Alcoholism is defined as the inability to stop drinking alcohol due to psychological or physical dependence. It is one of the most commonly abused substances in the world and is one of the most difficult addictions to recover from. There have been studies that have suggested alcohol can be beneficial if used moderately although this isn't the case for individuals in recovery from alcohol. Long term alcoholism causes severe damage to the liver, brain, pancreas and body's immune system. Family genetics are the largest determining factor as to whether or not someone will become addicted to alcohol. Other factors such as peer groups, social settings, traumatic experiences, etc. can influence alcohol abuse in many cases.
A few of the most common warning signs of alcoholism include lying about your drinking habits, regularly blacking out from alcohol consumption, avoiding your responsibilities such as children, work or school, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol isn't consumed, the inability to quit drinking and having difficulty in relationships. If you're a regular drinker and are experiencing 3 or more of these problems, it would be safe to say that you're an alcoholic or headed in that direction. So often, alcoholics are also suffering from a co-occurring disorder such as depression, anxiety, a personality disorder, etc. These mental conditions allow the alcoholism to thrive and cause the alcoholic to self medicate. In some cases, alcohol acts as a depressant and the depression is secondary to the alcohol abuse. The primary goal of most rehabs is to determine which condition came first.
Binge drinking is not always considered alcoholism but it can definitely lead binge drinkers down that path as well. When an adult consumes more than 5 alcoholic beverages in an a two hour span, they're binge drinking. Binge drinking is the type of drinking that college students often indulge in. The dangerous effects of binge drinking are often underestimated. In fact, the amount of brain damage from binge drinking has been proven to be more severe than that of chronic alcoholism due to the rebound withdrawal effects that an individual's brain encounters. Binge drinking is the most common among men under the age of 30.
If you have a family member or friend suffering from alcohol abuse, it may not be easy to confront them about their problem. It's important to find the right time to confront them and it's not when they're hungover or actively drinking at that very moment. It's not uncommon for an alcoholic to be in denial about their problem, especially when they know that so many people drink alcohol socially. It's very important not to enable alcoholics by giving them money for alcohol, allowing them to drink in your home, giving them rides to and from bars and restaurants, etc. The sooner you take away the crutch that you've given them, the quicker they'll seek rehab. Be mindful that alcohol is difficult to recover from because it's so widely available. Relapse should be expected, even after an alcoholic leaves rehab because recovery is a learning process that takes time.