Which description characterizes PREALCOHOLIC PHASE?

Which description characterizes PREALCOHOLIC PHASE?

• A. Use of alcohol to relieve everyday stress and tensions; tolerance starts to increase
• B. Blackouts and sneaking drinks
• C. Loss of control and physiological dependence
• D. Emotional disintegration

Answer: (A)

In the prealcoholic phase, drinking begins as a way to cope with everyday stress and tensions, and tolerance starts to increase as alcohol use becomes more habitual. This stage is characterized by use driven by a need to relieve discomfort and by the start of needing more to achieve the same effect, but there is not yet loss of control or physical dependence. The other descriptions point to later stages: blackouts and sneaking drinks signal the prodromal phase as drinking becomes more secretive; loss of control with physiological dependence indicates progression to the crucial phase; and emotional disintegration reflects the chronic, highly dysfunctional stage.

In the prealcoholic phase, drinking begins as a way to cope with everyday stress and tensions, and tolerance starts to increase as alcohol use becomes more habitual. This stage is characterized by use driven by a need to relieve discomfort and by the start of needing more to achieve the same effect, but there is not yet loss of control or physical dependence. The other descriptions point to later stages: blackouts and sneaking drinks signal the prodromal phase as drinking becomes more secretive; loss of control with physiological dependence indicates progression to the crucial phase; and emotional disintegration reflects the chronic, highly dysfunctional stage.