Substance Misuse

Question 1

What are the four criteria for alcohol dependency?

Answer 1

craving – a strong need to drink
loss of control – not being able to stop drinking once you’ve started
physical dependence – withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, or shakiness when you don’t drink
tolerance – the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect

Question 2

How do you judge the degree of alcohol dependence?

Answer 2

• narrowing of the drinking repertoire.
• prioritization of alcohol over competing needs and responsibilities.
• tolerance
• withdrawal symptoms
• relief of withdrawal symptoms when drink
• Subjective awareness of compulsion to drink.
• Reinstatement after abstinence