What is Addiction?

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Addiction

Addiction is defined as the continued use of a mood altering substance or behaviour despite adverse consequences.  


This can include, but is not limited to alcohol abuse, drug abuse, exercise abuse, and gambling. Some defining characteristics of addiction include impaired control over subtances/behaviour, preoccupation with substance/behaviour, continued use despite consequences, and denial.


Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification (short-term reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).


Physiological dependence occurs when the body has to adjust to the substance by incorporating the substance into its 'normal' functioning.


This state creates the conditions of tolerance, and withdrawal. Tolerance is the process by which the body continually adapts to the substance and requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects. 
Withdrawal refers to physical and psychological symptoms people experience when reducing or discontinuing a substance the body had become dependent on. Symptoms of withdrawal generally include but are not limited to anxiety, irritability, intense cravings for the substance, nausea, hallucinations, headaches, cold sweats, and tremors.

Alcohol Addiction

Definition of Alcoholism


The term "alcoholism" refers to a disease known as alcohol dependence syndrome, the most severe stage of a group of drinking problems which begins with binge drinking and alcohol abuse 



Early Signs


Early signs of alcoholism include frequent intoxication, an established pattern of heavy drinking and drinking in dangerous situations, such as when driving. Other early signs of alcoholism include black-out drinking or a drastic change in demeanor while drinking, such as consistently becoming angry or violent. Also dramatic change in mood swings, irritability, frustration and anger but to mention a few can be linked to emotional instability as a result of this addiction.  


The Main Symptoms - Alcohol Abuse


The main symptom of alcohol abuse occurs when someone continues to drink after their drinking reaches a level that causes recurrent problems. Continuing to drink after it causes someone to miss work, drive drunk, shirk responsibilities or get in trouble with the law is considered alcohol abuse.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, IV, defines alcohol abuse as drinking despite alcohol-related physical, social, psychological, or occupational problems, or drinking in dangerous situations, such as while driving. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases refers to "harmful use" of alcohol, or drinking that causes either physical or mental damage in the absence of alcohol dependence. In other words, alcohol abuse is any harmful use of alcohol.

Symptoms

For someone who is alcoholic or alcohol dependent, the symptoms include all of those associated with alcohol abuse (above). But alcoholics also continue to drink in spite of all the problems it has caused in their lives.

When alcohol abuse reaches the alcohol dependence stage, the person also experiences at least three of seven other symptoms, including neglect of other activities, excessive use of alcohol, impaired control of alcohol consumption, persistence of alcohol use, large amounts of time spent in alcohol-related activities, withdrawal symptoms and tolerance of alcohol.

Certain behaviors are known to be possible early signs of an alcohol problem. These include any established pattern of drinking, such as heavy regular alcohol consumption and/or frequent intoxication, which poses a high risk of future damage to physical or mental health and which places the drinker at risk of accidents, arrests, poor job performance or other social problems.

Alcohol dependence, sometimes referred to as alcoholism , is the most severe type of alcohol problem and is characterized by three of seven symptoms experienced during a one year time period. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, the symptoms of alcohol dependence include:

Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence

• Neglect of other Activities: Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use;
• Excessive Use: Alcohol is consumed in larger amounts over a longer period than intended;
• Impaired control: Ongoing, unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol consumption;
• Persistence of Use: Alcohol consumption is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely caused or exacerbated by alcohol;
• Large Amounts of Time Spent in Alcohol Related Activities: A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain, use or recover from the effects of alcohol;
• Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking;
• Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependency

Diagnosing alcoholism can be tricky, since the diagnosis depends on the person being willing to honestly and forthright in answering a series of questions about his or her drinking patterns and attitudes. This is achieved alongside psychological investigation and physiological diagnosis.

Treatment of Alcohol Treatment

Alcoholism is a treatable disease and many treatment programs and approaches are available to support those who have decided to get help, but no direct medical cure available. Treatments often include depending on the level of dependency; group therapy, individual counselling, support, advice and personal development and healing.