r cycles of high alcohol consumption in the last 150 years with peaks in the 1840s, in the 1860s, the first decade of the twentieth century, and again in the 1970-1981 period. Each of these peaks was probably accompanied by an increase in alcohol-related deaths, as suggested by the course of liver cirrhosis mortality, which, since the early twentieth century, has followed more-or-less the same trend as consumption of beverages alcohol. America is now in a phase of declining alcohol consumption, so one would expect that the rate of alcohol-related deaths would continue to decline. Among westernized countries, America in the early 1990s was somewhat below average in both alcohol consumption and liver cirrhosis mortality. If you have been arrested for DWI, you may be court ordered to go to counseling for alcohol abuse. Does that mean that you're an alcoholic? Sometimes people get the idea that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same thing. They are not. The National Council on Alcoholism says, "Alcohol Abuse : a problem to solve. Alcoholism: a disease to conquer." In case you have wondered what the difference is, here's some help: Alcohol Abuse is the misuse of the substance, alcohol. You know you are abusing a substance when: -You continue to use it, even though you're having social or interpersonal problems because of your use. -You still use it even though it's causing you physical problems. -Using it the way you do is causing you legal problems. -You don't live up to major responsibilities on the job or in your family. Alcoholism refers to being addicted, or dependent on alcohol. You may be dependent on a substance if any three of the following are true: -You must use larger and larger amounts of it to get high. -You have withdrawal when you try to stop or cut down. -You use it much more and for longer times than you really want to. -You can't seem to cut back and feel a strong need or craving for it. -You spend a lot of your time ju...
