addiction: alcoholism

Alcoholism is the traditional term used by both lay people and behavioral health care professionals to describe a variety of problems or disorders related to consumption of or addiction to alcohol. These include drunkenness or alcohol intoxication ("acute" alcoholism), alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence ("chronic" alcoholism).

As defined by ASAM and the National Council on Alcoholism (Morse, Flavin et al., 1992), alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.*

Also: alcoholic, dipsomania, ethanolism, ethylism, familial alcoholism, intemperance, methylated spirit addiction, substance use disorder

Books and Other Media:
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Science & Help

Addiction Courtney Madison, Keanna Bradley, Mark Davis 2007
Alcohol - Brain Under the Influence VHS 1988
Berger, Gilda Alcoholism and the Family (The Changing Family) School & Library Binding 1993
Edwards, Griffith et al The Treatment of Drinking Problems - A Guide for the Helping Professions Hardcover 1997 | Paperback 1997
Goodwin, Donald W., M.D. Alcoholism - The Facts (Oxford Medical Publications) Paperback 1994
Lachenmeyer, Nathaniel The Outsider - A Journey Into my Father's Struggle with Madness Hardcover 2000
Lawson, Ann W. & Gary Lawson Alcoholism and the Family - A Guide to Treatment and Prevention Paperback 1998
Maltzman, Irving Alcoholism: A Review of its Characteristics, Etiology, Treatments, and Controversies Hardcover 1999
Royce, James E. (Preface), Scratchley, David Alcoholism and Other Drug Problems Hardcover 1996
Segal, Bernard (Editor) Alcoholism Etiology and Treatment Hardcover 1988
St. Clair, Harvey R Recognizing Alcoholism and Its Effects: A Mini-Guide Paperback 1991
Zimberg, Sheldon (Editor) The Clinical Management of Alcoholism Paperback 1982

Art & Literature

28 Days DVD Sandra Bullock 2000
Aberdeen DVD Stellan Skarsgård, Lena Headey 2000
Affliction DVD Nick Nolte, James Coburn 1997
Bounce DVD Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow 2000
Clean and Sober DVD Billy Crystal 1988

The Country Girl Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly 1954

Crazy Heart Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall 2009
A Day at the Beach Peter Sellers, Graham Stark, Beatie Edney, and Jack McGowan 1970

Days of Wine and Roses Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick DVD 1962
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu DVD Ion Fiscuteanu 2005
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood DVD Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn 2002
Drunks DVD Richard Lewis II 1995

Everlasting Moments Maria Heiskanen, Mikael Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen 2008

Factotum Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Marisa Tomei, Fisher Stevens 2005
Falling Angels DVD Mark McKinney, Miranda Richardson, Callum Keith Rennie 2005
Finding Amanda Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, and Steve Coogan 2008

Georgia Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mare Winningham, Ted Levine, Max Perlich 1995

Georgia Rule Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan 2007

Gervaise Maria Schell, François Périer, Jany Holt 1956

Happy Hour Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Stoltz, Caroleen Feeney 2003

House of Sand and Fog DVD Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley 2003
How About You DVD Joss Ackland, Brenda Fricker, Joan O'Hara, Vanessa Redgrave 2009

I'll Cry Tomorrow Susan Hayward, Richard Conte 1955

Intoxicating Kirk Harris, John Savage 2003
Leaving Las Vegas DVD Nicolas Cage drinks away his last days while falling in love. Overdone, and too healthy appearing for a dying alcoholic, but his portrayal of the last stages of the disease makes its tragedy real.
The Life of David Gale DVD 2003 Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet
London, Jack: John Barleycorn or Alcoholic Memoirs: Hardcover | Paperback London reveals insights into alcoholic behavior and thinking. This biographical work invites speculation and analysis of London's relationship with alcohol.
The Lost Weekend DVD Ray Milland 1945

Loving George Segal, Eva Marie Saint, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn 1970

Man on Fire (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) Denzel Washington 2004
Mary and Max Toni Collette, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries 2009
McCourt, Frank Angela's Ashes - A Memoir Hardcover 1996 | Paperback 1999
Mommie Dearest Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid 1981
My Name Is Bill W 1989 James Woods is Bill W, and James Garner is Dr. Bob: The story of the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Nuts Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss 1987
Passion Fish Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett 1992
Pay It Forward DVD Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt 2000

Pollock Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Tom Bower 2000

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson 2005
Radio Flyer Lorraine Bracco, John Heard 1992
Round Midnight Dexter Gordon, Francois Cluzet 1986
Skins Eric Schweig, Graham Greene 2002

Stagecoach John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine 1939

Things Behind the Sun DVD Aria Alpert 2001
You Kill Me Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni, Luke Wilson, Dennis Farina 2007
When a Man Loves a Woman DVD Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia 1994

You Kill Me Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni, Luke Wilson, Dennis Farina 2007

*Excerpt with permission from Graham, Allan W. & Schultz, Terry K. (Editors) Principles of Addiction Medicine, 2nd Edition Hardcover 1998 (American Society of Addiction Medicine)