Alcohol

Alcoholism is the addiction to or dependency upon drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. Since the late twentieth century it has been considered an addictive disorder which is characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, relationships, and social standing. Alcohol addiction, like other drug addictions, is medically defined as a treatable disease.

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a sedative-hypnotic drug that acts on the human brain like other sedative-hypnotic drugs such as barbiturates and tranquilizers. All of these drugs can substitute for one another and prevent withdrawal symptoms from each other. Thus benzodiazepine tranquilizers are commonly used briefly to treat severe alcohol withdrawal.

Individuals who abuse any of these drugs (including alcohol) may develop physical symptoms upon abrupt discontinuation or drastic reduction of dosage. Symptoms may include anxiety, restlessness, irritability and insomnia, elevated blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration, confusion, hyper-vigilance and disorientation, visual and auditory hallucinations, acute psychotic behavior, grand mal seizures, infrequently, sudden death.

Physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms from sedative-hypnotic drugs such as alcohol will develop in anyone exposed to the drug long enough, regularly enough and in a sufficient dosage if intake is suddenly curtailed.

Q: Is alcohol addiction the same as drug addiction?

A: Ethyl alcohol, like other sedative-hypnotic drugs in its class, can cause physical dependence in anyone who consumes enough of it for a sufficient period of time. The withdrawal syndrome from ethyl alcohol is identical to that of barbiturates and tranquilizers.

Q: Can I ever be completely cured of alcoholism?

A: Some "experts" and treatment groups say yes, but the traditional wisdom of groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous is that alcoholism is a disease that can never be cured, but only controlled. However, as with other chronic diseases, it can be successfully managed.

Caron is an organization dedicated to providing an enlightened and caring treatment and rehabilitation environment for all those who are affected by alcoholism and other drug addictions. Caron offers a complete treatment experience by addressing mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the patients, while providing the foundation for building a long-term plan of appropriate self-care, including involvement in12-Step recovery programs.