Alcoholism Occurs When an Individuals

Alcoholism occurs when an individuals alcoholic beverage consumption, or their preoccupation with the beverages, negatively affects the person's personal and/or professional life (Sales, 1999). Long-term alcohol consumption can result in both physiological and psychological problems, such as their sense of self becoming defensive and subjective (Chafetz & Harold, 1962). Alcoholism typically occurs as an individual tries to escape some inner sense of emptiness. This sense of emptiness can be brought on family experiences, abuse, or even parental alcoholism. It is a means of escaping the negative emotions they are feeling while also trying to exert some control over their lives (Denizen, 1987). It is one of the most prevalent types of addictions, and with it come unique challenges for those suffering and for those in recovery.

Whether alcoholism is a disease or a character flaw, "scientists don't know how best to treat it and can't even decide on how to define it" (Kolata, 1988). This makes the recovery process even more difficult. Not only does the alcoholic suffer, but the entire family suffers as well (Stark, 1997; Steinglass, 1987). Many alcoholics join Alcoholics Anonymous due to their "inability to function on the job or maintain consistent employment due to missed work, poor production, or bad relations with supervisors or co-workers" (Wilcox, 1988, p. 35). but, as Brown and Lewis (1999) note even when alcoholics begin the recovery process, it is not a quick fix, continuing tension may remain for years, continuing to negatively affect the individual's family and work life. Despite the fact that there have been important advances in the integration of biological and neurocognitive findings (Leonard & Howard, 1999), there is still much to learn about the disease and how best to treat it. Too often the case alcoholism is fought, but not won (Walsh, 2004).