Alcoholism is drinking alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities.

Alcoholism is a type of drug addiction. There is both physical and mental dependence on alcohol.

Alcoholism is divided into 2 categories: dependence and abuse. People who are dependent on alcohol spend a great deal of time drinking alcohol, and getting it.

Physical dependence involves:

• A need for increasing amounts of alcohol to get drunk or achieve the desired effect (tolerance)
• Alcohol-related illnesses
• Memory lapses (blackouts) after drinking episodes
• Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped

The most severe drinking behavior includes long drinking binges that lead to mental or physical problems. Some people are able to gain control over their dependence in earlier phases before they totally lose control. But no one knows which heavy drinkers will be able to regain control and which will not.

There is no known common cause of alcoholism. However, several factors may play a role in its development. A person who has an alcoholic parent is more likely to become an alcoholic than a person without alcoholism in the immediate family.

Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes or how they work is not known.

Psychological factors may include:

• A need for anxiety relief
• Conflict in relationships
• Depression
• Low self-esteem

Social factors include:

• Ease of getting alcohol
• Peer pressure
• Social acceptance of alcohol use
• Stressful lifestyle

The incidence of alcohol intake and related problems is rising. Data indicate that about 15% of people in the United States are problem drinkers, and about 5% to 10% of male drinkers and 3% to 5% of female drinkers could be diagnosed as alcohol dependent.

Alcohol affects the central nervous system as a depressant. This leads to a decrease in:

• Activity
• Anxiety
• Inhibitions
• Tension

Even a few drinks can change behavior, slow motor skills, and decrease the ability to think clearly. It can impair concentration and judgment. Drinking a lot of alcohol can cause drunkenness (intoxication).

Some of the symptoms of alcoholism include:

• Abdominal pain
• Confusion
• Drinking alone
• Episodes of violence with drinking
• Hostility when confronted about drinking
• Lack of control over drinking -- being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake
• Making excuses to drink
• Nausea and vomiting
• Need for daily or regular alcohol use to function
• Neglecting to eat
• Not caring for physical appearance
• Numbness and tingling
• Secretive behavior to hide alcohol use
• Shaking in the morning

Alcohol withdrawal develops because the brain adapts to the alcohol and cannot function well without the drug. Symptoms of withdrawal may include:

• Anxiety
• Confusion or seeing and hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
• Death (rarely)
• Increased blood pressure
• Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Psychosis
• Raised temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Restlessness or nervousness
• Seizures
• Tremors

Men who have 15 or more drinks a week, women who have 12 or more drinks a week, or anyone who has 5 or more drinks per occasion at least once a week are all at risk for developing alcoholism. (One drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor).

All doctors should ask their patients about their drinking. The health care provider can get a history from the family if the affected person is unwilling or unable to answer questions. A physical examination is done to identify physical problems related to alcohol use.

The following questions are used by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to screen for alcohol abuse or dependence:

• Do you ever drive when you have been drinking?
• Do you have to drink more than before to get drunk or feel the desired effect?
• Have you felt that you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have you ever had any blackouts after drinking?
• Have you ever missed work or lost a job because of drinking?
• Is someone in your family worried about your drinking?

Tests for alcohol abuse include:

• A toxicology screen or blood alcohol level (this can tell whether someone has recently been drinking alcohol, but it does not necessarily confirm alcoholism)
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Folate tests
• Liver function tests
• Serum magnesium
• Total protein
• Uric acid