphasize the fact that alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulant as declared by more than a few people who feel that drinking helps them become more energized and "open up" in social interactions.

It is this fact, however, that may help explain the relatively frequent occurrence of alcoholism and depression in the same person. What is more, but according to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research, when a person displays both alcoholism and depression, it is vital for this problem drinker to get treatment for both of these medical conditions.

What is Alcoholism:  Conclusion

According to the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature, alcoholism is a progressive degenerative disease that includes the following four symptoms: physical dependence, the loss of control, craving, and tolerance. 

Apparently a lot of people think that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same. Even though both center on drinking problems and are similar, perhaps the main difference between the two concepts is that with alcoholism, unlike alcohol abuse, when a problem drinker who is an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking, he or she experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

As unhealthy and destructive as alcoholism is, fortunately it can be treated effectively.  A major factor that determines whether or not alcoholism treatment will be successful, however, revolves around the honesty and the desires of the alcoholic. 

More specifically, alcoholism treatment will be successful only if alcoholics admit that they have a drinking problem, if they accept help, and if they truly want to become sober so that they can overcome their drinking problems.  Once alcoholics come to this point in their disease, they can then receive the most appropriate and effective treatment for their particular drinking situation.

One final note before we close. It is important to emphasize the fact that when the term "alcoholism" is used, this also means "alcohol dependence," "alcohol dependency," or "alcohol addiction."

Extra Information

Finding a quality treatment program can be a difficult process.  This is why we are including the following information.

The following toll-free phone number is a number to a call center/treatment center that we are proudly affiliated with. This treatment facility provides top-quality and professional "holistic" drug and alcohol rehab and counseling that addresses virtually every aspect of the person's life.

There is someone at this phone number 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please call this number if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want some information about quality drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282