What is the pattern of alcohol use now? For teenagers, it as quite normal to drink at parties, women are encouraged by pubs with special promotional nights, young girls who are financially independent visit the night clubs regularly, middle aged women share a drink with their husbands at home, professional meetings and seminars always have a talk followed by cocktails and dinner. Drinking is no longer taboo or confined to one group or sex. Consumption of alcohol no longer carries the stigma it once had. People from a wide spectrum including women and youngsters have come to accept alcohol as an integral part of social life. When alcohol is limited to ones social life it does not cause any major problems. But when it becomes part of ones daily life, then it can have serious untoward consequences

Of those who drink, a great majority would know when to stop and how to limit their usage. They do not let alcohol affect their family, work or social life. But a few who drink cannot exercise any control and they become habitual drinkers. They gradually develop total dependence on alcohol.

What is alcohol dependence?
A person who is addicted / dependent on alcohol is totally preoccupied with thoughts of drinking- How to get it, where to use it, where to get the money from and so on. They continue to use alcohol even when they can see that it is affecting their job, finances, family, health and social relationships.

Certain features seen in alcohol dependent people are:

Tolerance
They need to consume more and more to get the desired effect, from 2 to 3 pegs per day they gradually progress to drinking one full bottle a day. They still do not feel the euphoric effect as the body has developed increased tolerance to alcohol.

Withdrawals
When there is no alcohol in the body certain changes occur 10-12 hours after the last drink. He may have sweating, shaking, restlessness, and irritability. Here the body is craving for alcohol and the resultant changes that occur are called withdrawal symptoms.

Unsuccessful attempts to cut down: Very few addicts can cut down the drinking to socially acceptable levels. Once addicted, they either drink the whole bottle or none at all. Any attempts to cut down are highly unsuccessful.

Drinking more than intended: Every morning an alcoholic will tell himself that he will only drink 2 pegs or 3 pegs. Rarely does he succeed in doing so.

Giving up other activities:  Alcohol does not become a part but the whole of his life. How to get the next drink, who to borrow money from seem far more important issues than his family or job. Evenings are spent drinking alone or with drinking friends. Old friendships and hobbies are forgotten. His own family is seen in a different light- wife is perceived as someone who is always complaining, children are hardly seen as they are already asleep when he comes home. Taking the family out, playing with the children, getting involved in their studies or school activities will all become things of the past as there is neither the time nor the interest. Every single rupee and spare time is devoted to his great companion- Alcohol.

Continues Drinking despite consequences

• There might have been repeated warnings at work or he may have lost his job
• There are daily fights at home and the spouse threatens to leave or has left him
• He has debts to be paid and all his old friends avoid his company.
• He is unable to eat and has acidity problems

All these are due to his heavy drinking and he is aware of it. Yet he continues to drink. Why?
It is because he is suffering from the disease of alcoholism or addiction. He needs treatment. As with any other illness, treatment will help him to recover from his problem.