Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism) Defined

Symptoms

Alcohol dependence can involve any of the following symptoms or behaviors:
     Having long episodes of intoxication
     Drinking alone
     Having work problems or financial problems caused by drinking
     Losing interest in food
     Being careless about personal appearance
     Having blackouts
     Driving drunk
     Hurting oneself or someone else while intoxicated
     Hiding liquor bottles and glasses to hide the evidence of drinking
     Experiencing mood or personality changes

Because large amounts of alcohol can be toxic to the body (for example, the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal or nervous systems), alcoholism also may cause physical symptoms:

     Morning nausea or shaking
     Signs of malnutrition due to a poor diet
     Abdominal pain or diarrhea
     A flushed red color to the face and palms
     Numbness, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs
     Unusually frequent accidental injuries, especially falls

To help determine whether someone has an alcohol problem, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends taking the CAGE test.