What is Alcoholism?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes alcohol use disorder as “an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” A person with this condition does not know when or how to stop drinking and they spend a lot of time thinking about alcohol. 

Symptoms

 

• • Drinking alone or in secret 

• • Losing interest in hobbies that were previously enjoyed 

• • Blacking out and not being able to remember chunks of time

• • Not being able to limit how much alcohol is consumed 

• • Feeling irritable when drinking times approach 

• • Feeling the urge to drink 

• • Storing alcohol in unlikely places 

• • Having problems with relationships, the law, finances, or work that stem from drinking 

• • Gulping drinks down in order to feel good

• • Needing more alcohol to feel its effect 

Treatment 

 

• • Alcoholics Anonymous Steps of Recovery Program 

• • Motivational Enhancement Therapy 

• • Detox and withdrawal management 

• • Oral Medications