Alcoholism, a disease that makes one’s body dependent on alcohol, is a serious health concern in today’s society.  It is classified by the following four symptoms:

• Craving: the urge or need to drink
• Loss of control: inability to stop drinking once one has started
• Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms
• Tolerance: a greater amount of alcohol must be consumed to get to the same state of “high” as before

Alcoholics may be unable to control their drinking habits even though these habits can have serious negative impacts on that person’s work, relationships, and health.  Alcoholism is a disease that gets worse with time and can be developed after a month or years of drinking.  It can not be cured, but there are many treatment options available for alcoholics.  These are just some general facts about alcoholism.