Alcoholism Explained

The definitions of alcoholism and related terminology vary significantly between the medical community, treatment/rehabilitation programs, and the general public. It is partially because of this confusion that so many people suffer from alcoholism without realizing they have a problem or that they need help.

The first step in understanding alcoholism is understanding exactly what the various terms mean.

Alcoholism - Medical Definitions

The Journal of the American Medical Association refers to alcoholism as "a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking."

The DSM-IV (the standard for diagnosis in psychiatry and psychology) defines alcohol abuse as repeated use of alcohol despite the recurrent adverse consequences of the consumption. Alcohol dependence is furthermore described as alcohol abuse combined with tolerance, withdrawal, and an uncontrollable drive to drink alcohol.

According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, alcoholism is the popular term used to describe alcohol dependence. Keep in mind that there is debate whether dependence in this sense refers to physical (characterised by withdrawal symptoms), psychological (based on reinforcement), or both physical and psychological.

Alcoholism Terminology

Use, misuse, heavy use, abuse, addiction, and dependence are all common labels used to describe alcoholic drinking habits, but the actual meaning of these words vary greatly depending upon the context in which they are used. Even within the medical field, the definition can vary between areas of specialization.

Use refers to simple use of an alcoholic substance. Obvioulsy, an individual who drinks any alcoholic beverage is using alcohol. Misuse, problem use, abuse, and heavy use do not have standard definitions, but suggest consumption of alcohol to the point where it causes physical, social, or moral harm to the drinker.

Remission is usually used to refer to a state where an alcoholic is no longer showing symptoms of alcoholism. The American Psychiatric Association considers remission to be a condition where the physical and mental symptoms of alcoholism are no longer evident, regardless of whether or not the person is still drinking. Others (most notably Alcoholics Anonymous, aka AA) use the term recovery to describe those who have completely stopped their consumption of alcohol, and have begun a process of addressing the underlying factors of their alcoholism.