Alcoholism has been also described in the following way:

i) It is a disease by itself and not just a symptom of a psychological problem. The disease itself causes psychological and physical problems, which can be handled, only if the alcoholism itself is treated.

ii) It is a progressive disease, i.e. in the absence of treatment, it worsens.

iii) It can be a terminal illness, i.e. if untreated for medical problems like cirrhosis, the person can die.

iv) It is a treatable disease, i.e. it can be checked or its progress stopped with proper treatment, which aims at totally giving up alcohol. An alcoholic thus cannot drink one in a while, i.e. he/she cannot become a ‘social drinker'. This is so even if he/she has remained sober, i.e. without alcohol, for many years. Even if he/she takes a small quantity of alcohol he/she will return to frequent drinking.

Torture, as defined in international human rights law, generally involves four critical elements: (a) it causes severe physical and/or mental pain; it is (b) intentionally inflicted, (c) for specified purposes and (d) with some form of official involvement, whether active or passive.

As a progressive disease, it goes through various phases. The signs of these phases are described below:

 

i) Early Phase

a) Need for more alcohol for the same effects, as earlier.

b) Avoid stalk about alcohol due to guilt.

c) ‘Blackouts', i.e. forgetting all that one did under the influence of alcohol.

d) Preoccupation with drinks, i.e. thinking of how, when and where one can get the next drink.