GLOSSARY
Abstinence: The act of refraining from the use of the substance or substances on which a person has become dependent.
Abuse: The misuse or overuse of a substance. Using a substance in a manner different from the way it is generally used, either medically or socially. Or, using any illegal substance with continued use, even though it is causing problems in one's life.
Addiction: The physical and psychological craving for a substance that develops into a dependency – even though it is causing the addicted person physical, psychological and social harm. The disease of addiction is chronic and progressive.
Alcohol hallucinosis: A disorder characterized by hallucinations that follow the cessation of heavy drinking. This usually does not last more than a few days. Hallucinations are typically auditory, sometimes visual.
Alcohol idiosyncratic intoxication: A rare disorder characterized by a marked behavioral change associated with drinking an amount of alcohol that is not sufficient to intoxicate most people. The behavior is not typical of the person while not drinking. For example, a shy, quiet person who drinks may become aggressive and argumentative – followed by amnesia for the episode.
Alcohol intoxication: A temporary condition due to overuse of alcohol, marked by: (a) poor behavior, impaired judgment, defective social and work-related functioning; (b) flushed face, slurred speech, an unsteady walk, uncoordination and rhythmic eye movements; (c) chattiness, a lack of attention, irritability, euphoria, emotional changes and even blackouts.
Alcohol-amnestic disorder: A syndrome involving both long and short-term memory resulting from vitamin deficiency associated with prolonged heavy alcohol use. The memory loss often follows a sudden episode of Wernicke's disease and usually persists indefinitely. Also known as Korsakoff's disorder.
Alcoholemia: The presence of alcohol in the blood.
Alcoholic blackout: An amnesia experienced by an alcoholic after consuming alcoholic beverages. Involves memory loss, which may vary in length from time to time.
Alcoholic epilepsy: Convulsions and/or loss of consciousness in some alcoholics during withdrawal. Also known as rum fits.
Alcoholic neuropathies: A collection of neurologic disorders including numbness, tingling and tenderness of the extremities, foot drop and loss of reflexes. In severe cases, vision and hearing may be affected.
Alcoholic pseudoparesis: A periodic paralysis associated with alcoholism characterized by muscular weakness – particularly in the lower limbs, accompanied by numbness and loss of reflexes.
Alcoholic psychoses: Mental disorders resulting from excessive use of alcohol. The common denominator of these disorders is an acute or chronic inflammation of the brain which produces psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, delirium, clouding of consciousness, memory impairment, confabulation, severely impaired judgment and, in advanced cases, general mental deterioration. Also known as alcoholic dementia.
Alcoholic twilight-state: A condition associated with pathological drunkenness where patients experience illusions, hallucinations, and excessive emotions of rage and anxiety.
Alcohol-paranoid state: An atypical paranoid disorder in alcoholics, characterized by excessive jealousy, suspiciousness, and delusions of a spouse's infidelity.
Alcoholuria: The presence of alcohol in the urine.
Alcohol-withdrawal delirium: A condition developing within a week after cessation or reduction of heavy drinking. Often characterized by delusions and hallucinations, autonomic hyperactivity such as rapid heartbeat, as well as tremors.
Binge Drinking: A pattern of consuming five or more drinks in a row in one sitting for males and four or more in a row for females. Also called acute alcohol consumption.
Cross-addiction: An individual who is addicted to one drug will substitute another in the hope of avoiding dependence. As a result, one often becomes dependent on the second drug as well. This can happen with drugs that are quite different – such as alcohol and amphetamines.
Drug screen: A urine test used to detect those who have been abusing drugs.
Dry drunk: A person who is sober, but is behaving like a drunk. These people are no longer consuming alcohol, yet they still show signs of intoxication. They may giggle and act hysterical, or they may be inconsiderate and resentful. They often deny addiction and neglect family responsibilities.
Dual Disorder: Two disorders occurring at the same time. These illnesses can be medical or psychiatric conditions, as well as drug use disorders, including alcohol dependency. This does not necessarily imply that one illness is the cause of the other, even if one occurs first. People with dual disorders have at least one substance use disorder. People with dual disorders have at least one psychiatric problem, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorders or attention-deficit disorder (ADD). A medical doctor licensed in addiction medicine and a psychiatrist can diagnose a dual disorder. They will usually ask if there was a significant period of sobriety in the patient’s life – and if the patient had depression during those times. Also called co-morbidity.
Flashback: The re-experience of an event from the past, usually accompanied by a state of fear or terror. This is often used to describe the recurrence of an hallucination or other drug-related experience when no drug has been used.
Halfway House: A residence for those who have completed treatment at a rehabilitation facility, but are not quite ready to return to the community. They need daily support to help them restructure their lives. This often includes getting a job and gradually learning to live independently.
Long Term Residential Treatment: A treatment program for those who have completed a rehabilitation program, but are still not ready to return to their community and maintain recovery. Similar to a halfway house, long term residential treatment offers more support and structure to control the relapse impulse. Such programs usually last for 3 - 6 months.
Recovery: The ongoing process of overcoming physical and psychological dependence on mind-altering substances (including alcohol). Also learning to live in a state of total abstinence, without the need or desire for those substances. In recovery, a person’s physical and mental state are modified so that chemical substances are unnecessary for happiness and fulfillment.
Slip: A brief return to drinking or drug-use behavior.
Sobriety: A state of mental clarity reached through abstinence from alcohol and other drugs. A lifestyle that is free of chemicals or chemical dependency.
Wet Brain: Refers to a condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
