Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Addicted to alcohol: Describes a person who has a compulsive physiological and psychological need to consume alcoholic beverages, often characterized by an inability to control drinking, withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, and tolerance requiring increased amounts to achieve the same effect.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • He has been diagnosed as alcohol-dependent and is seeking treatment.
  • The support group provides help for alcohol-dependent individuals.
  • The study focused on the long-term health effects in alcohol-dependent patients.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical/Medical Context: The term is often used in medical, psychological, and social work contexts to formally describe a condition of substance use disorder specifically related to alcohol.
  • The diagnostic criteria for being alcohol-dependent include a strong craving and unsuccessful efforts to cut down.

Variants and Related Words

• Alcoholism (n): The disease of alcohol dependence; chronic alcohol abuse.
  • He struggled with alcoholism for years.
• Alcoholic (adj/n): Can function as a synonym for 'alcohol-dependent' (adj) or refer to a person with alcohol dependence (n).
  • She is in recovery for her alcoholic tendencies. (adj)
  • The program helps alcoholics rebuild their lives. (n)

Synonyms

• Addicted to alcohol
• Alcohol-addicted

Related Phrases

• Physically dependent on alcohol: Emphasizes the bodily reliance and potential for withdrawal symptoms.
  • After years of heavy drinking, he became physically dependent on alcohol.
• Suffering from alcohol use disorder: A more modern clinical phrase encompassing a range of alcohol-related problems, including dependence.
  • The patient was diagnosed as suffering from alcohol use disorder.

Adjective

1. addicted to alcohol
   • alcoholic expatriates in Paris- Carl Van Doren