i am a recovering alcoholic.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in mental or physical health problems. The disorder was previously divided into two types: alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. In a medical context, alcoholism is said to exist when two or more of the following conditions is present: a person drinks large amounts over a long time period, has difficulty cutting down, acquiring and drinking alcohol takes up a great deal of time, alcohol is strongly desired, usage results in not fulfilling responsibilities, usage results in social problems, usage results in health problems, usage results in risky situations, withdrawal occurs when stopping, and alcohol tolerance has occurred with use. Risky situations include drinking and driving or having unsafe sex, among other things. Alcohol use can affect all parts of the body, but it particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system. This can result in mental illness, Wernicke\u2013Korsakoff syndrome, an irregular heartbeat, cirrhosis of the liver, and an increase in the risk of cancer, among other diseases. Drinking during pregnancy can cause damage to the baby resulting in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I have a friend who suffers from alcoholism. It seems like a really rough disease."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Are they just dependent on alcohol or do they abuse it?"}, {"role": "user", "content": "She's totally dependent on it. She asked me to help her find resources, but I don't know where to start. Do you have any information that could help her?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Just tell her that she can end up damaging her brain or liver."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Wow. I knew alcoholism could hurt your liver, but I didn't know it could affect your brain too!"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Yes, it can cause a number of diseases like cirrhosis of the liver. She needs to be really careful."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I hope she can get help. Are there any support groups who help people recover from alcoholism?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "The Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion can help her achieve a healthy lifestyle. She should check it out!"}]