Alcoholism!

Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions.

In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any

condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic bevarages

despite health problems and negative social consequences.

Modern medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease

and addiction which results in a persistent use

of alcohol despite negative consequences.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcoholism,

also referred to as dipsomania described a preoccupation with,

or compulsion toward the consumption of, alcohol and/or an

impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.
Although not all of these definitions specify current and

on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier for alcoholism, some do,

as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent,

heavy alcohol use, including dependence and symptoms of withdrawal
While the ingestion of alcohol is, by definition, necessary to

develop alcoholism, the use of alcohol does not predict the

development of alcoholism. It is estimated that 9% of the

general population is predisposed to alcoholism based on genetic factors]

The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption

required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person.

In addition, although the biological mechanisms underpinning

alcoholism are uncertain, some risk factors, including social

environment, stress emotional health, genetic predisposition,

age, and gender have been identified. For example, those

who consume alcohol at an early age, by age 16 or younger,

are at a higher risk of alcohol dependence or abuse.

Also, studies indicate that the proportion of men with

alcohol dependence are higher than that of the

proportion of women, 7% and 2.5% respectively,

although women are more vulnerable to long-term

consequences of alcoholism. Around 90% of adults in

United States consume alcohol and more than 700,000 of them

are treated daily for alcoholism