rance of alcohol develops differently in people but one thing remains consistent. That being increased activity in the nervous system or shaking occurs on cessation after prolonged use. Tolerance is developed when following a prolonged period of use, more alcohol is required to produce a wanted or given effect. The development of tolerance can contribute to the progression from use to abuse and addiction. As alcohol dependency develops, a person must continue to drink more alcohol to avoid the unpleasant experience of withdrawal. Sensitization, the opposite of tolerance, plays a significant role in supporting alcoholism. With prolonged use of alcohol, cells in the brain adapt to its presence such that the alcohol is required to maintain normal cell function. On withdrawal of alcohol, the cell behaves abnormally and a withdrawal syndrome ensues. Generally, the withdrawal syndrome is characterized by a series of signs and symptoms, such as tremors. No matter the severity of the physical withdrawal syndrome, its existence can create a craving or desire for alcohol and dependence can play a very strong role in recurrent patterns of relapse and maintaining alcohol-seeking behavior. With repeated cycles of abstinence and re-use of alcohol, the time required to elicit alcohol dependence grows shorter. The quantity of alcohol rather than the frequency of use have been studied to be a powerful predictor of problematic use. The two are not the same. A person who occasionally drinks but when they do does so in large quantities, can be greatly harming himself or herself. Conversely a person who drinks in moderation every day may not experience any problems in the short term, but may encounter health problems later on. The type of alcohol used also has an effect on later alcohol problems. By this I mean drinking beer or wine instead of 'hard' liquor such as rum and whiskey.BIOLOGICAL: Alcoholism is considered to derive from genetic ca...
