Alcoholism

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcoholism is a disease with these symptoms:

• craving: a strong need to drink
• loss of control: can't limit one's drinking
• physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety that happens when you stop drinking alcohol after a period of heavy drinking
• tolerance: drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high"

American Indians and Alaska Natives are five times more likely to die of alcohol-related causes than Whites and face high rates of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. In addition, American Indians and Alaska Natives have a high rate of drinking and driving and alcohol-related fatal crashes compared to the general population.

Prevent problems related to alcohol. If you drink, the National Institutes of Health advises a safe level of drinking: for most adults, moderate alcohol use--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people. However, some people should NOT drink at all:

• women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• people who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery)
• people taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications
• people with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking
• recovering alcoholics
• people younger than age 21