Alcoholism - Introduction

(Page 3)

Alcohol Dependence. People who are alcohol dependent have three or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a year:

• Increased amounts of alcohol are needed to produce an effect
• Withdrawal symptoms or drinking alcohol is used to avoid these symptoms
• Drinks more over a given period than intended
• Unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down
• Gives up significant leisure or work activities
• Continues to drink in spite of the knowledge of its physical or psychological harm to oneself or others

In one long-term study, two-thirds of those with alcohol dependence continued to be dependent on alcohol after 5 years.

Review Date: 12/03/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital