Definitions

This post will encompass important definitions and key points. 

Alcoholism also known as Alcohol dependence is when a person’s body develops a dependence on ingesting alcohol. This is to be differentiated form Alcohol abuse, which is not an addiction but where alcohol is consumed in such a manner that it can put the individual at risk for harm to theirself and others.

To start lets clear up definitions.

Dependence is a physical need by the body for a substance to be ingested or present in the body.

Addiction means a psychological desire to consume or ingest a substance (or engage in an act to produce that substance) even if it is harmful to the body. Another way to put it is continued use despite repeated physical, psychological or interpersonal problems.

Alcoholism falls into the dependence category. Where if the substance is removed from the body, the body will begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal is when a negative reaction occurs due to the fact that a substance is missing from the body, common in drugs and alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the substance withdrawing from.

Tolerance is when a body becomes resistant or tolerant of the effects of a substance, as to such that to feel the effects of the substance you must first break past the tolerance level.

Tolerance break is a term to describe a major shift in functioning when the tolerance level has been breached. (an example being a chronic alcohol dependent person drinking a large amount of alcohol and not experiencing intoxication until breaking their tolerance limit and experiencing rapid, heavy intoxication).

Binge Drinking is drinking enough alcohol to bring the blood alcohol level(BAC) to 0.08% or more. This usually entails 5 or more standard drinks for men and 4 or more standard drinks for women. The time frame is usually within 2 hours. 

Heavy drinking is usually defined as 15 or more drinks a week for men and 8 or more drinks a week for women.

A standard drink is equal to about 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in

-12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).

-8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).

-5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).

-1.5-ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).

Whenever I refer to drinks in posts it will be based off of this information. 

It is the amount of pure alcohol that is important; the type of drink does not affect the health detriments of the drink (sans calorie content).  

All sources will be posted in my sources page. If you have questions on a specific source please feel free to contact me. (I will attempt to update the blog in the future to have all sources marked clearly for each post that they correspond to.)