Many people believe the words alcoholism and alcohol abuse to be interchangeable when in fact they are two different terms. Alcoholism is a disease defined as the uncontrollable physical need and emotional dependence on alcohol. The person lacks the ability to refrain from alcohol even when the results of their drinking are detrimental to all aspects of their life such as their marriage, their job and their financial wellbeing. Alcoholism is a chronic disease and can even become fatal if left untreated.
Alcohol abuse on the other hand, still refers to an alcohol related problem but is considered to be a less serious level than that of an alcoholic. The alcohol abuser may drink to excess and suffer both health and social problems as a result, but they never lose complete control over alcohol as compared to the inability to do so in the alcoholic.
Just because it’s not as bad as alcoholism, abuse is by no means a safe way to use alcohol. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence says 18 million Americans abuse alcohol. Alcohol plays a part in almost half of all traffic fatalities in the United States. The loved ones of these victims put very little stock in the difference between an alcohol abuser and an alcoholic when the driver at fault drank more than he should have.
Although it’s not always easy to diagnose the true alcoholic, there are indications that can be recognized. Not everyone suffering from alcoholism suffers all these symptoms. In addition, because they tend to be secretive about it, it will be difficult to discover in another. Here’s what to watch for:
1) Keeping drinking secret from friends and family; drinking alone a lot; hiding the alcohol in unusual places.
2. The inability to stop drinking once started.
3) Experience full or partial “blackouts,” in which memory of events while drinking isn’t complete.
4. Becoming annoyed when a regular drinking ritual, like having a drink after dinner, is interrupted.
5) Leaving behind previous hobbies and pleasurable activities.
6. Drinking becomes a compulsion or a necessity.
7) The more time without a drink, bad temper or irritability is shown.
8. Gulping strong drinks to achieve the drunk feeling as fast as possible.
9) Tolerance levels are set requiring larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the needed feeling.
10) Relationships, work, financial troubles increase, sometimes involving legal actions.
11) Experiencing symptoms of physical withdrawal – shaking, sweating, and nausea when no alcohol has been consumed for a while for whatever reason.
If you are an alcohol abuser and have not yet reached the stage of true alcoholism, you may suffer some of the same symptoms with the exclusion of the compulsion to drink and the physical withdrawal symptoms that accompany the lack of alcohol. Alcoholism is more likely to be the case when there is a built-up tolerance to alcohol and there is the inability to stop drinking is present.
If you find yourself wondering if your drinking habit has crossed in to the dangerous areas of alcoholism or alcohol abuse, ask yourself these questions:
- When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing on your mind? If a drink is in the top spots, you might have a problem.
- Do you feel guilty enough to hide how much you drink from those who care about you? From your boss?
- Do you often think about how you should cut back on the amount of drinking you do? Have you made failed attempts or goals to stop?
- Do you get annoyed when others mention or, heaven forbid, criticize your special relationship to alcohol?
A yes answer to any of these questions could indicate at least alcohol abuse and possibly even alcoholism. Seek help!
