Alcohol use is to the degree that it interferes with physical or mental health, or with normal social or work behavior. Alcohol produces both physical and psychological addiction. It is a central nervous system depressant that reduces anxiety, inhibition, and feelings of guilt. It lowers alertness and impairs perception, judgment, and motor coordination. In high doses, it can cause loss of consciousness and even death.
Chronic alcoholism damages the brain, liver, heart, and other organs.
Spotting the signs and symptoms of alcoholism is not always easy. Drinking-related arrests or job loss can be signs of alcoholism, but they tend to happen late in the disease. Many signs occur earlier, yet are harder to detect. A growing preoccupation with or interest in drinking, drinking alone or drinking before an activity where there will be drinking. It may seem as though one simply enjoys drinking.