In the DSM Ill, a pattern of pathological alcohol use that causes impairment of social or occupational functioning, alcohol dependence.
The excessive use of alcohol adversely affecting a person’s health.
Alcohol abuse is defined as a maladaptive pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Prevalence increases with age, leveling off in the early 20s. For example, a large national survey conducted in 2000 found that 14% of eight graders and 30% of 12th graders reported binge drinking (having five or more drinks at a time) in the preceding 2 weeks. Risk factors for alcohol abuse include early use of alcohol, parental alcohol abuse or dependence, aggressive behavior, delinquent activity, and temperament factors such as low attention span and high emotionality.
Physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, characterized by long-term excessive drinking, a felt need to continue drinking, or withdrawal symptoms on discontinuing drinking. A major social problem, long thought to be primarily an adult phenomenon, alcohol abuse has become increasingly widespread among adolescents, often in conjunction with drug abuse, a combination called cross-addiction.
Drinking too much alcohol, drinking it too often or drinking it at inappropriate times.