According to alcohol info and substance abuse research, alcoholism, also known as “alcohol addiction” or alcohol dependency, is a disease that includes the following symptoms:

* Craving: A strong and continuing compulsion or need to drink.
* Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms when a problem drinker stops drinking after a period of excessive drinking. Such symptoms include: anxiety, sweating, nausea, and “the shakes.”
* Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking over time or on any given occasion.

* Tolerance: The need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol in order to “feel the buzz” or to “get high.”As stated above, alcoholism and alcohol abuse are similar, but not identically the same concepts. Perhaps the best way to explain this is to make the following statement: whereas all instances of alcoholism involve the abuse of alcohol, not all instances of alcohol abuse can be called alcoholism.

In other words, all forms of alcoholism involve the abuse of alcohol, but not all those who engage in the abuse of alcohol exhibit alcoholic behavior. The key difference in the two concepts is this: those who abuse alcohol, unlike alcoholics, are not necessarily physically dependent on alcohol, they do not necessarily crave alcohol, they are not necessarily out of control regarding their drinking, and they do not necessarily develop tolerance.

Perhaps an example will help. A person who only drinks once per year and gets drunk on his or her birthday is clearly not an alcoholic because he or she does not exhibit a strong and continuing need to drink, is not physically dependent on alcohol, and does not develop tolerance for alcohol. He or she has definitely exhibited an inability to limit his or her drinking this one time (i.e., a loss of control), but the other three aspects of alcoholism necessary to call him or her an “alcoholic” are missing.

In this example, the person who gets drunk only once per year has exhibited alcohol abuse or binge drinking but not alcoholic behavior. In the truest sense of the word, however, this person still could be labeled as having a drinking problem due to the fact that he or she engaged in abusive drinking.

Stonewall Institute offers DUI evaluation services in order for individuals to be considered for the reinstatement of driving privileges in the state of Arizona. State law requires all persons who seek the reinstatement of Arizona driving privileges following an alcohol or drug-related revocation to provide the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) with a current substance abuse evaluation. The evaluation is required as part of the Revocation Investigation packet administered by the Arizona MVD.

To schedule a DUI Substance Abuse Evaluation Glendale, contact Stonewall Institute at 602-535-6468