Alcohol is one of the most sinister of drugs that draws a thin, usually imperceptible line between social use and addictive use. People often do not know when they have become addicted to alcohol - when casual drinking turns to dependency drinking and finally to biochemically-controlled drinking. Indeed, alcohol addicts often rely on alcohol as a crucial component of their personality - without a drink, they simply cannot be themselves.

Family members often try to protect an alcoholic from the results of his behavior by making excuses to others about his alcoholism and by getting him out of drug-related jams. It is important to stop all such rescue attempts immediately, so that the alcoholic will fully experience the harmful effects of his use and thereby become more motivated to stop.

Alcohol is a sedative hypnotic. It is a powerful drug available to virtually anyone who wants to try it. It is estimated that 14 million people in the United States -- 1 in every 13 adults -- abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.

Alcoholism is also known as "alcohol dependence." It is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include sweating, rapid pulse, increased hand tremors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, physical agitation, anxiety, auditory hallucinations, and the possibility of grand mal seizures. These physical and emotional symptoms may be extremely severe depending on the individual's alcohol abuse history.

Alcoholism is also known as "alcohol dependence." It is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. Alcoholism includes four symptoms:

Craving--A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.

Impaired control--The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.

Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.

Tolerance--The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL POISONING
When a person is known to have consumed large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time and the:

Person is unconscious and cannot be woken.

Person has cold, clammy unusually pale or bluish skin.

Person is breathing slowly or irregularly - usually this means less than 8 times a minute or 10 seconds or more between any two breaths.

Person vomits while passed out and does not wake up during or after.

The more heavily you drink, the greater the potential for problems at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may include:

Arguments with or separation from your spouse and other family members;

Strained relationships with coworkers;

Absence from or lateness to work with increasing frequency;

Loss of employment due to decreased productivity; and

Committing or being the victim of violence.

Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause a range of birth defects, and children exposed to alcohol before birth can have lifelong learning and behavioral problems. The most serious problem that can be caused by drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children born with FAS have severe physical, mental, and behavioral problems. Because scientists do not know exactly how much alcohol it takes to cause alcohol-related birth defects, it is best not to drink any alcohol during this time.

Because alcohol affects nearly every organ in the body, long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for many serious health problems, some of which are described below. Women may develop alcohol-related health problems sooner than men, and from drinking less alcohol than men. Health problems often develop gradually and may become evident only after many years of heavy drinking such as:

Heart disease: Heavy drinking over a long period of time increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and some kinds of stroke.

Cancer: Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box). Research suggests that, in some women, as little as one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum.

Pancreatitis: The pancreas helps regulate the body’s blood sugar levels by producing insulin. The pancreas also has a role in digesting the food we eat. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis can cause severe abdominal pain and can be fatal. Chronic pancreatitis is associated with chronic pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Abuse of alcohol can cause damage to many of the body's organs. Researchers report damage to brain tissue, heart muscle, and reproductive organs in both males and females. Alcohol may cause the drinker's blood pressure to rise, putting him or her at risk for heart attack and stroke. Stomach ulcers, poor nutrition and sexual dysfunction have all been related to alcohol abuse.

Alcohol is a depressant, which slows down thinking and actions. It acts on the brain and affects all parts of the body. An average-size person's liver can break down about one drink per hour; the rest of the alcohol circulates throughout the body, affecting behavior, judgment, perception, and motor skills - such as driving and operating machinery.