1. Alcoholism and Recovery
A Brief History of Alcohol Consumption
There is no way to know exactly when alcoholic beverages were first fermented.They are just
that old. However, there have been beer jugs discovered that date back to the Neolithic period
which means they were produced sometime around 10,000 BCE. It is believed that beer
preceded bread as a dietary staple, and it is clear that wine is depicted as a finished product in
Egyptian wall paintings around 4,000 BCE.
To say alcohol was important in the development of the major cultures of the world would be an
understatement. Alcohol is a product that has existed throughout all known history, and has
served a variety of functions for people for thousands of years.
Alcohol plays an important role in the major religions of the world, and has been widely used for
its analgesic and antiseptic applications in medicine. Beyond being a refreshment alcohol plays a
role in enhancing the enjoyment and quality of life. Alcoholic beverages can be relaxing, can
provide euphoric effects, can increase the pleasure of eating, and can be a social lubricant.
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing between 3 – 40 percent of the psychoactive chemical
ethanol. In the majority of countries in the world these beverages can be legally consumed, but
over 100 nations have specific laws dedicated to regulating them. There are two categories of
alcoholic drinks – fermented beverages (beer, and wine), and distilled beverages (spirits such as
vodka, and whiskey).
A variety of beverages evolved based on the local resources used to produce them. Different
drinks became prevalent in different regions. Alcohol has played a major role in commerce
around the globe, and has even been used as currency at different points in time. In 2014 the
global alcohol industry was expected to exceed $1 trillion dollars in sales.
As far back as the Egyptian period there is evidence of the importance of moderation relating to
alcohol intake. Other historical findings indicate that the ancient Babylonians, the Chinese, the
Greeks, and many other cultures discouraged drunkenness or what we would call “alcohol abuse”
today.
Attitudes on consumption frequency and amount were varied across cultures, but the average
person would likely consume some alcohol regularly. According the National Institute of Health
(NIH) in 2012 87.6 of American adults reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their
lifetime; 71 percent had drunk in the past year; 56.3 percent had drunk in the past month.
How and Why Alcoholism Develops
Alcoholism is the common term for what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), a
complete listing of diagnostic criteria for mental health professionals, refers to as Alcohol Use
Disorders (AUD). In simple terms an AUD exists when an individual’s drinking causes distress
or harm. In 2012 the NIH published that 7.2 percent of all adults surveyed reported having an

2. AUD in the past year. The DSM used to distinguish between alcohol abuse and alcohol
dependence, but in the latest version they are combined as one disorder with the distinctions of
mild, moderate, and severe abuse.
These definitions and numbers paint a complicated picture. On the one hand there are a lot of
people who drink, but only a small amount of them become alcoholics. On the other hand the
statistics also show that one out of every twelve American adults experience distress and harm
directly related to their drinking. So the question at hand is why some people develop
alcoholism, and why do they have so much trouble walking away from the substance that is
causing them so many problems.
There are a number of factors involved when it comes to why some people become alcoholics,
and others enjoy drinking alcohol with little or no consequences. Things like genetic history,
developmental issues, and psychological factors all may play a part. One fact that is scientifically
proven is that individuals who start drinking before their fifteenth birthday are four times as
likely to become alcoholic. Beyond that each case of alcoholism and the factors involved are
individual and somewhat unique. However, the one thing that all alcoholics have in common is
dependence on alcohol.
Alcoholism is characterized by a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Dependence
means that the individual’s body chemistry is changed through regular drinking. Remember that
alcoholism is defined by the harm and distress that drinking creates in the person’s life, so the
amount, frequency, and duration of alcohol abuse can be very different. At the same time a non-
alcoholic can experience short-term consequences related to intoxication. The bottom line is
that using alcohol affects alcoholics in a different way than it does normal drinkers.
The telltale signs of alcohol dependence are tolerance, and withdrawal. Tolerance is the
phenomena of needing to drink more in order to experience the same effects. With regular
drinking the body makes adjustments so that it can process alcohol better, so the person will
need to drink more to feel intoxicated. Withdrawal is a syndrome that occurs for any person
whose body chemistry has changed to the point of needing alcohol to function. Common
symptoms of withdrawal are the shakes, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, irritability, depression,
and many more. What is important to note about withdrawal is that it is a very real physiological
occurrence that can be potentially dangerous in extreme cases.
In understanding alcoholism knowing about dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal is helpful,
but in some ways may raise more questions than it answers for individuals that have never
experienced it. Withdrawal is a terrible experience, and the thought of needing a drink to
function is mystifying. Why do people who have this level of consequences continue to abuse
alcohol? The answer is that the psychological dependence that accompanies the physical is
equally important. Remember that alcohol affects alcoholics in a different way, and this leads to
obsession, loss of control, drinking even though it is affecting relationships and responsibilities,
drinking at inappropriate times, and continuing to drink despite negative consequences.
The truth is that alcoholism is a complex condition that affects every area of the alcoholic’s life
in one way or another. It may be hard to understand what is driving the alcoholic to continue,
and in fact may be impossible to understand from the outside looking in. However, 17 million

3. adults experience an alcohol use disorder each year, and a large percentage of them will require
professional help to get better. The good news is that over time treatment for alcoholism has
evolved so that many alcoholics do recover from their addiction.
Recovering from Alcoholism
Because alcohol use serves a purpose for the alcoholic it can be very hard for them to recognize it
as the core of their troubles. Also if they have tried to quit on their own only to fail, or are living
in fear of withdrawal based on past experiences they may truly believe that there is nothing that
can be done to get them sober. Their fears are real and the situation is grim. Fortunately there is
help available, and it is likely easier to get treatment for alcoholism than you might think.
In the United States there are over 14,000 specialized treatment facilities that help individuals
overcome alcoholism. There are a wide variety of services offered in both outpatient and
inpatient settings, and both private and public rehab facilities. There are a number of different
addiction treatment models to choose from which means that there is a rehab option out there
to fit with the alcoholic’s individual needs. Rehab programs provide monitored detoxification to
deal with withdrawal symptoms, and then provide a safe environment that facilitates change. No
one rehab program is right for everyone, so it is important to find a facility that uses a recovery
model the alcoholic can see applying to their lives after treatment is complete.
Recovery from alcoholism is a long-term process, but a good alcohol rehab program can get
things moving in the right direction. Once the alcoholic’s mind is cleared they are able to learn
new life skills, and relapse-prevention skills to remain sober for a lifetime. Alcoholism is a
difficult situation for everyone involved, but there is help available if you are willing to accept it.