Alcoholism is a disease that can affect anyone at any time. It can affect anyone in any way, and can strike anyone at any time. It can also be one of the most deceptive and difficult-to-identify diseases to deal with.

If you or someone you know is suffering from alcoholismor is at risk of developing it, you’ll want to know as much about it as possible.

Alcoholism is a complex disease that can have many different stages. It can come on gradually, or it can hit you like a freight train overnight. It can manifest itself in many different ways, and it can appear in almost any social circle. However, there are some early warning signs that can help you identify if someone you know is at risk of falling into the pit of alcoholism.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease that results in compulsive drinking and the inability to consistently control the amount one drinks. The word “alcoholism” was first used in the early 20th century to describe compulsive alcohol use that went beyond the social norms of the day. It’s estimated that about 10% of the adult population experience some level of alcohol dependence, which includes those who are dependent on alcohol but are not diagnosed as alcoholics. For the most part, people think of alcohol dependency as a medical condition that is treatable with medications and counseling.

The 4 Stages of Alcoholism
There are different stages of alcohol dependency, just as there are different stages of any other chronic disease. The four stages of alcoholism are: pre-alcoholic condition, early alcoholic condition, chronic alcoholic condition, and late-stage alcoholic condition.

People who are in the pre-alcoholic condition may be at increased risk of developing alcoholism due to factors like genetics, stress, or other triggers. People in the early alcoholic condition may be drinking moderately but experiencing certain withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking. They are at risk of developing alcoholism because they may be drinking more than is usual for them, but they are not experiencing any physiological or psychological symptoms of dependence. Chronic alcoholics are people who have developed alcoholism and have experienced biochemical and/or psychological symptoms of dependence. Late-stage alcoholics experience the full-blown disease: physiological symptoms of dependence are experienced heavily, psychological symptoms are also experienced, and relapse is very common.

The first stage: pre-alcoholic condition

People at the pre-alcoholic stage are at risk of alcohol dependency due to factors like genetics, stress, or other triggers.

This is the stage of “social drinking”, when you try alcohol but don’t experience any physical or psychological symptoms of alcohol dependency. This stage can last for a long time before you decide to stop drinking—you may not even realize you’re in this stage!
At this stage, you don’t have a problem with alcohol, and you don’t think you’ll ever have one. In fact, you may even think you’re “normal” because you drink socially.
If you’re in this stage, you may not realize that you’re at risk of developing alcoholism.

The second stage: early alcoholic condition

People in the early stage may drink heavily but be able to stop when they feel symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. They are at risk of developing alcoholism because they may be drinking more than is usual for them, but they are not experiencing any physiological or psychological symptoms of dependence.

This is the stage of “weekend drinking”, when you may start drinking heavily on Friday or Saturday night, and you may or may not experience any withdrawal symptoms when you wake up on Sunday. This stage can last for a long time before you decide to stop drinking—you may not even realize you’re in this stage!

If you’re in this stage, you may not realize that you’re at risk of developing alcoholism. On the other hand, you may be drinking heavily and experiencing what seem like symptoms of dependence.

The third stage: chronic alcoholic condition
Chronic alcoholics experience physiological and psychological dependence on alcohol.

This is the stage of alcoholism that many people think of when they think of alcoholism: heavy drinking, dangerous driving, job problems, divorce, illness, and other difficulties caused by alcohol.

This stage can last for a long time before it is recognized and addressed. People who are in this stage may or may not be able to stop drinking when they want to, and they may or may not be able to control their drinking. Physiological dependence is when the body becomes used to receiving a chemical called alcohol through the stomach or intestines, in order to make people feel “normal” and function normally
Late-stage alcoholic condition

This is the stage of full-blown alcoholism when relapse is common and when treatment is often required with or without medical assistance.
Late-stage alcoholics experience the full-blown disease: physiological dependence is experienced heavily, psychological dependence is also experienced, and relapse is very common.

They may need medical assistance to get their alcohol dependence under control, but they can often do it on their own, too.

Recovering alcoholics

Alcoholism is a progressive disease that requires long-term dedication and commitment to recovery.
This is where the battle is often fought, and it can be one of the most difficult stages of all.

If you or someone you know falls into one of the above stages of alcoholism, it’s important to know what to expect. Alcohol is a drug, after all, and like all other drugs, it has a physical and psychological dependence. However, one does not necessarily have to become an addict to enjoy the social aspects of drinking.