Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol dependence is a condition that occurs when a person has used alcohol so chronically over a long period of time that non-use is met with symptoms of withdrawal.

These symptoms include cravings, shaking, heart palpitations, nausea/vomiting, anxiety, agitation, and restlessness. This happens when the body becomes so accustomed to alcohol intake that the body adapts to the high usage to the degree that it comes to "need" this infusion of alcohol to function normally. This condition is associated with alcoholism and in severe cases needs medical intervention to manage the symptoms.