Social and psychological aspects of alcohol misuse and dependence

Problem drinking includes a spectrum of drinking habits ranging from excessive alcohol intake to alcohol dependence. Numerous risk factors are thought to increase the susceptibility to such drinking patterns ‐ genetic, environmental and constitutional. Although alcohol misusers are frequently stereotyped, from interviewing numerous patients it is evident that there is no ‘typical alcoholic’. Alcohol consumption screening is widely used; however, it is important for healthcare professionals to understand the social and psychological aspects of problem drinking before advising abstinence. With this understanding, it is clear that governmental legislation with regards to alcohol is more likely to cut down the number of social binge drinkers than the number dependent on alcohol. The onus of reducing the number of individuals developing diseases as a result of chronic alcohol misuse, therefore, lies with the healthcare profession; early screening of alcohol consumption and early psychological intervention for susceptible individuals is key in this prevention.