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Why do I crave alcohol every night?
Triggers – “Cravings often happen as an automatic response to a trigger, which could be a memory of something associated with alcohol or an emotion such as stress,” Mehta explains. Most people who experience cravings notice a mix of internal and external triggers. Internal triggers typically involve memories, thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that prompt the urge to drink. For example:
sadnessanxiety or stressanger or irritationphysical pain or discomfort
External triggers refer to the environmental cues you link to alcohol, including places, times, people, and situations. For example:
visiting a restaurant or bar where you usually drinkattending a party the end of your workdayarguing with a parent
When a craving for alcohol strikes, a good first step involves acknowledging the craving, according to Mehta. She goes on to explain that while the craving might be intense, it will lessen and pass in a few minutes. “A typical craving might last for 3 to 5 minutes,” notes Christina Hanks, senior recovery coach and care team manager at Tempest.
Will I lose weight if I stop drinking?
People who gain fat from alcohol tend to gain it in the midsection of their body, causing an alcohol or ‘beer belly.’ Cutting back on regular, moderate-to-heavy alcohol intake can make it easier to lose weight. People also find that they experience fewer unhealthy food cravings when they cut back on alcohol.
Can you drink everyday and not be an alcoholic?
Press Release – Embargoed until: Thursday, November 20, 2014, Noon ET Contact: pdf icon 9 out of 10 excessive drinkers are not alcohol dependent 89.8%: Excessive Drinkers Who are Not Dependent 10.2%: Excessive Drinkers Who are Dependent Entire Infographic pdf icon Nine in 10 adults who drink too much alcohol are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The study appears today in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease, Excessive drinking includes binge drinking (four or more drinks on an occasion for women, five or more drinks on an occasion for men); consuming eight or more drinks a week for women or 15 or more drinks a week for men; or any alcohol use by pregnant women or those under the minimum legal drinking age of 21.
Alcohol dependence is a chronic medical condition that typically includes a current or past history of excessive drinking, a strong craving for alcohol, continued use despite repeated problems with drinking, and an inability to control alcohol consumption.
- This study shows that, contrary to popular opinion, most people who drink too much are not alcohol dependent or alcoholics,” said Robert Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H., Alcohol Program Lead at CDC and one of the report’s authors.
- It also emphasizes the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to reducing excessive drinking that includes evidence-based community strategies, screening and counseling in healthcare settings, and high-quality substance abuse treatment for those who need it.” The study found that nearly 1 in 3 adults is an excessive drinker, and most of them binge drink, usually on multiple occasions.
In contrast, about 1 in 30 adults is classified as alcohol dependent. The rates of alcohol dependence increase with the amount of alcohol consumed. About 10 percent of binge drinkers are alcohol dependent, while 30 percent of people who binge frequently (10 or more times a month) are alcohol dependent.
- Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 88,000 deaths in the U.S.
- Each year (including about 3,700 deaths from alcohol dependence), and cost the U.S.
- 223.5 billion in 2006.
- These deaths were due to health effects from drinking too much over time, such as breast cancer, liver disease, and heart disease; and health effects from drinking too much in a short period of time, such as violence, alcohol poisoning, and motor vehicle crashes.
Excessive drinkers who are dependent often need specialized or more intensive treatment to change their behavior. People who drink too much, but are not dependent, can still be encouraged to drink less through state and local interventions that increase the price and limit the availability of alcohol.
In addition those who are not dependent may be candidates for other clinical interventions, including screening and counseling offered by doctors and other health professionals. CDC and SAMHSA scientists analyzed data on 138,100 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older from all 50 states and D.C. who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2009, 2010, or 2011.
The survey includes a wide range of questions on substance use, including current drinking, binge drinking, average alcohol consumption, and symptoms of alcohol dependence. The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends several evidence-based strategies to reduce excessive drinking, including increasing alcohol taxes, regulating alcohol outlet density, and holding alcohol retailers liable for harms resulting from illegal sales to minors or intoxicated patrons.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening and counseling for excessive drinking for all adult patients.
- This service is covered by most insurance plans, and can also be delivered by computer or telephone.
- For more information about excessive drinking, including binge drinking, and how to prevent this dangerous behavior, visit the CDC’s Alcohol and Public Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/index.htm.
Members of the public who are concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at1-800-662-HELP to receive assistance from the Treatment Referral Routing Service. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES external icon
Is it acceptable to drink every night?
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is daily drinking problem drinking? DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it possible to become an alcoholic just by having one or two drinks nightly? I have a glass or two of wine with dinner but never drink to the point of feeling drunk. Should I be concerned? ANSWER: Occasional beer or wine with dinner, or a drink in the evening, is not a health problem for most people.
- When drinking becomes a daily activity, though, it may represent progression of your consumption and place you at increased health risks.
- From your description of your drinking habits, it may be time to take a closer look at how much you drink.
- Drinking alcohol in moderation generally is not a cause for concern.
According to the, drinking is considered to be in the moderate or low-risk range for women at no more than three drinks in any one day and no more than seven drinks per week. For men, it is no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks per week. That said, it’s easy to drink more than a standard drink in one glass. For example, many wine glasses hold far more than 5 ounces. You could easily drink 8 ounces of wine in a glass. If you have two of those glasses during a meal, you are consuming about three standard drinks.
- Although not drinking to the point of becoming drunk is a common way people gauge how much they should drink, it can be inaccurate.
- Researchers who study find that people with high tolerance to alcohol, who do not feel the effects of alcohol after they drink several alcoholic beverages, are actually at a higher risk for alcohol-related problems.
It’s also important to note that, even though you may not feel the effects of alcohol, you still have the same amount of alcohol in your body as someone who starts to feel intoxicated after one or two drinks. Your lack of response to the alcohol may be related to an increase in your body’s alcohol tolerance over time.
- Some people are born with high tolerance; many people develop a tolerance with regular drinking.
- Drinking more than the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommended limits puts you in the category of “at-risk” drinking.
- That means you have a higher risk for negative consequences related to your alcohol use, including health and social problems.
You are also at higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcohol can damage your body’s organs and lead to various health concerns. For women, this damage happens with lower doses of alcohol, because their bodies have lower water content than men. That’s why the moderate drinking guidelines for women and men are so different.
- The specific organ damage that happens with too much alcohol use varies considerably from one person to another.
- The most common health effects include heart, liver and nerve damage, as well as memory problems and sexual dysfunction.
- Unless you notice specific negative consequences related to your drinking, it probably is not necessary for you to quit drinking alcohol entirely.
However, I would strongly encourage you to reduce the amount you drink, so it fits within the guidelines of moderate drinking. Doing so can protect your health in the long run. —, Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota : Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is daily drinking problem drinking?
Is it OK to have alcohol every night?
Articles Related to Alcoholism – Can I Detox From Alcohol At Home? Alcohol detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. Am I An Alcoholic? Alcoholism takes many forms, and the stereotype doesn’t always hold true. So when do a few drinks with friends become a full-blown alcohol addiction? How do you know if you are an alcoholic? Repairing Liver Damage From Alcohol Use While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease. Foods to Eat When Detoxing From Alcohol When detoxing, hydration is key. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. How Long Does Alcohol Detox & Withdrawal Take? Detox from alcohol can begin within hours. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. What Are the Effects of Daily Drinking? Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. Editor – Melissa Carmona Melissa Carmona puts years of writing and editing experience to work helping people understand substance abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. Read more Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Kevin Wandler, MD Kevin Wandler holds multiple positions at Advanced Recovery Systems. In addition to being the founding and chief medical director at Advanced Recovery Systems, he is also the medical director at The Recovery Village Ridgefield and at The Recovery Village Palmer Lake.
Read more Thompson, Warren. ” Alcoholism: Practice Essentials,” Medscape, March 23, 2020. Accessed March 5, 2021. Anderson, Pauline. ” WHO Reports 3 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths in 2016,” Medscape, September 27, 2018. Accessed March 5, 2021. Clapp, Peter et al. ” How Adaptation of the Brain to Alcohol Leads to Dependence,” Alcohol Research and Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2008.
Accessed March 5, 2021. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. ” Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder,” December 2020. Accessed March 5, 2021. Maisto, Stephen A. et al. ” Diagnosis,” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, August 2004.
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- Drinking Levels Defined.
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- Alcohol Fact and Statistics,” February 2021.
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- Alcohol’s Effects on the Body,” Accessed March 5, 2021.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. ” Alcohol Use in Families,” May 2019. Accessed March 5, 2021. National Alliance on Mental Illness. ” Mental Illness and Substance Abuse,” January 2010. Accessed March 5, 2021. Nkansah-Amankraa, Stephen and Minelli, Mark.
- Gateway hypothesis” and early drug useescents to adulthood,” Preventive Medicine Reports, December 2016.
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- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).” January 2018.
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” Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment,” October 2015. Accessed March 5, 2021. American Psychiatric Association. “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition.” 2013. Accessed March 5, 2021. Ritchie, H; Roser, M. ” Alcohol Consumption.
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- Medical Disclaimer The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes.
We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
Is it normal to want to drink all the time?
Drinking every night – a sign of problem drinking or alcoholism? – Here are some of the common signs of alcoholism to think about:
Experiencing more and more negative consequences as a result of your drinking, such upsetting the family, or feeling increasingly guilty or ashamed Drinking to the point where you ‘black out’ and can’t remember the night before, including conversations or behaviours. You may try to find out what happened by dropping hints, or only remember when someone reminds you Feeling embarrassed about the amount that you drink Needing a drink before you go out in case there isn’t enough. You may have also noticed that other people don’t drink in the same way as you Lying to others or hiding your drinking from others Drinking more than you intended on doing in the evening Finding that you are drinking to relieve stress or to relax Prioritising your drinking above your responsibilities, like family, work and hobbies Wanting to cut down or stop drinking every night but being unable to
If you feel that you need a drink every night or to get through a social event, stressful situation or personal struggle, and you have a compulsion to drink or, maybe even daily, this could be a sign of psychological dependency. This is just as serious as physical addiction, and is something to address.
Regular heavy drinking can lead to you building up a tolerance to alcohol, where you need to drink more and more to feel its effects. In an evening, you may feel that you are not getting drunk despite drinking quite a lot of alcohol – this can be a sign that you may have an alcohol problem. Over time, if you have found that you need to drink to stave off withdrawal symptoms, like shakes, sweating or tremors, this is a sign of physical addiction too.
How To Stop Alcohol Cravings In 5 Seconds
It’s important to recognise that it is dangerous to suddenly stop drinking without first consulting your GP.
What is the urge to drink called?
What Is Alcoholism? Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:
Craving — A strong need, or urge, to drink. Loss of control — Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun. Physical dependence — Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking. Tolerance — The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high.”
For clinical and research purposes, formal diagnostic criteria for alcoholism also have been developed. Such criteria are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as in the International Classification Diseases, published by the World Health Organization.
Is Alcoholism a Disease? Yes, alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms.
The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle. Is Alcoholism Inherited? Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle also is a factor.
Currently, researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism. But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn’t mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic, too.
Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.
- Can Alcoholism Be Cured? No, alcoholism cannot be cured at this time.
- Even if an alcoholic hasn’t been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse.
- Not drinking is the safest course for most people with alcoholism.
- Can Alcoholism Be Treated? Yes, alcoholism can be treated.
- Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking.
Treatment has helped many people stop drinking and rebuild their lives. Which Medications Treat Alcoholism? Three oral medications — disulfiram (Antabuse®), naltrexone (Depade®, ReVia®) and acamprosate (Campral®) — are currently approved to treat alcohol dependence.
In addition, an injectable, long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol®) is available. These medications have been shown to help people with dependence reduce their drinking, avoid relapse to heavy drinking, and achieve and maintain abstinence. Naltrexone acts in the brain to reduce craving for alcohol after someone has stopped drinking.
Acamprosate is thought to work by reducing symptoms that follow lengthy abstinence, such as anxiety and insomnia. Disulfiram discourages drinking by making the person taking it feel sick after drinking alcohol. Other types of drugs are available to help manage symptoms of withdrawal (such as shakiness, nausea and sweating) if they occur after someone with alcohol dependence stops drinking.
Although medications are available to help treat alcoholism, there is no “magic bullet.” In other words, no single medication is available that works in every case and/or in every person. Developing new and more effective medications to treat alcoholism remains a high priority for researchers. Does Alcoholism Treatment Work? Alcoholism treatment works for many people.
But like other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time.
With treatment, one thing is clear, however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober. Do You Have to Be an Alcoholic to Experience Problems? No. Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just as harmful. A person can abuse alcohol without actually being an alcoholic — that is, he or she may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol.
Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous — for example, when driving, during pregnancy or when taking certain medications.
Are Specific Groups of People More Likely to Have Problems? Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race and nationality. In the United States, 17.6 million people — about one in every 12 adults — abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. In general, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems.
And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18 to 29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age — for example, at age 14 or younger — are at much higher risk of developing alcohol problems at some point in their lives compared to someone who starts drinking at age 21 or after.
Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
One “yes” answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one “yes” answers mean it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you think that you or someone you know might have an alcohol problem, it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider right away.
They can help you determine if a drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action. Can a Problem Drinker Simply Cut Down? It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is “no.” Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol — that is, abstaining — is usually the best course for recovery.
People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems may be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can’t stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether. If an Alcoholic Is Unwilling to Get Help, What Can You Do About It? This can be a challenge.
Stop all “cover ups.” Family members often make excuses to others or try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking. It is important to stop covering for the alcoholic so that he or she experiences the full consequences of drinking. Time your intervention. The best time to talk to the drinker is shortly after an alcohol-related problem has occurred — like a serious family argument or an accident. Choose a time when he or she is sober, both of you are fairly calm and you have a chance to talk in private. Be specific. Tell the family member that you are worried about his or her drinking. Use examples of the ways in which the drinking has caused problems, including the most recent incident. State the results. Explain to the drinker what you will do if he or she doesn’t go for help — not to punish the drinker, but to protect yourself from his or her problems. What you say may range from refusing to go with the person to any social activity where alcohol will be served to moving out of the house. Do not make any threats you are not prepared to carry out. Get help. Gather information in advance about treatment options in your community. If the person is willing to get help, call immediately for an appointment with a treatment counselor. Offer to go with the family member on the first visit to a treatment program and/or an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Call on a friend. If the family member still refuses to get help, ask a friend to talk with him or her using the steps just described. A friend who is a recovering alcoholic may be particularly persuasive, but any person who is caring and nonjudgmental may help. The intervention of more than one person, more than one time, is often necessary to coax an alcoholic to seek help. Find strength in numbers. With the help of a health care professional, some families join with other relatives and friends to confront an alcoholic as a group. This approach should only be tried under the guidance of a health care professional who is experienced in this kind of group intervention. Get support. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Support groups offered in most communities include Al-Anon, which holds regular meetings for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic’s life, and Alateen, which is geared to children of alcoholics. These groups help family members understand that they are not responsible for an alcoholic’s drinking and that they need to take steps to take care of themselves, regardless of whether the alcoholic family member chooses to get help.
You can call the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) for information about treatment programs in your local community and to speak to someone about an alcohol problem.
Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant People who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as driving a car) People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking Recovering alcoholics People younger than age 21
Is It Safe to Drink During Pregnancy? No, alcohol can harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy. Although the highest risk is to babies whose mothers drink heavily, it is not clear yet whether there is any completely safe level of alcohol during pregnancy.
For this reason, the U.S. Surgeon General released advisories in 1981 and again in 2005 urging women who are pregnant or may become pregnant to abstain from alcohol. The damage caused by prenatal alcohol includes a range of physical, behavioral and learning problems in babies. Babies most severely affected have what is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
These babies may have abnormal facial features and severe learning disabilities. Babies also can be born with mild disabilities without the facial changes typical of FAS. Does Alcohol Affect Older People Differently? Alcohol’s effects do vary with age.
- Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing and a lower tolerance to alcohol’s effects put older people at higher risk for falls, car crashes and other types of injuries that may result from drinking.
- Older people also tend to take more medicines than younger people.
- Mixing alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medications can be very dangerous, even fatal.
In addition, alcohol can make many of the medical conditions common in older people, including high blood pressure and ulcers, more serious. Physical changes associated with aging can make older people feel “high” even after drinking only small amounts of alcohol.
- So even if there is no medical reason to avoid alcohol, older men and women should limit themselves to one drink per day.
- Does Alcohol Affect Women Differently? Yes, alcohol affects women differently than men.
- Women become more impaired than men do after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account.
This is because women’s bodies have less water than men’s bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman’s body than in a man’s. In other words, it would be like dropping the same amount of alcohol into a much smaller pail of water.
- That is why the recommended drinking limit for women is lower than for men.
- In addition, chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men.
- Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain, heart and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.
- Is Alcohol Good for Your Heart? Studies have shown that moderate drinkers are less likely to die from one form of heart disease than are people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink more.
If you are a nondrinker, however, you should not start drinking solely to benefit your heart. You can guard against heart disease by exercising and eating foods that are low in fat. And if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic or have another medical condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink.
If you can safely drink alcohol and you choose to drink, do so in moderation. Heavy drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis. When Taking Medications, Must You Stop Drinking? Possibly.
More than 150 medications interact harmfully with alcohol. These interactions may result in increased risk of illness, injury and even death. Alcohol’s effects are heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and some painkillers.
In addition, medicines for certain disorders, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, can have harmful interactions with alcohol. If you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol. How Can a Person Get Help for an Alcohol Problem? There are many national and local resources that can help.
The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service provides a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), offering various resource information. Through this service you can speak directly to a representative concerning substance abuse treatment, request printed material on alcohol or other drugs, or obtain local substance abuse treatment referral information in your state.
JAMA Patient Page: Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Alcoholism: Getting the Facts Family History of Alcoholism: Are You at Risk?