Concept of Alcoholism

Alcoholism has been described as chronic illness which is characterized by repeated drinking of alcoholic drinks, to the extent that it exceeds customary use and social standards of a community and interferes with the drinker's health and social or economic functioning and leads to continuing problems. An alcoholic is unable to take note of these problems or if he/she takes note, is not able to stop drinking completely. According to Jhonson (1973), alcoholism is a condition in which an individual loses control over his alcohol intake in that he is constantly unable to refrain from drinking once he begins. According to Keller and Efron (1955), alcoholism is characterized by the repeated drinking of alcoholic beverages to an extent that exceeds customary use or compliance with the social customs of the community and that adversely affects the drinker's health or interferes with his social or economic functioning. An alcoholic is different from an ‘occasional drinker'. Any person who takes alcohol is a ‘drinker', while an ‘compulsive drinker' who cannot live without taking alcohol is called ‘alcoholic'. Clinebell (1956) has defined ‘alcoholic' as one whose drinking interferes frequently or continuously with any of his important life adjustments and interpersonal relationships. There are many types of alcohol. Only one can be consumed, viz. ethyl alcohol (which is used in bear, wine, toddy, whisky, brandy, rum, arrack or locally prepared liquor). When alcohol enters the blood-steam, it circulates all over the body. Its effects depend on the quantity taken. They vary depending on the speed at which a person drinks. His/her weight and the presence of food in the stomach also make a difference. The parentage of alcohol in the drink and to some extent, some psychological factors like which one is drinking with are also important. Past experience of drinking and attitude to drinking is another pair of important variables. Alcohol affects the brain directly showing down its activities as well as those of the spinal cord. It acts as a depressant, i.e. it slows down responses. It gives the false impression of being a stimulant because it lowers inhibition and makes people lively. Contrary to popular conceptions, alcohol contains only empty calories, without any nutritive value. Alcohol leads to dependence in the case of several people. This causes serious difficulties in occupational and family life. It also causes problems in financial areas, social interaction and physical and mental health of the addict and his/ her family. The short-term effects of alcohol consumption in small quantity can lead to a lowering of inhibition. It also leads to increased anger, forgetting of unpleasant events and a feeling of relaxation,. Regular, frequent, excessive and inappropriate use of alcohol leads to moodiness and loss of judgment. It leads to lack of control over body movements, and absence of alertness. It also creates loss of clarity of speech, absence of judgment and even chronic illness and death.