Definition of Alcohol

Alcohol is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid produced by natural fermentation of sugars.  Alcohol is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks.  Alcohol is also used in industry as solvents and fuel, among other uses.  Alcohol in general means ethyl alcohol or ‘ethynol.’  For the purposes of this course we will refer to ethynol as simply alcohol. 

Alcohol is widely used as part of hot drinks and cold beverages.  When consumed, it reaches the brain and creates a sense of well being and excitement.  For this reason, people consume alcohol on a regular basis, often leading to legal and family problems, health issues, and even death. 

That said, besides drinking, there are many uses for alcohol in medicine, industry, and research. Many of these uses overlap.  Alcohol has been used in medicine for ages.  Alcohol has powerful antimicrobial, astringent, sedative, and rubefacient properties.  In industry and research, alcohol is used in a number of ways, including extraction, cleaning, and sterilization.  Due to its low boiling point and ease of evaporation, alcohol can be used for extraction of the active ingredients from raw materials such as plant matter or other solids.  Last but not least, a good example of alcohol’s cleaning properties is under your sink in your daily household cleaning supplies.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

So far, we’ve covered the history, definition, and some of the uses for alcohol in society.  We felt it was important to include the definitions of alcohol abuse and alcoholism here.

Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors, ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependence.  It is important to make the distinction between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.  Alcoholism is an addition to drinking Alcohol.  This is the most severe form of alcohol abuse and involves the inability to manage your drinking habits.  Alcoholism is also known as Alcohol Use Disorder and is organized into three categories; mild, moderate, and severe.  If left untreated, any level of alcohol abuse can spiral out of control.

Individuals struggling with alcoholism often feel as though they cannot function normally without alcohol.  This leads to a wide range of issues impacting employment, personal and family relationships, as well as overall health.  We will explore these issues more as we proceed through this program.

NOTE: You must spend a munimum of three minutes reading and reviewing this information. You will be able click the Next Topic button after three minutes.