Drinking alcohol is not uncommon. It's estimated that three-quarters of the population drink alcohol from time to time - toasting at parties, a drink with dinner, around the holidays. Addiction to alcohol, alcoholism, occurs when someone drinks despite apparent harm to themselves or to their well-being. As with other types of addiction, when alcohol abuse interferes with daily life, a person can be considered an alcoholic.
The exact causes of alcoholism are not known, but there are certain risk factors that make it more likely to occur. Those who have a close family member who is an alcoholic, for instance, may be more susceptible to the addiction.
To diagnose the addiction, watch out for the warning signs of alcoholism. Some symptoms of alcohol dependence include drinking even when the bad consequences are known, drinking in the morning, drinking when alone, hiding alcohol, or losing interest in hobbies. Be aware of the symptoms of a hangover, too - dizziness, lightheadedness, for example - because frequent hangovers could indicate alcoholism.
As a person begins to drink alcohol more regularly or to excess, they may build up a tolerance and need more and more alcohol to feel any effect. Long-term, heavy drinking can cause a range of chronic problems, including heart and brain damage, hypertension, and liver disease.
If you think you or someone you care about may be at risk for alcohol dependence, seek help. Getting someone into treatment for alcoholism can be difficult, because denial of the problem is common. There are many treatment resources available, such as interventions by friends and family, medications, or 12-step programs (AA or Alcoholics Anonymous is one well-known program).