The following four symptoms are common in the majority of individuals who have an addiction to alcohol and or other drugs.

1. Craving – A strong need or urge to drink or use
2. Loss of control – Not being able to stop drinking or using once you have begun.
3. Physical dependence – Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping or trying to stop.
4. Tolerance – The need to drink or use greater amounts of alcohol and or other drugs to get “high.”

Answering the following four questions can help you find out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem:

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one "yes" answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you think that you or someone you know might have an alcohol or drug problem, it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider.  They can help you determine if a drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action.

For clinical research purposes, formal diagnostic criteria for alcoholism also have been developed.  Such criteria are included in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition TR, published by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as in The International Classification Diseases, published by the World Health Organization.