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Alcoholism - A Major Disease?
By Dominic Ferrara
Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all of them stress the fact
that there is a terrible disease that involves addiction to spirits. Apart from
the physical dependence on alcohol, there are other psychological, genetic and
social factors that may play a role in the development of alcoholism. Many
social, economic and public health problems are determined by this very serious
disease.
When alcoholism is concerned, symptoms include craving for alcohol, incapacity
to have control over the use of alcohol, a greater tolerance to its effects, and
withdrawal symptoms during the periods of abstinence. One should as well know
that many alcoholics deny having a problem. In many cases intervention is
necessary in order to persuade them to start treatment. Treatment in cases of
alcoholism usually includes detoxification, counseling and psychotherapy, as
well as treatment of associated medical problems, and different programs for
recovery and support.
Alcoholism involves physical and psychological addiction to the alcohol, and it
often gets to a chronic, progressive form. There are situations in which it can
become fatal, when alcohol consumption begins to interfere with your health,
your social life or your occupational functioning. Alcoholics often continue to
consume alcohol in huge quantities despite the multiple negative consequences of
the disease. Nowadays, alcoholism is the most serious form of alcohol abuse.
Alcoholism can be also defined in terms like "having a problem with drinking".
If one has a problem with drinking, that can result in health or social problems
(drunk driving, for instance), but that doesn’t make one yet dependent on
alcohol and it doesn’t mean one has fully lost control over using spirits - as
in the case of alcoholism.
About The Author
Dominic is the writer of this article. This article may be reproduced on
websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website.
If you would like more information go to
http://www.alcoholismrelief.com.
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