Alcoholism is a disease that includes four symptoms:

1. Craving - a strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
2. Loss of control - the inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
3. Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety that occur after alcohol use has stopped or after a period of heavy drinking.
4. Tolerance - the need to drink more alcohol in order to reach the "buzz."

Get Help

Treatment or support can help a person quit drinking and rebuild their life. Identifying and accepting a drinking problem could be one of the greatest barriers to getting help. For more information or to get help visit Student Counseling Services. Additional resources include: 

• National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• AlcoholScreening.org: Personal Assessment; learn about alcohol and health
• College Drinking Prevention: Binge drinking prevention and other alcohol information
• Alcoholics Anonymous