Full blown alcoholism does not necessarily mean that someone is living in the back alley, drinking from a brown bag. For most people, this will involve either cutting back on their alcohol consumption or quitting altogether. The Task Force studied research on alcohol prevention among college students to find out what works, what doesn’t, and what research is needed to develop better prevention programs. According to some historians, it was Rush who provided the first clearly developed modern conception of alcohol addiction. There is a difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

Both cause negative impacts upon the health condition and life of the consumer. Outwardly they may appear to be doing well but on the inside they are a total mess, and continue to medicate heavily with alcohol. This first use of the term ‘alcoholism’ in 1852 emerged from a combination of specific historical circumstances within which changes in perceptions of excessive alcohol consumption were taking place. Take 2 individuals, one of them is a problem drinker and the other is a true alcoholic. According to the Task Force research, drinking rates are highest among incoming freshmen, males, members of fraternities or sororities, and athletes.

The answer lies in how a person deals with the consequences of their drinking. The logical step for a person with drinking problems is to simply correct the problem. The problem drinker could actually drink greater amounts of booze and drink more frequently than the alcoholic. Alternatively, you might look into residential treatment programs, or seek professional counseling services. Alcohol is involved in three out of four violent assaults, and about half of all serious crimes.

With the growing demand for treatment centers, many options are available to addicts depending on their individual needs. Using case studies to illustrate the condition of chronic alcoholism, Huss provided the first systematic description of the physical damage caused by excessive drinking. But for the problem drinker who is merely abusing alcohol, the solution is to simply make a conscious effort to control or reduce their drinking.