What is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse?

Question

I'm really confused. Are they different or are they similar? What are the differences between alcoholism and alcohol abuse (if there are any)? Which one is worse?

Answer 1

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse, although used similarly sometimes, are two different cases. In alcohol abuse, the person usually drink secretly. He experiences moments of black out, loses interest in other things and develops a drinking ritual. An alcohol abuser is also easily irritated especially when his drinking habits are questioned. An alcoholism victim, on the other hand, always have that craving for alcohol. He experiences a particular dependence on alcohol and feels like he can't function well without a daily dose. A person experiencing alcoholism cannot stop himself from drinking whereas a person abusing alcohol can so I guess alcoholism is worse.

Answer 2

It's all a matter of perspective. I would make sure to clarify, or ask someone else to clarify what they mean by whichever term they are using.

For instance, Alexis' answer seems to be well researched, and I would not argue with him - but the terms mean different things to me.

In Alcoholics Annonymous, an alcoholic is plain and simple - someone who does not have control over their drinking. By not having control over ones drinking, we mean - once you start with that first drink, you can not stop; you lose control. This is manifested by not being able to stop drinking after the first few drinks. Someone who is not an alcoholic would have no problem doing so, and may find it harder to keep drinking than to stop. The alcoholic will almost always drink to the point of blackout and most likely cause problems for himself and those that he is close to.

Alcohol abuse on the other hand is a little less severe. When I hear alcohol abuse, I think more about college kids getting plastered than I do about people whose life has been ruined by drinking.

Needless to say, you will hear the terms used interchangably and everyone will have their own slightly different version of what the two phrases mean.

A common definition of an alcoholic is someone who drinks every day, who needs booze to function. And while I dont argue with this terminology, I think someone could still be an alcoholic without having the dependence. Hence, you could state the phrase, alcohol dependancy.

For a short and sweet answer, alcoholism, I believe is "worse". Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism.

Answer 3

Alcoholism and abuse may share many characteristics, but alcohol abuse may be due to a situation (divorce, college partying etc). It certainly can lead to dependence (physically needing a drink to get rid of shakes or other withdrawal symptoms) but if someone is not an alcoholic they may abuse alcohol at one point in their lives and handle it normally at a different point. For a true alcoholic (someone suffereing from the disease of alcoholism), the disease (an unnatural craving for more alcohol that can only be overcome by abstinence) is progressive. This means that they may drink alot over time, stop drinking for years, start again, and be at the same place where they left off. A person truely suffering from alcoholism cannot control the amount they drink for any significant amount of time.

Answer 4

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RE:
What is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse?
I'm really confused. Are they different or are they similar? What are the differences between alcoholism and alcohol abuse (if there are any)? Which one is worse?

Answer 5

Alcoholism means an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor and also the deceased condition arising out of such addiction. Consuming too much alcohol, leading to bad effect is called as alcoholic abuse.

Answer 6

Um.. im pretty sure its the same thing.. just worded differently..(even worded similiar at that).

ALSO.. did you notice that the guy who says there different basicly shows situations that are the same.. One might do it secretly but doesn't he still have a craving?.. Comon now.. blackouts? See my point?

Answer 7

They both have 2 l's