Is there a difference between being an alcoholic and being dependant on alcohol?

Answer 1

personally i think not but it really depends on how dependent one is.

i hope this helps

Becka

Answer 2

i believe there is a very fine line between the two. let me take the time to explain.

lets start with the dictionary definition of alcoholic:

www.dictionary.com
al·co·hol·ic /ˌælkəˈhɔlɪk, -ˈhɒlɪk/
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of alcohol.
2. containing or using alcohol.
3. caused by alcohol.
4. suffering from alcoholism.
5. preserved in alcohol.
–noun
6. Pathology. a person suffering from alcoholism.
7. a person addicted to intoxicating drinks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism
Alcoholism is the consumption of or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the alcoholic's normal personal, family, social, or work life.

and then the definition of dependent:
www.dictionary.com
de·pend·ent /dɪˈpɛndənt/
–adjective
1. relying on someone or something else for aid, support, etc.

A person may become emotionally dependent on alcohol. After your significant other breaks up with you, a bad day at work, or the annual anniversary of your best friend's death may be emotional issues that are easily dealt with using alcohol. That would be a form of alcohol dependency, but if this person only needs alcohol to solve these emotional issues once or twice a month, that person is not an alcoholic.
In the same way, a person may be dependent on an antibiotic to get over a sickness, but that does not make this person addicted to the medicine.

An alcoholic becomes physically and emotionally dependent on alcohol. These people typically cannot function properly without alcohol in their system. Without alcohol in the bloodstream, an alcoholic will generally go through withdraw symptoms. They will not emotionally be capable of handling daily activities without alcohol in their body. An alcoholic is usually viewed as having issues at home, work, and in their general social life due to alcohol. Not all alcoholics are violent when drunk, although that is the general assumption.

I think the most important difference to remember is that an alcoholic is addicted to the alcohol. This person literally cannot stop drinking alcohol, even if he or she wants to.

I hope this helps...

Answer 3

Alcoholic, alcohol dependant, and alcohol abuse is all the same. They say that the best way to know if you have a problem with alcohol is when you no longer wake up with a hangover, when you drink in the morning, and/or when you NEED a drink and not just WANT a drink. If she thinks that she has a problem with alcohol I would take her word for it. Try and be as supportive as you can and help her through if she wants to quit. AA is a great program for most.

Answer 4

Being dependent on alcohol means physically dependent. That means when you stop you will experience withdrawal symtoms, eg the dt's. You don't have to be dependent on alcohol to be an alcoholic. There are many different criteria for alcoholism but for me the key thing is you are unable to guarantee with 100% certainty that you will stop drinking when you have had enough (great quote- one is too many, ten is not enough...). It does not necessarily mean you have secret stashes of booze, drink first thing in the morning etc- I never did those things. When I realised I was an alcoholic I finally got it that not everyone drank like I did- they could have a couple of drinks and then stop. But when I quit drinking I didn't have any symptoms- I was not physically dependent.
Hope that helps.

Answer 5

A lot of misinformed or uneducated answers so far.

The two above me are good though.

Alcoholics are often dependent. Dependent means you will have withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking. The definition of alcoholic varies a lot, but it generally means several alcoholic drinks per day. Chronic alcoholics are almost invariably dependent to some degree, but alcoholism doesn't necessarily mean a person is physically dependent.

Answer 6

It's not the same thing for me. When I go out with friends I don't have much fun unless alcohol is there and I drink, come on that doesn't make me an alcoholic, however I depend on it to have a good time.
Alcoholic is when you don't feel right when you're not drunk which is certainly not my case, so you see they are not the same thing.

Answer 7

If you are alcohol dependent you are an alcoholic, do you see the correlation the word is dependent, if you are dependent on it, you are on your way to a life of unhealthy living. stop and get help now.Please if you drink more than 2 drinks every day get some help it is out there. The damage you are doing to your body your liver, kidneys ,brain, stop now and get in to a program and work it,

Answer 8

Some people with alcohol problems have to go through a stage of considering themselves dependant before they can face up to being alcoholic. In reality it's the same difference, with the fundamental criterion being if alcohol is causing problems, it is a problem.

Answer 9

I think so. When you say a person is an alcoholic, that person MUST drink, even if it is for no reason at all. It becomes part of the system. Being dependent on the other hand, makes a person think/feel he/she needs alcohol to do something, i.e. to get over sadness, to work better, or something like that. Although, both may be caused by addiction.

Answer 10

no i don`t think so the only difference is the wording. An alchoholic is someone who can`t function without as drink which means they are dependant on alcohol, cheers, hic!!!!!!!!

Answer 11

no... alcoholic is the same as dependant on alcohol.. For they're not strong enough to deal with problems on their own... they rely on some drink that won't help them solve anything......