RSS Alcoholism Definition
Defining alcoholism and understanding its impact on society
Ask a dozen different health officials or medical professionals to define the terminology and each one of them will have a different alcoholism definition. The most practical definition that we have found according to the Oxford dictionary is:
“ . . . a primary illness or disorder characterized by some loss of control over drinking, with habituation or addiction to the drug alcohol, causing interference in any major life function, e.g. health, family, job, spiritual, friends, and legal . . . ”
Notice that this particular alcoholism definition makes no mention of quantity consumed. Instead, the focal point is on the loss of control the individual experiences when suffering with alcohol dependency. This loss of control creates those consequences in other aspects of the individual’s life that are mentioned in the definition.
Alcohol dependency becomes apparent when the individual can no longer function each day without drinking and that when they try to stop using alcohol, they experience some very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The terminology may also be used in reference to certain ingrained drinking patterns that oftentimes result in financial, health, legal, and social problems.
Definition inclusive of treatment and recovery
Other alcoholism definitions or schools of thought include addiction treatment and recovery options that are based on the severity of the person’s addiction. Treatment is always the first step and enables the individual to rid their bodies of the substance as well as the residues and toxins of it. The next step is that the addiction treatment and recovery program help the individual change their lifestyle in order to avoid relapsing once they return home to society.
Alcohol dependency can lead to numerous health problems and have serious effects on the brain, kidneys, and liver as well as other organs of the person’s body. In addition to the physical dependency upon alcohol there can be psychological dependencies as well. In many cases, there are behavioral or mental disorders underlying the addiction that must be uncovered and treated as well.
We can help you overcome alcoholism
The Freedom Center can help individuals who are suffering with alcohol addiction and other dependency issues. We use a variety of recovery tools in order to keep the individual focused on long-lasting recovery such as classes and educational materials along with nutritional supplementation and proper nutrition techniques to help eliminate alcoholism. As a result, our program is neither medical nor psychiatric in nature as we feel that social education leads to successful and total recovery.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with alcohol addiction or dependency, please contact the Freedom Center, please contact our facility today at the toll-free phone number listed above and speak with one of our knowledgeable addiction specialists.
