Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It includes four symptoms:

1. Craving - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
2. Impaired control - The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
3. Physical dependence - Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
4. Tolerance - The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease; with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined.