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Alcoholism 101

What exactly do we mean by alcoholism? Is it inherited? What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence?
What Is a Standard Drink?
Answers to frequently asked questions about alcohol and substance abuse.
Five Types of Alcoholics Identified
Dispelling the myth of the typical alcoholic, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism researchers have identified five subtypes of alcoholics from a study of 1,484 people.
Treatment of Alcoholism
For alcoholics who have decided to get help for their drinking problem there are many different treatment programs and approaches available, but there is no medical cure.
Diagnosis of Alcoholism
Diagnosing alcoholism can be tricky, since the diagnosis depends on the drinker being willing to honestly answer a series of questions about his or her drinking patterns and attitudes.
Symptoms of Alcoholism
There are many symptoms of drinking problems, but there are seven major symptoms of the most severe drinking problem, alcohol dependence or alcoholism.
What Is Alcoholism?
The term alcoholism refers to a disease known as alcohol dependence syndrome, the most severe stage of a group of drinking problems which begin with binge drinking and alcohol abuse.
Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcohol Dependence
What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence?
But It Doesn't Act Like a Disease!
One of the difficulties in recognizing alcoholism as a disease is it just plain doesn't seem like one.
Problem Drinkers
Many people who have a problem with alcohol are not alcoholics, and in order to quit drinking they do not necessarily need medical treatment, peer group support, or a spiritual awakening.
Hitting Bottom
For those suffering from the disease of alcoholism it seems to be an almost universal truth that before things can get better, they have to get worse -- sometimes a lot worse.
What Do We Mean By Alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Top Myths About Drinking Alcohol
These are the most common misconceptions that many people have about drinking alcohol and the effects of alcohol, along with the actual facts.
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