ALCOHOLIC / ALCOHOLISM: This term was first coined by Magnus Huss (a Swedish physician) in the 1880's. The term is still used by the Alcoholic's Anonymous Fellowship and Minnesota Model clinics. The term alcoholic is often associated with stigmatised stereotypes and therefore is not currently used by most specialist treatment services.

ALCOHOL ABUSE / MISUSE: These terms are have been increasingly used in recent years in place of the term "alcoholic". Some have criticised their use due to connotions of "child / sexual abuse" (etc.) and associated value judgements.

ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY SYNDROME: This term was accepted by the World Health Organisation in 1976. The syndrome consists of seven components - including "salience of drinking behaviour" and "rapid reinstatement of syndrome". This term is now used by most specialist alcohol treatment services.

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME: This term represents the characteristic signs and symptoms that occur when the blood alcohol level falls abruptly. Typical features includes tremulousness, profuse sweating, hallucinations, insomnia and raised anxiety levels.

COMMUNITY ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION: This refers to a detoxification programme involving the patient remaining at home throughout the process - rather than being admitted to a hospital or clinic. The detoxification process is usually supervised by community psychiatric nurses and the patient's general practitioner.

CROSS TOLERANCE: This term refers to raised tolerance to more than one type of drug (eg. alcohol and benzodiazepines).

DETOXIFICATION: This process is defined as the amelioration of a state of physical dependency. It is usually seen as a treatment for the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY: This involves an irresistible desire to use alcohol despite experiencing obvious adverse consequences. The individual often recognises that drink-related harm is occurring - tho' feels unable to cope with life without using alcohol.

PHYSICAL DEPENDENCY: This term refers to the features of psychological dependency with additional physical changes such as a raised tolerance to alcohol and a recognised withdrawal syndrome.

TOLERANCE: This describes the relationship between the use of alcohol and the effects of intoxication experienced. This process is underpinned by neurological adaptation that leads to a raised level of tolerance and therefore a need to consume an increased amount of alcohol to achieve similar effects.