Frequently asked questions about alcoholism, alcohol abuse Published Sept. 13, 2007 By Sally B. Smith Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- 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". Is alcoholism a disease? Yes. 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 with identifiable 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 the risk for developing alcoholism does run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. 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. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children in alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing your risk is important, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol. Can alcoholism be cured? While alcoholism may not be cured, per se, it can be managed through abstinence. Even if an alcoholic hasn't been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages. Can alcoholism be treated? Yes. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. With support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. 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 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. Nearly 14 million people in the United States -- one in every 13 adults -- abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems, and alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. Statistics also show people who start drinking at an early age greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives. Does alcohol affect women differently? Yes. 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. When taking medicines, must you stop drinking? Yes. More than 150 medicines interact harmfully with alcohol, and 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 prescription medications, ask a doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol. How can you tell if someone has a problem? Answering the following questions can help you find out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem: -- Have you felt you should cut down on drinking? -- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? -- Have you felt bad or guilty about drinking? -- Have you 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" means 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. How can a person get help for an alcohol problem? For more information, call the Tinker Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Office at 739-7141. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.