Alcoholism is impaired social function and altered health secondary to excess alcohol intake. There are signs of dependence and tolerance of large amounts of alcohol. Craving and symptoms on withdrawal also occur. Heavy drinkers consume four or more drinks daily. Each of these drinks has 14 grams of alcohol.
Social drinkers consume several drinks in succession.
If the common beta blockers or aspirin are also taken, blood alcohol levels are heightened. Alcohol also increases the levels of tranquilizers or barbiturates. Alcohol in the body breaks down to the acetaldehyde, a pungent irritant that decreases the activity of key enzymes in the liver and interferes with oxygen use in all mitochondria or energy generating sites. Proteins made in microtubules of the liver cells cannot be released and lead to enlarged balloon-like cells, the hallmark of alcoholic liver disease. Similar effects can occur in the fetus, leading to the fetal alcohol syndrome.