The last stage.At the last stage of alcoholism, the individual can no longer control his craving for alcohol. It becomes a physiological and psychological need. The body is then starting to deteriorate because of the compounding physical stress and toxins that enter the person's body. You may consider the dependence stage, but this stage is more characterized by how the individual becomes more tolerant to the effects of drinking, thus drinks more to get that same, "buzz," he is looking for.