Understanding Alcoholism: What Is an Alcoholic?

Alcoholism is a chronic disease that affects the brain, behavior, and overall health. It alters how people think and feel, often resulting in substance dependence, alcohol intoxication, and disruptions in the central nervous system and neurotransmitter activity. Left untreated, it can impact blood alcohol content, increase the risk of drunk driving, and contribute to domestic violence, pregnancy complications, or even death.

Many people with alcohol use disorder experience physical dependence, emotional stress, and symptoms like amnesia, hangover, or delirium tremens. Alcohol affects metabolism, liver function tests, blood sugar levels, and raises the chance of developing hypertension, bone loss, or esophagus damage. It also plays a role in comorbidity with conditions like opioid use disorder, depression, and anxiety.

At Beach View Recovery, we provide medical drug detoxification, evidence-based therapy, and care aligned with current systematic reviews, dietary guidelines for Americans, and research from sources like JAMA and The Lancet. Our approach supports lasting sobriety, restoring quality of life through structured treatment and support. Whether your drink of choice is beer or wine the path to recovery starts with understanding what alcohol does to your body—and what happens when you stop drinking.What Is the Definition of Alcoholism?

Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is a chronic condition marked by repeated drinking despite negative outcomes. It involves strong cravings, physical dependence, and rising tolerance. The American Medical Association classifies it as a medical disorder that affects the central nervous system, dopamine pathways, and overall health.

What Is a Drinking Problem?

A drinking problem exists when alcohol use interferes with relationships, health, or work performance. This may include binge drinking, drinking to relieve stress, or ignoring injury, legal, or financial consequences. Even without daily use, heavy or compulsive alcohol intake increases risk for addiction, liver damage, and other health problems.

10 Warning Signs You’re an Alcoholic

• You drink more or longer than intended.

• You fail to stop or cut back, even after trying.

• You spend time recovering from alcohol intoxication.

• You crave alcohol when you’re not drinking.

• You keep drinking even when it causes problems at home or work.

• You stop doing things you once enjoyed.

• You drink in dangerous situations like drunk driving.

• You experience nausea, sweating, or seizures when you stop drinking.

• You’ve developed tolerance and need more alcohol for the same effects.

• You experience blackouts, confusion, or amnesia.

These are signs of alcohol dependence. If this sounds familiar, screening and evaluation by a health care provider is an important next step.

What Are the Signs or Symptoms of Alcoholism?

Physical signs include headache, vomiting, hangovers, and changes in blood alcohol content. Mental signs include irritation, mood swings, and impulsivity. Chronic use can also lead to alcoholic hepatitis, dementia, and delirium tremens—a life-threatening withdrawal state.

Complications of Alcohol Use Disorder

Long-term drinking increases the risk of heart failure, hypertension, hepatitis, and liver disease. It weakens the immune system, disrupts sleep, and interferes with metabolism and nutrient absorption. Alcohol use also contributes to crime, domestic violence, and fatalities linked to poison or overdose.

When the Stereotype Doesn’t Fit: Types of Alcoholics

The term “alcoholic” covers a wide range of behaviors, not just the stereotype of daily drinking or visible dysfunction. Researchers, including the National Institutes of Health, use subtype models to better understand risk, disease progression, and how to guide therapy and screening.

Young Adult Subtype

These individuals are often in their 20s and engage in binge drinking, typically consuming more than the standard drink limit in a short time. They may not face physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms but still experience long-term damage to the nervous system, liver, and immune system. Their behavior increases risk of injury, blackout, and alcohol intoxication.

Young Antisocial Subtype

This group often has a history of substance abuse, early behavioral problems, or exposure to domestic violence. They are more likely to use other substances like methamphetamine or develop opioid use disorder. These individuals face heightened risks of drunk driving, crime, relapse, and comorbidity with mental health disorders such as depressionor dementia.

Functional Subtype

Functional drinkers manage work, family, and social roles while secretly relying on heavy alcohol use. They may not meet early screening criteria but still suffer from delayed toxicity, ethanol-related liver damage, and disrupted blood sugar levels. Over time, this hidden dependence can lead to high blood pressure, neurology issues, and reduced quality of life.

Intermediate Familial Subtype

This group often has a strong genetic component and a family history of alcohol dependence or addiction. Many struggle with mood disorders, stress, or fatigue, and may show signs of GABA imbalance or dopamine system dysregulation. The biology of addiction is compounded by poor coping strategies and high risk of comorbid physical and mental health issues.

Chronic Severe Subtype

This is the most advanced form of substance dependence, marked by repeated relapse, delirium tremens, and multiple failed attempts at sobriety. Individuals often suffer from alcoholic hepatitis, hypertension, dementia, and even death if untreated. Treatment usually involves drug detoxification, benzodiazepine management, and ongoing pharmacotherapy under the care of a licensed health professional or physician.

At Beach View Recovery, we recognize that each subtype needs a different approach. We use personalized detox, structured therapy, and tools grounded in data, pharmacology, and systematic review findings to support lasting recovery.

Diagnosis and Treatment

How Do Doctors Diagnose Alcohol Use Disorder?

Diagnosis is based on standardized criteria, interviews, and questionnaires like the CAGE or AUDIT tools. Doctors may order liver function tests, check for vitamin deficiencies, or assess neurotransmitter imbalances. Primary careproviders and health professionals evaluate signs of alcohol and health decline, including bone, esophagus, and heart issues.

Treating Alcoholism

Treatment often begins with medical detox to manage withdrawal using benzodiazepines or chlordiazepoxide. Medications like naltrexone, disulfiram, and acamprosate can support abstinence. At Beach View Recovery, we use evidence-backed pharmacology, behavioral therapy, and long-term care to support lasting change.

What Should I Do if I Think Someone Is Dependent on Alcohol?

Speak with concern, not criticism. Encourage the person to speak with a physician, therapist, or health care provider trained in managing substance abuse, addiction, and alcohol intoxication. Share resources like Beach View Recovery’s programs or national organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the American Medical Association, or the American Psychological Association.

Heavy alcohol use increases the risk of liver disease, dementia, injury, and domestic violence. It also affects blood alcohol content, neurotransmitter function, and mental health, making early screening and intervention critical. A person struggling with substance dependence or relapse may also be facing comorbidity, delirium tremens, or hypertension—all of which require coordinated health care and support.

Alcohol Support Services

Support includes 12-step groups, medication like naltrexone or disulfiram, and behavioral therapy to build better coping strategies and prevent relapse. These services target the underlying biology of addiction, including disruptions in dopamine, GABA, and the reward system.

We also support people seeking alternatives like what to drink instead of alcohol, or those asking what happens to your body when you stop drinking. Our programs address the real effects of ethanol on the central nervous system, heart rate, and metabolism, helping each patient improve quality of life and restore mind-body balance.

Recovery at Beach View Recovery includes drug detoxification, pharmacotherapy, and therapeutic work on habit, motivation, and emotional health. Whether someone is recovering from binge drinking, alcoholic hepatitis, or drinking culture norms, we offer care grounded in data, systematic review, and standards like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Further Advice and Information

If you're asking what defines an alcoholic, know that this disease affects people across age, gender, and lifestyle. Whether you're drinking beer, wine, or wondering what alcohol is in White Claw, it’s the behaviors and effects—not just the drink—that determine risk.

Quitting alcohol can improve liver function tests, blood sugar levels, immune system response, and reduce the risk of death, heart failure, and toxicity. When people ask what happens when you quit drinking, or what happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol, they’re really asking how to reclaim their health, sobriety, and life.

If you're ready to move from heavy alcohol use to long-term abstinence, Beach View Recovery offers structured detoxification, outpatient therapy, and comprehensive support. Our Huntington Beach team includes trained health professionals in neurology, pharmacology, and primary care, ready to help you begin your recovery today.