Definition of alcoholism

There is more than one definition of alcoholism:

A chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disease, characterized by tolerance and physical dependency or pathologic changes, or both--on the ingestion of alcohol. The disease often results in pathological damage to internal organs and sometimes death. [Taber's Medical Dictionary]

"A chronic behavior manifested by undue preoccupation with alcohol to the detriment of physical and mental health, by a loss of control when drinking has begun, although it may not be carried to the point intoxication and by a self-destructive attitude in dealing with relationships and life situations." [Chafetz and Demone]

"The alcoholic uses alcohol to such an extent that it interferes with a successful life and is either not able to recognize this effect nor able to control his alcohol consumption, although he knows its disastrous results." [Diethelm, The Etiology of Chronic Alcoholism]

Alcohol addiction is recognized as a disease which has various causes relating to one's physiology, psychology, or socioeconomic reality. There is a hereditary factor in alcoholism as well; the tendency toward developing alcohol addiction is genetic although the genetic predisposition is not necessarily a predetermination of alcoholism within a family.