Seek Help When You Or A Loved One Has Alcohol Dependence Syndrome
The disease of alcoholism refers to a physical and mental alcohol dependence. For someone with alcohol dependence syndrome, 
when the alcohol is removed there can be severe reactions including “the shakes”, both auditory and visual hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and in the most extreme cases death.
Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is not the only type of alcohol problem as they can come in different levels of severity. Some people just are “unhappy drunks” and not fun to be around when they have had a few drinks. While all types of alcohol problems can be dangerous, their level of severity can range from mildly annoying to life threatening. The most severe form, alcohol dependence syndrome, usually begins with less severe alcohol related behaviors like binge drinking and alcohol abuse.
The official definition of binge drinking means having four or more drinks in one session for women and five or more for men. Another definition of binge drinking means just drinking to get drunk instead of drinking to be social. While binge drinking can cause social, health, and legal issues it doesn’t mean the binge drinker has alcohol dependence, and the effects of binge drinking are usually short term.
Binge drinking turns into alcohol abuse when someone’s drinking begins to cause problems and the drinking continues anyway. Alcohol abuse is when someone continues to drink in spite of continued social, interpersonal or legal difficulties. Alcohol abuse can result in missing time at school or work, neglecting child or household responsibilities or trouble with the law.
Alcohol abuse turns into alcohol dependence (alcoholism) when drinkers begin to experience cravings for alcohol, a loss of control of their drinking, withdrawal symptoms when they are not drinking and an increased tolerance to alcohol so that they have to drink more to achieve the same effect. Alcohol dependence is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes a strong need to drink despite repeated problems. Unless alcohol dependence is arrested through some form of treatment program or drastic change in lifestyle, the outcome is usually death from either alcohol related health problems or unintentional acts while under the influence of alcohol.
If you or a loved one has developed the signs of alcohol dependence syndrome, seek out professional help with the aid of an alcohol detox treatment program while there is still time.