• Craving - a strong urge or need to drink
• Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've started
• Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness, when you don't drink
• Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect

Alcoholism carries many serious dangers. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby. Alcoholism also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide and suicide.

Programs at Ohio State’s Talbot Addiction Medicine can help alcoholics abstain from alcohol and move on to a more productive life. Alcoholism can be treated with detoxification, abstinence, support from a 12-Step program, compliance with physician-prescribed medications and psychotherapy.