3 ms·

Well, daily drinking is a good predictor - 100% of practicing alcoholics drink every day after all.

stefan_kendall3 12y ago
They're also 100% human, and they all tend to breathe at least twice a day.
pdonis 12y ago
That's not what would make it a good predictor. The proper question is not what percentage of alcoholics drink every day, but what percentage of people who drink every day are alcoholics.
Retric 12y ago
Plenty of alcoholics don't drink every day. It's a question of compulsive and uncontrolled drinking not simply the frequency of drinking. A collage student may destroy their health and social life though binge drinking while not being able to afford drinking every day.
- Stronico 12y ago
  Plenty of people with drinking problems don't drink every day - alcoholics, which I would define as people addicted to alcohol do. If a person is addicted to alcohol they will have pretty immediate adverse affects, i.e. the DTs, which include shaking, hallucinations and seizures pretty rapidly with no alcohol in their system.
  - Retric 12y ago
    Physical dependence != addiciton. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/there-difference-between-physical-dependence http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addict... Addiction often leads to physical dependence, but you can for example be a light smoker that's addicted to nicotine. However, you generally need to be a fairly heavy smoker before withdraw symptoms show up when you stop. On the other hand people without addiction to caffeine will often display withdrawal symptoms if they stop. This is vary common in people who enjoy soda or tea, but don't use it to stay adjust alertness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence

They're also 100% human, and they all tend to breathe at least twice a day.

That's not what would make it a good predictor. The proper question is not what percentage of alcoholics drink every day, but what percentage of people who drink every day are alcoholics.

Retric 12y ago

Plenty of alcoholics don't drink every day. It's a question of compulsive and uncontrolled drinking not simply the frequency of drinking. A collage student may destroy their health and social life though binge drinking while not being able to afford drinking every day.

Stronico 12y ago
Plenty of people with drinking problems don't drink every day - alcoholics, which I would define as people addicted to alcohol do. If a person is addicted to alcohol they will have pretty immediate adverse affects, i.e. the DTs, which include shaking, hallucinations and seizures pretty rapidly with no alcohol in their system.
- Retric 12y ago
  Physical dependence != addiciton. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/there-difference-between-physical-dependence http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addict... Addiction often leads to physical dependence, but you can for example be a light smoker that's addicted to nicotine. However, you generally need to be a fairly heavy smoker before withdraw symptoms show up when you stop. On the other hand people without addiction to caffeine will often display withdrawal symptoms if they stop. This is vary common in people who enjoy soda or tea, but don't use it to stay adjust alertness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence