Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States

today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-

workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the

causes and the effects.

Alcoholism is defined as a pattern of drinking in which harmful

consequences result for the drinker, yet, they continue to drink. There are two

types of drinkers. The first type, the casual or social drinker, drinks because

they want to. They drink with a friend or with a group for pleasure and only on

occasion. The other type, the compulsive drinker, drinks because they have to,

despite the adverse effects that drinking has on their lives.

The symptoms of alcoholism vary from person to person, but the most

common symptoms seen are changes in emotional state or stability, behavior, and

personality. "Alcoholics may become angry and argumentive, or quiet and

withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and

confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175).

"Because time and amount of drinking are uncontrollable, the

alcoholics is likely to engage in such behaviors as [1] breaking family

commitments, both major and minor; [2] spending more money than planned; [3]

drinking while intoxicated and getting arrested; [4] making inappropriate

remarks to friends, family, and co-workers; [5] arguing, fighting and other

anti-social actions. The alcoholic would probably neither do such things, nor

approve of them in others unless he was drinking" (Johnson 203).

The cause of alcoholism is a combination of biological, psychological,

and cultural factors that may contribute to the development of alcoholism in an

individual. Alcoholism seems to run in families. "Although there is no

conclusive indication of how the alcoholism of families members is associated,

studies show that 50 to 80 percent of all alcoholics have had a close alcoholic

relative" (Caplan 266). Some...