[Zencat]

From the pioneering alcohol researcher Elvin Morton Jellinek (1890-1963),...the guy that coined the term "the disease concept of alcoholism" comes the five types of alcoholism.



* Alpha alcoholism: the earliest stage of the disease, manifesting the purely psychological continual dependence on the effects of alcohol to relieve bodily or emotional pain. This is the "problem drinker", whose drinking creates social and personal problems. Whilst there are significant social and personal problems, these people can stop if they really want to; thus, argued Jellinek, they have not lost control, and as a consequence, do not have a "disease".

* Beta alcoholism: Polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder that occurs when many peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously...., or cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol without physical or psychological dependence. These are the heavy drinkers that drink a lot, almost very day. They do not have physical addiction Addiction. Addiction is a chronic disease proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetics, biology/pharmacology and sociology factors....and do not suffer withdrawal. Withdrawal refers to the characteristic signs and symptoms that appear when a drug that causes an addiction is regularly used for a long time and then suddenly discontinued or decreased in dosage....symptoms. This group do not have a "disease".

* Gamma alcoholism: involving acquired tissue tolerance, physical dependence, and loss of control. This is the AA alcoholic, who is very much out of control, and does, by Jellinek's classification, have a "disease".

* Delta alcoholism: as in Gamma alcoholism, but with inability to abstain, instead of loss of control.

* Epsilon alcoholism: the most advanced stage of the disease, manifesting as dipsomania. A dipsomaniac is a person with an uncontrollable craving for alcohol, especially alcoholic liquors...., or periodic alcoholism.