Alcoholic
22/02/2010
An alcoholic is someone suffering from the disease of alcoholism and addiction. This brain disease is progressive and can be fatal. There is no cure for it, it can only be arrested and managed through following a daily recovery programme.
An alcoholic demonstrates symptoms of their disease through their continuous and impaired control over drinking; preoccupation with alcohol; and use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, as well as distortions in thinking, most notably denial.
A person who continues to consume alcohol in spite of the negative impact in their lives as a result of their continued drinking is alcoholic.
All addictions are characterised by a mental obsession and a physical compulsion and alcoholics often speak of not being able to stop once they’ve had the first drink. Being diagnosed an alcoholic revolves around loss of control over starting drinking, amounts drank and when they stop drinking.
Tolerance and withdrawal are also important features as is neglecting important social, recreational or vocational activates in favour of drinking and time taken to recover from drinking.
Source: http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/terminology/ICD10ClinicalDiagnosis.pdf
"I go to bed clean every night, I have my family in my life and people who actually care for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." 