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Alcoholism is also known as "alcohol dependence." It is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. Alcoholism includes four symptoms:

Craving--A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
Impaired control--The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
Tolerance--The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Alcoholism is now accepted as a disease. It is a chronic and often progressive disease. It has symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. It has a generally predictable course and is influenced by both genetic (inherited) and environmental factors.

Alcoholism tends to run in families and genetic factors partially explain this pattern. The genes that influence the vulnerability to alcoholism may be passed on to future generations.

A person's environment, such as the influence of friends, stress levels, and the ease of obtaining alcohol, may influence their drinking and the development of alcoholism. Still other factors, such as social support, may help to protect even high-risk people from alcohol problems.

Here is a list of drinking behaviors to recognize alcoholism

A woman who has more than seven drinks* per week or more than three drinks per occasion.

A man who has more than 14 drinks* per week or more than four drinks per occasion.

Older than 65 years and having more than seven drinks* per week or more than three drinks per occasion.

*One drink = one 12-oz bottle of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or one 5-oz glass of wine (12.9 percent alcohol) or 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits.

A woman who has more than three drinks every day or 21 drinks per week.

A man who has more than five drinks every day or 35 drinks per week.

Drink and drive, operate machinery or mix alcohol with medicine (over-the-counter and prescription medicine).

Don't tell your surgeon, physician or pharmacist that you are a regular drinker.

Are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant and drink at all. (even small amounts of alcohol may hurt an unborn child)

Drink alcohol while you are looking after small children.

Drink to relax, relieve anxiety or go to sleep.

Drink to be more comfortable in social situations.

Drink to avoid thinking about sad or unpleasant things.

Drink to socialize with other regular drinkers.

Ever worry about having enough alcohol for an evening or weekend.

Hide alcohol or buy it at different stores so people will not know how much you are drinking.

Switch from one kind of drink to another hoping that this will keep you from drinking too much or getting drunk.

Try to get "extra" drinks at a social event or sneak drinks when others aren't looking.

Can't stop drinking once you start.

Have tried to stop drinking for a week or so but only quit for a few days.

Fail to do what you should at work or at home because of drinking.

Feel guilty after drinking.

Find other people make comments to you about your drinking.

Have a drink in the morning to get yourself going after drinking heavily the night before.

Can't remember what happened while you were drinking.

Have hurt someone else as a result of your drinking.

If you feel you or a member of your family is suffering from Alcoholism you can get help at one of the following organizations.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 800-662-HELP

Women for Sobriety 800-333-1606

SMART Recovery 440-951-5357

Adult Children of Alcoholics 310-534-1815 http://www.adultchildren.org/

Al-Anon and Alateen 800-344-2666 http://www.alanon.org.za/

Alcoholics Anonymous 212-870-3400 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information 800-729-6686

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 301-443-3860

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