Will someone please define alcoholism for me?

Question

I really would like to get a consensus here....I associate alcoholism with not being able to hold down a job....Is it also binge drinking?Where does abusing alcohol end and alcoholism begin? I feel there is not a firm definition out there and there is a lot of gray in between...

Answer 1

from my point of view, you cannot define alcoholism from some physical habit (x number of drinks per day/week) or physical consequences (like losing a job)... though these may be a part of it.
instead, it comes in the motivation to drink in the first place and the compulsion to continue drinking despite bad consequences (only the smallest of which, if you ask an alcoholic, are physical)

if the motivation is not normal (take it for what it's worth) -- aka if a person drinks for "the wrong reasons" (to bury feelings, to get through the day, to deal with life, etc etc etc)... and if the person then feels compelled to continue drinking or take a drink at a certain time after certain events (this includes after work on friday) and cannot enjoy themselves otherwise (and usually eventually cannot enjoy even with the alcohol) then the person is in all probability an alcoholic.
the compulsion also steers the mind in a manner that makes the illogical seem logical in order to justify the drinking behaviors. other behaviors seemingly unrelated to the addiction are usaully feeding it as well.

short answer: if the person drinks for the wrong reasons and feels compelled to drink, then they are probably an alcoholic.

Answer 2

Alcoholism is an addiction, an addiction is strictly defined as "the feeling of or inability to function with out said substance." However addiction is usually reserved for things that we find distasteful. With this definition everyone on the planet is addicted to oxygen. There really is on difference between "abusing" alcohol and being an addict. The FDA says that one drink a day is helpful and healthful, more than one is harmful. However, I had friend in high school, who felt she was an alcoholic because she COULDN'T unwind after work with out a drink. And there is the line. If you "Can't live with out it" or when asked why you drink so much you have every said, "It's not that much, besides I CAN STOP ANY TIME I WANT TO" that my friend is an addiction.
As for the inability to hold a job? My aunt has made between a 5 and 6 figure salary most of her adult life and uses the "Pass out" method to go to sleep every night. She is an addict, a "functional addict" but an addict none the less. Every ones addiction is different. If you want a good idea what alcoholism and addiction is sit in on an AA or NA meeting or volunteer at your local rehab or AA sponsored shelter. It's a really eye opener.

Answer 3

Alchololism means the person drinks to their own detriment. They disregard relationships, employment, family, money, and values because of their addiction. Addiction can be broken down to whatever the *drug of choice* becomes paramount in that persons life. If alcohol consumption is the drive in life to the disregard of other things happening in their life, it is time for an intervention.

The person gets drunk alone, avoids family functions, disregards obligations, misses opportunities, makes excuses, resides in denial - all are warning signs.

Many alcoholics can hold down a job, they have perfected their craft to control it enough to maintain employment. Not all alcoholics are living under a bridge.

Binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse, but probably not to the level of alcoholism. Binge drinking is a problem, if you can't remember what you did, where you left your car (even worse, if you drove or not), what happened, where you are when you wake up and what his name is - RED FLAG!

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Alcoholism is the consumption of or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the alcoholic's normal personal, family, social, or work life. Alcohol consumption caused by alcoholism can result in psychological and physiological conditions, and ultimately in death. Alcoholism is one of the world's most costly drug use problems; with the exception of nicotine addiction, alcoholism is more costly to most countries than all other drug use problems combined.

While alcohol or sedative use is required to trigger alcoholism, the biological mechanism of alcoholism is uncertain. For most people, alcohol use poses little to no danger of addiction. Other factors must exist for alcohol use to develop into alcoholism. These factors may include a person's social environment, emotional health and genetic predisposition.

Answer 5

Alcoholism..... a very sensitive and sometimes hurtful subject my father i would say he has a drinking problem , though he has his job he never fails to support us he doesn't dink every day but often and it bothers me when he does ( I would never tell him ,he would deny it and say that there are others worse than him witch is very true). So i don't think loosing a job is directly connected to alcoholism. And yes i donk think there is a firm answer but if you come across one please tell me. But all i ca say that it becomes a serious peoblem when it interferes with relationships, jobs, self-esteem, self respect, and your entire life basicly.

I hope that if your dealing with this peoblem or a closed loved one is that it all works out for you.

Answer 6

Alcoholism is drinking booze after you've realized it harms you more than helps you.

Answer 7

If you go to meetings, you're an alcoholic. If not you're just a drunk like the rest of us....

Answer 8

....basically it is when drinking is affecting your life ( health,family, work, ect...) - the person knows it but can't stop....if you were allergic to peanuts you would find it quite easy to not eat them - agree?- but boozers like myself can't get offf the sauce not matter what a train wreck we're on

Answer 9

brushing your teeth with either beer or whiskey is a sure sign.

seriously though, if the first thing you think of when you wake up is ' i need a drink' then you need help.