Alcohol dependence refers to a pathologic relationship with alcohol that is used for the purpose of mood alteration and results in life damaging consequences.  This pattern of using alcohol may have a destructive effect upon social relationships, occupation, finances, legal issues, emotional problems, or physical health problems.  If an individual's drinking pattern of the past year demonstrates a least three of these traits than diagnosis of alcohol dependence is likely:

• The individual has become tolerant to alcohol.  Tolerance is recognized when it takes more alcohol over time to produce the same effect as it did months or years ago.

• The individual experiences withdrawal symptoms when attempting to discontinue or abstain from alcohol.  Symptoms of withdrawal may include sweating, rapid heartbeat, tremor, difficulty with sleep, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, gastrointestinal symptoms, or even seizures.  The individual may appear restless, irritable, and discontented until he consumes alcohol again. Sometimes, an alcoholic will use another addictive drug to substitute or alcohol to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

• There is a pattern of drinking more alcohol per episode or more alcohol per month

• The individual has been unsuccessful at reducing the amount of alcohol consumed, "controlling it", or abstaining.

• There is loss of control over regulating the amount about the Hall at the individual consumes per drinking episode or over time (although at times, the alcoholic may seem to be able to drink less than on other occasions).

• The individual begins to develop a pattern of spending more time acquiring alcohol, hiding or trying to conceal use of alcohol, or demonstrating more difficulty in recovering from episodes of heavy use of alcohol.

• The individual begins to experience problems in relationships, work, or legal issues as a result of his alcohol use.  There may also be a reduction in recreational activities that are used to participate in as a result of alcohol use.

• The individual is where the there is some physical or psychiatric problem that is being made worse by alcohol use, but continues to drink anyway.

Alcohol Dependence and Alcohol Abuse are not the same.  Refer to Alcohol Abuse in soberMD to understand the difference.

Answering the following four questions can help you find out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem:

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one "yes" answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists.

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/alerts/l/blnaa30.htm

http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/alcohol/diagnosis.shtml

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k6/AlcDepend/AlcDepend.pdf

http://www.nida.nih.gov/