Alcoholism is A disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. For those who didn't know, alcoholism is a disease. Like other diseases it is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime and can possibly come back unless the person stays away from alcohol for good. Substance abuse affects thousands of people everyday and some don't even know that they have a problem.
             Do you have a problem with alcohol? Some symptoms of alcoholism are cravings or a strong need to drink. Also a loss of control or inability to limit ones drinking at an occasion. Another symptom would be physical dependence. Do you have withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea sweating, shakiness, and anxiety? (Hyde, 121) These occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Finally, tolerance, do you have to drink in greater quantities of alcohol to "get high"?
             There are some signs you can look for if you have a suspicion that you are somebody who is drinking too heavily. Such as these: Have you ever felt that you need to cut down on drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing that you drink too much? Another question to ask yourself is: Have you ever felt bad about drinking? When you visit your health care provider, he or she will ask you a number of questions such as these about your alcohol use to determine whether you are having problems related to drinking.
             Is alcoholism inherited? The risk for developing alcoholism does run in families. Genetics partially explains alcoholism, but lifestyle is one of the major factors. If a person that you are living with is drinking heavily then you are that much more likely to do the same.
             Alcohol abuse affects people of different race, gender, nationality and social status. Research shows that 14 million people or one in eve...