Halle Fiedler and Sydney Kayne Alcoholism Halle Fiedler and Sydney Kayne

What is Alcoholism? Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. If you have alcoholism, you can't consistently predict how much you'll drink, how long you'll drink, or what consequences will occur from your drinking.

Stages of Alcoholism

Stage 1: Occasional Abuse and Binge Drinking These drinkers may be new to different forms of alcohol and likely to test their limits. This is a common stage seen in young adults. These drinkers also frequently engage in binge drinking. While they may not drink regularly, they consume exceptionally large amounts of alcohol at one time. “Once the fire was out and the sodden, burned tree lay smouldering on the floor, we all just stood there. No one tried to wring Dad’s neck or yell at him or even point out that he’d ruined the Christmas his family had spent weeks planning--the Christmas that was supposed to be the best we’d ever had. When Dad went crazy, we all had our own ways of shutting down and closing off, and that was what we did that night” (Walls 115).

Stage 2: Increased Drinking Drinkers leave the experimental stage when their alcohol consumption becomes more frequent. Instead of just drinking at parties once in a while, you may find yourself drinking every weekend. “...Brian made eggnog; and to demonstrate that he was on his best behavior, Dad went to great lengths to make sure that there was no alcohol in it before he accepted a glass” (Walls 263).

Stage 3: Problem Drinking While any form of alcohol abuse is problematic, the term “problem drinker” refers to someone who starts experiencing the impacts of their habit. You may become more depressed, anxious, or start losing sleep. You may start to feel sick from heavy drinking, but enjoy its effects too much to care. Many drinkers at this stage are also more likely to drink and drive or experience legal troubles. “She started drinking malt ale during school....all I could pry from her was that her mother;s new boyfriend had moved in with them and the fit was a little tight...Later, we all learned that she’d been arrested for stabbing her mother’s boyfriend to death” (Walls 199-200).

Stage 4: Alcohol Dependence Dependence forms after the problem drinking stage. At this point, you have an attachment to alcohol that has taken over your regular routine. You’re aware of the adverse effects, but no longer have control over your alcohol consumption. Alcohol dependence also means that you have developed a tolerance to drinking. As a result, you may have to drink larger quantities to get “buzzed” or drunk. Increased drinking has more damaging effects on the body. “Dad was tied to the bed with ropes and belts… he was thrashing about, buckling and pulling at the restraints, yelling ‘No!’ and ‘Stop!’ and ‘Oh my God!’...Dad’s delirium continued for days” (Walls 117).

Stage 5: Addiction and Alcoholism The final stage of alcoholism is addiction. You no longer want to just drink for pleasure at this stage. Alcohol addiction is characterized by a physical and a psychological need to drink. Alcoholics physically crave the substance and are often inconsolable until they start drinking again. “When it won first prize, one of Dad’s other teachers wondered aloud if the son of two lowlife alcoholics like Ted and Erma Walls could have written it himself” (Walls 203).

Pop Culture Reference His daughter--Molly Kate Kestner

Works Cited "Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. "Alcoholism." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. Sports, Lindsay H. Jones. "NFL Josh Brent Dallas Cowboys." USA Today. Gannett, 09 Dec. 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2014. "Stages of Alcoholism." Stages of Alcoholism. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2014.