Changes

'''Alcoholism''' refers to [[addiction]] to [[Alcoholic Drinks|alcoholic beverages]].  The medical term used to refer to alcoholism is ''alcohol dependence''.  A person can be diagnosed with alcohol dependence if at least three of these criteria occur during the same 12-month span:  (a) tolerance (i.e., more alcohol is needed to produce the same effect); (b) alcohol withdrawal; (c) alcohol is used in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended (i.e., loss of control); (d) chronic desire or unsuccessful attempts to reduce drinking; (e) a great deal of time is spent obtaining or using alcohol; (f) other activities are reduced in order to use or recover from using alcohol; (g) drinking continues despite persistent problems that it either causes or makes worse.<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994).  ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', Fourth Edition.  APA, Washington, D.C.</ref>

'''Alcoholism''' -- euphemistically called "alcohol use disorder"<ref name="CNN">https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/health/heavy-drinkers-handle-liquor-wellness/index.html</ref> today -- refers to [[addiction]] to [[Alcoholic Drinks|alcoholic beverages]].  The medical term used to refer to alcoholism is ''alcohol dependence''.  This is a deadly [[addiction]] and [[alcoholic]]s cannot really "hold their liquor" as some claim.<ref name="CNN"/>

 

A person can be diagnosed with alcohol dependence if at least three of these criteria occur during the same 12-month span:  (a) tolerance (i.e., more alcohol is needed to produce the same effect); (b) alcohol withdrawal; (c) alcohol is used in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended (i.e., loss of control); (d) chronic desire or unsuccessful attempts to reduce drinking; (e) a great deal of time is spent obtaining or using alcohol; (f) other activities are reduced in order to use or recover from using alcohol; (g) drinking continues despite persistent problems that it either causes or makes worse.<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994).  ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', Fourth Edition.  APA, Washington, D.C.</ref>

"Alcohol contributes to approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the US, making it the third leading preventable cause of death," and years are subtracted from life expectancy due to alcoholism.<ref>https://www.hvrc.com/end-stage-alcoholism-life-expectancy/</ref>

"Alcohol contributes to approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the US, making it the third leading preventable cause of death," and years are subtracted from life expectancy due to alcoholism.<ref>https://www.hvrc.com/end-stage-alcoholism-life-expectancy/</ref>