Alcoholism

Introduction: Alcoholism

Alcoholism is the physical and mental addiction to alcohol. Prolonged abuse of alcohol caused both physical and mental conditions, and there are also various social implications from associated behaviors. Although cirrhosis of the liver is the best known complication, there are numerous physical effects to the digestive system, pancreas, nerves, and heart. Alcoholism can be difficult to diagnose because of secrecy and the tendency towards denial of a serious problem. In some cases alcoholism may actually be a symptom of an underlying condition such as depression or schizophrenia. Treatment is mainly by cessation of alcohol, usually with support from groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and is often successful in alleviating the condition and its related complications.

Symptoms of Alcoholism

• Drunkenness
• Craving alcohol
• Inability to stop drinking
• Need for morning alcoholic drink
• Drinking too much alcohol

See full list of 42 symptoms of Alcoholism

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Alcoholism:

• Home Drug Tests
  • Home Marijuana Tests
  • Home Cocaine Tests
  • Home Alcohol Tests
  • Hair Drug Screening Tests
  • Methamphetamine Tests
  • Opiate Drug Tests
  • Benzodiazepine Drug Tests
  • Multiple Drug Screening Kits
• Smoking-Related Disorders: Home Testing:
  • Nicotine Home Tests
  • Home Lung Function Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Alcoholism

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Alcoholism?

• Misdiagnosis of Alcoholism
• Failure to diagnose Alcoholism
• Underlying causes of Alcoholism (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Alcoholism

Causes of Alcoholism

• Depression
• Schizophrenia

Read more about causes of Alcoholism

More information about causes of Alcoholism:

• Underlying causes of Alcoholism
• Alcoholism as a complication caused by other conditions
• Alcoholism as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Alcoholism

Treatments for Alcoholism

• Admission of having a problem
• Detoxification (drying out)
• Counselling
• Support groups
• Alcoholics Anonymous

See full list of 13 treatments for Alcoholism

Videos for Alcoholism

Patient Surveys for Alcoholism

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Alcoholism
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Alcoholism

More about prognosis of Alcoholism

Reseach about Alcoholism

Visit our research pages for current research about Alcoholism treatments.

Clinical Trials for Alcoholism

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Alcoholism include:

• Acamprosate to Reduce Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Oral acamprosate
• Effect of LY686017 on Alcohol Craving - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - LY686017
• Sertraline for Alcoholism - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Sertraline
• Drug Therapy for Alcohol Dependence in Alaska Natives (Naltrexone/Sertraline) - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - sertraline (Zoloft),naltrexone (Revia)
• Behavioral Therapy Plus Naltrexone for Alcoholism - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - naltrexone (Revia)

See full list of 164 Clinical Trials for Alcoholism

Prevention of Alcoholism

Prevention information for Alcoholism has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Alcoholism.

• Vitamin B6 - possibly used for prevention of Vitamin B6 deficiency

Read more about prevention of Alcoholism

Statistics for Alcoholism

• Medical statistics for Alcoholism
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Alcoholism
• Death and Mortality statistics for Alcoholism
• Society statistics for Alcoholism

Types of Alcoholism

• Binge drinking (type of Alcohol abuse)

Read more about Types of Alcoholism

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Alcoholism, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Alcoholism

For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities. Moderate alcohol use—up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people—is not harmful for most adults. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of either beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) Nonetheless, a large number of people get into serious trouble because of their drinking. (Source: excerpt from Alcoholism Getting the Facts: NIAAA)

Definitions of Alcoholism:

Habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms - (Source - WordNet 2.1)