The behavioral characteristics of the alcoholic are progressive as is
the person's tolerance to alcohol and the course of the disease itself. An inventory of
some of the progressive characteristics was developed by Dr. Jellinek and is presented
here although not necessarily in the precise chronological order for every person
suffering from alcoholism. Some of these characteristics may never be experienced by an
alcoholic, but most of them are experienced and indeed indicate "milestones" along the
way.
