you just said it in the question. Alcoholic.
Alcoholic, alcoholism?
It refers in this case to a person who has an addiction to alcohol
She was an alcoholic
Addiction to an alcoholic drink is very bad because you get very hooked on it, and then you can't stop. It might sometimes even injure your lungs very bad.
alcoholism
Alcohol is a drug, and alcohol addiction is the same thing as alcoholism. The term "addiction" is coming into use with respect to alcohol because of the non-medical and often emotional baggage that goes along with the word alcoholic.
You must have a desire to stop the alcohol addiction and you must have a serious desire to stop from being an alcoholic. Then you must have the initiative to identify the cause of your being alcoholic. Knowing the cause of one problem is an important part to its solution. If being alcoholic is due to some traumatic experiences.
ALCOHOLIC - containing alcohol, or a person with an addiction to alcoholic beverages
The patient presumably underwent withdrawl.
I am an Alcoholic.
OPPOSITE NOUN addiction
"Alkie" is a colloquial term for someone who is an alcoholic, struggling with alcohol dependency or addiction. It is often used informally and may have negative connotations.