Who is an alcoholic?

Myths/facts | Types | Causes | Effects | Are U One

Some accepted definitions……

WHO, 1951: "Alcoholics are those excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that they show a noticeable mental disturbance or an interference with their mental and bodily health, their interpersonal relations and their smooth social and economic functioning; or who show the predominant signs of such developments. They, therefore, require treatment"

	American Medical Association: "Alcoholism is an illness characterised by preoccupation with alcohol and loss of control over its consumption, such as to lead usually to intoxication if drinking chronically or by progression with a tendency toward relapse. It is typically associated with physical disability and impaired emotional, occupational and/or social adjustments as
a direct consequence of persistent excessive use. In short,alcoholism is regarded as a type of drug dependence of pathological extent and pattern,which ordinarily interferes seriously with the patient's total health and his adaptation to his environment."

Rutgers Center Of Alcohol Studies: "An alcoholic is one who is unable to consistently choose whether he shall drink or not and who, if he drinks, is usually unable to consistently choose whether he shall stop or not".

Alcoholics Anonymous: "Alcoholism is a two-fold disease -- an allergy of the body coupled with an obsession of the mind." Thus, alcoholism is a disease of chemical dependence (alcohol). It is a condition in which the usage of alcohol is associated with problems in any area of one's life on a chronic basis.

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