Alcoholism FAQs

Here are the questions The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism most often receives about alcohol along with their answers. They provide information to better understand the health consequences of alcohol abuse and dependence (alcoholism). Consult your physician or health care provider if you or a loved one has an alcohol problem.

What Exactly Is Alcoholism?

Not everyone who abuses alcohol or has a drinking problem is an alcoholic. There are varying degrees of alcohol abuse problems.

• What do we mean by alcoholism?

• Is alcoholism a disease?

• Is alcoholism inherited?

Is There a Cure?

If you have a drinking problem, the good news is there is a wide range of help and support available.

• Can alcoholism be cured?

• Are there any medications for alcoholism?

• Does alcoholism treatment work?

Alcoholic or Problem Drinker?

Who is at risk to become an alcoholic? If someone is an alcoholic, can they learn to drink moderately?

• Does a person have to be alcoholic to experience problems from alcohol?

• Are certain groups of people more likely to develop alcohol problems than others?

• How can you tell whether you or someone close to you has an alcohol problem?

• If I have trouble with drinking, can't I simply reduce my alcohol use without stopping altogether?

Help for Alcohol Problems

How do you get help for someone who refuses it? If they do want help, where do they start?

• How can a person get help for an alcohol problem?

• If an alcoholic is unwilling to seek help, is there any way to get him or her into treatment?

• What is a safe level of drinking?

Health Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol abuse can cause a wide range of health problems to almost every system in the body.

• Is it safe to drink during pregnancy?

• As people get older, does alcohol affect their bodies differently?

• Does alcohol affect a woman's body differently from a man's body?

• I have heard that alcohol is good for your heart. Is this true?

• If I am taking over-the-counter or prescription medication, do I have to stop drinking?

Who Else Is Affected

It is true that others around the alcoholic are also affected, including family members, friends and even employers.

• How does drinking alcohol effect the world of a child?

• What is alcoholism, exactly?

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