Alcoholism
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14

Is this EVERYTHING I need to know about alcohol?
Almost...
BOTTOM LINE:
Most adults who drink slowly and responsibly (that means
they follow all the guidelines mentioned so far), do fine.
Drinking can become dangerous when these guidelines are not followed. Dangerous drinking is called “Alcohol Misuse”
and it consists of three main categories.

RISKY DRINKING: You’ve already read LOTS of examples of this. What’s important
to remember is that even though this is only the first level, it can prove absolutely tragic.
All you need to think about is the effect on an unborn baby or the innocent victim of a
deadly car crash to realize that even one instance of excessive drinking can be catastrophic.

ALCOHOL ABUSE: This refers to people who have a pattern of risky drinking that
causes problems for them and the people around them. They can suffer health, social, or
legal problems; unfortunately, often a combination of all.

ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE: Besides causing a variety of problems, people who are
addicted to alcohol need to drink more and more to experience the same effects. They also have
trouble cutting back and may experience withdrawal symptoms (like sweating, shaking, or
even seizures) when they stop drinking. This condition is known as Alcoholism.

You mentioned Alcoholism, but what exactly is that?
Social drinking turns to Alcoholism when a person’s body NEEDS alcohol to function on a daily basis.

Alcoholism is a disease. It’s not a weakness or a crime.
It’s a disease that can be treated if the drinker seeks help.

Alcoholism is characterized by uncontrolled drinking...of anything alcoholic, even just
beer. That means that each time alcoholics drink, they can’t accurately predict how
much or how long they will drink.

About 1 in 10 people who drink develops serious health problems, including alcoholism.
Most alcoholics are working family members. Less than 5% are “street people.”

Alcoholism and alcohol-related problems are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country!

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