Alcoholism Defined      Open with Microsoft Word

Alcoholism is a primary, chronic illness with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial." 

Primary refers to the nature of alcoholism as a disease entity in addition to and separate from other pathophysiologic states which may be associated with it. "Primary" suggests that alcoholism, as an addiction, is not a symptom of an underlying disease state.

Disease means an involuntary disability. It represents the sum of the abnormal phenomena displayed by a group of individuals. These phenomena are associated with a specified common set of characteristics by which these individuals differ from the norm, and which places them at a disadvantage.

Often progressive and fatal means that the disease persists over time and that physical, emotional, and social changes are often cumulative and may progress as drinking continues. Alcoholism causes premature death through overdose, organic complications involving the brain, liver, heart and many other organs, and by contributing to suicide, homicide, motor vehicle crashes, and other traumatic events.

Impaired control means the inability to limit alcohol use or to consistently limit on any drinking occasion the duration of the episode, the quantity consumed, and/or the behavioural consequences of drinking.

Preoccupation in association with alcohol use indicates excessive, focused attention given to the drug alcohol, its effects, and/or its use. The relative value thus assigned to alcohol by the individual often leads to a diversion of energies away from important life concerns.

Adverse consequences are alcohol-related problems or impairments in such areas as: physical health (e.g., alcohol withdrawal        syndromes, liver disease, gastritis, anaemia, neurological disorders); psychological functioning (e.g., impairments in cognition, changes in mood and behaviour); interpersonal functioning (e.g., marital problems and child abuse, impaired social relationships); occupational functioning (e.g., scholastic or job problems); and legal, financial, or spiritual problems.

Denial is used here not only in the psychoanalytic sense of a single psychological defence mechanism disavowing the significance of events, but more broadly to include a range of psychological manouvers designed to reduce awareness of the fact that alcohol use is the cause of an individual's problems rather than a solution to those problems. Denial becomes an integral part of the disease and a major obstacle to recovery.

Approved by the Boards of Directors of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (February 3, 1990) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (February 25, 1990).

This definition was prepared by the Joint Committee to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine:

Other resources available from RecoverOz include

Addictionary. Primer of Recovery Terms & Concepts from Abstinence to Withdrawal  Product Code: 7800

By Jan R. Wilson and Judith A. Wilson

The Disease Concept, Of Alcoholism and Other Drug Addiction  Pamphlet   Product Code: 5291

This resource explores the history of the disease concept, discusses the nature of addiction and disease, and explains why alcoholism is a disease. The authors elaborate on recent studies, treatment experiences, and legal precedents.

 I Can't be an Alcoholic Because…  Pamphlet   Product Code: 1340

The common fallacies and misconceptions about alcoholism are clearly described in this pamphlet, which

also provides facts and figures about alcohol, its use, and its abuse.