Alcoholism is a chronic illness characterized by the habitual intake of alcohol. This is done to the degree that it interferes with physical or mental health, or with normal social or work behavior. It produces both physical and psychological addiction. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that reduces anxiety, inhibition, and feelings of guilt. It lowers alertness, impairs perception, judgment, and motor coordination. In high doses, it can cause loss of consciousness and even death. Chronic alcoholism damages the brain, liver, heart, and other organs.

Spotting the signs and symptoms of alcoholism is not always easy. While daily drinking, drinking-related arrests or job loss can be signs of alcoholism, they tend to happen late in the disease. Many signs occur earlier, yet are harder to detect. These signs include:
* An increasing tolerance to the effects of alcohol. You may have heard the expression that someone can "hold their liquor". This is not seen as a sign that this person will not have problems with alcohol. In fact, this may be an early sign of the disease.
* A growing preoccupation or interest in drinking, drinking alone or drink before an activity with drinking. It may seem as though one simply enjoys drinking. We now know that these signs are the first symptoms of alcoholism.
* A person will dispute there is a problem. This symptom, called denial, is almost always present in alcoholism.

Later, difficulties in relationships, on the job, or with the law often occur. Other signs and symptoms are of the disease are:
* hiding alcohol or sneaking drinks,
* gulping the first few drinks,
* wanting to drink more, or longer, than the rest of the crowd,
* losing control of drinking, leading to attempts to control it ("going on the wagon.")

It is very important to seek help early in the disease. As the disease progresses, severe health problems and injuries occur in almost every body system.

If you want to learn more about the signs of alcoholism, consult your healthcare provider or look in the yellow pages for "alcoholism" or "alcoholism treatment". You may also wish to contact the National Council on Alcoholism at (800) NCA-CALL for more information. Many cities and towns have AA and Al-Anon meetings. These are meetings for people who have a family member with a drinking problem. If you go, you'll learn more about how alcohol affects families and what you can do.

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