ALCOHOLISM AND INPATIENT TREATMENT

Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a disease that is characterized by the following symptoms:
* Craving - a strong need, or compulsion to drink
* Loss of control - the inability to limit one's
drinking on any given occassion
* Physical dependence - the occurrence of withdrawal
symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and
anxiety, when alcohol use is stoped after a period
of heavy drinking
* Tolerance - the need for increasing amounts of
alcohol in order to get "high"

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many diseases it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Alcoholism is an equal opportunity disease, striki...