Is Alcoholism a Disease ?

Although public health agencies universally answer “yes” to the question is alcoholism a disease, many people still believe problem drinking is simply a habitual practice that requires self-discipline to manage.

• Craving: a strong need, or urge, to drink

• Loss of Control: not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun

• Physical Dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking

• Tolerance: the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high”

Like many other diseases, alcoholism follows a predictable path and worsens over time.

One of the cruelest aspects of the disease is that it takes over so completely that the victim feels he or she can’t function normally without alcohol.

If the alcoholic fails to seek help, the disease can be fatal.

Is alcoholism inherited?

Researchers say that the tendency toward the disease runs in families, and they are working to isolate the genes that put people at risk.

Just because alcoholism runs in a person’s family is not absolutely predictive, however.

Here are other factors that contribute to problem drinking:

• The company you keep (do others in your group drink heavily?)

• The age you began drinking (the younger you begin, the more ingrained the habit),

• How you handle stress

Is alcoholism confined to one gender or one socioeconomic group?

No. In fact, alcoholism affects people in all societies, at all income levels, and all ages. According to the NIH, about 8% of the U.S. population (1 in 12) are affected.

Men have a higher tendency than women to abuse alcohol; and the worst problems are among young adults (ages 18-29) and occur less frequently among older adults (65 and above).

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