Alcohol Abuse vs Alcoholism: Whats The Difference?

To help clarify the difference between the two, let’s take a closer look at alcoholism vs alcohol abuse. After completing a detox program, patients transition into an inpatient or outpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab is more intensive and requires patients to live onsite at a treatment facility. Outpatient rehab occurs in the community and allows patients to live at home and continue to work. While in rehab, patients participate in behavioral services like individual and group counseling, and they often attend support group meetings like AA.

Dependency cannot be easily identified as persons tend to hide their weakness for alcohol. A few visible symptoms are however reliable pointers to this disease. Alcohol addiction is a primary condition where there is a growing inability to stop consuming alcohol in spite of the knowledge of its negative repercussions. The most popular use of alcohol worldwide is as a beverage by adult humans for purposes of recreation. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a series of characteristics may describe someone suffering from an alcohol use disorder. To learn more about alcohol treatment options and search for quality care near you, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator.

Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcoholism: What’s the Difference?

Many Americans enjoy a quick drink after work or a cold beer at the neighborhood BBQ. But when the thought of that next drink becomes louder than the rest, you may be looking at evidence of alcoholism or alcohol abuse. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. Alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-is-the-difference-between-alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholism/ use disorder is a diagnosis used by medical professionals to describe someone with an alcohol problem to varying degrees. Alcoholism is a non-medical term used most often in everyday language and within the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. The term “Alcoholic” is often used in regards to the Alcoholics Anonymous program.

This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for relapse to drinking. Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. In short, alcohol abuse is too much, too often and alcohol dependence is the inability to quit. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that leads to the failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, home or school and/or repeated drinking in situations in which it is physically hazardous. Alcohol dependence was originally defined as a chronic medical condition characterized by experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when the person stops consuming alcohol. To avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms, the person has to keep consuming alcohol.

Integrated Services

You can attend a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous or, if your symptoms are more severe, you can find an alcoholism treatment program. Being without alcohol for any period of time can make you feel physically ill. Symptoms of withdrawal include headaches, nausea, tremors, and in severe cases, hallucinations and seizures.

There is no level of negative consequences that will overcome the alcoholic’s need to drink because they are mentally and physically unable to make the change for themselves. This inability to change their thinking is also why remission from alcoholism requires very targeted addiction treatment. An alcoholic will not be able to consistently or reliably limit their intake. The person often can’t, or won’t, stop drinking even when it causes severe and detrimental health issues, not to mention relational and legal issues. An alcoholic may not even drink every day, but when they do, they almost always lose control of when, or if, they stop.

Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery

But not everyone who drinks socially goes on to abuse alcohol or develop alcohol dependence. In reality, social alcohol consumption can quickly progress to alcohol abuse, and ultimately, to alcohol dependence or addiction. If you’re wondering whether you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol, take our self-assessment test to find out whether your drinking is problematic.