Do you know the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism? If not, you're not alone. Many people do not understand the difference between these two terms. In fact, some people use them interchangeably, while others don't even know that there is a difference at all.
But, there's a clear distinction between them, and it's important to know what that difference is. This can help you identify when someone can't stop drinking and needs treatment for alcohol abuse, even if that someone is you.
Let's look at what each term means and how they're different from one another.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a chronic alcohol use disorder, also known as alcohol addiction. It is a dependence on alcohol that develops over time and is characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, difficulty controlling its use despite harmful consequences, and an inability to stop drinking once started.
Alcoholics may not be able to quit drinking or reduce their drinking on their own. Additionally, they often need help from family or friends to get sober again.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism
- Drinking alcohol in large amounts.
- Tolerance to alcohol, or the need for more and more of it to get drunk.
- Craving alcohol.
- Loss of control over drinking — whether it’s deciding when, where, and how much to drink; or having episodes of binge drinking (consuming large amounts within a relatively short period).
- Physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.
- Inability to stop drinking even after repeated attempts to do so.
- Drinking to feel good or escape problems.
- Continued drinking, despite experiencing negative consequences, such as health problems, job loss, or relationship problems.
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable.
Health Issues Associated With Alcoholism
Alcoholism can cause many serious and long-term physical or mental health issues or even both. Some of these issues include:
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis occurs when the liver is damaged beyond repair and cannot function properly. This can be dangerous because your body depends on the liver for many functions:
- It produces bile to help digest food.
- It filters out toxins from your blood.
- It helps metabolize carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar).
- It controls cholesterol levels in your blood.
- It produces an important protein called albumin, which helps preserve red blood cells, so they don't break apart too soon in circulation.
So when a person has liver cirrhosis, these functions can be impaired, which can lead to serious complications.
Brain Damage
Alcoholism can lead to brain damage by reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to your brain cells due to impaired breathing while intoxicated or passed out after drinking alcohol excessively over a long period of time.
This is known as alcohol-related hypoxia, which can lead to permanent brain damage if not treated immediately.
Hypoxia causes brain cells to die and can lead to permanent cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, speech difficulties, and reduced learning ability. When you drink too much alcohol over a long period of time, the damage caused by hypoxia may be irreversible.
Heart Disease
Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Heavy drinking is also linked with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heartbeat that causes symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Other health problems include:
- Mental health problems, such as psychosis, anxiety, and depression.
- Gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach ulcers.
- Stroke.
- Increased risk of developing cancer of the mouth, breast, and other parts of the body.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse is often used interchangeably with alcohol dependence. However, the two terms are not synonymous.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcohol abuse as a pattern of drinking that causes significant issues in your life, while they define alcohol dependence as a physical and psychological need to drink alcohol.
Alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence. If you drink too much, you may be in danger of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse
The signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse vary from person to person. But the most common include:
- Binge drinking regularly.
- Using alcohol to cope with everyday problems or anxiety, or stress.
- Drinking alone or in secret.
- Lying about how much they drink.
- Neglecting family and other responsibilities.
- Needing to drink more in order to feel its effects.
- Becoming defensive or argumentative when someone questions your drinking habits.
Health Issues Associated With Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse may not necessarily lead to health problems, but it can certainly contribute to them. If a person abuses alcohol frequently over a long period of time, they are likely to develop alcohol-related health problems.
These health problems are similar to those associated with alcohol dependence and include liver cirrhosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Alcohol abuse can also contribute to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation.
Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
The main difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is that while both are serious problems, alcohol abuse is not a disease. Alcoholism, however, is a disease.
Alcohol abuse refers to any harmful or dangerous drinking behavior that can lead to serious health problems and other issues. Alcoholism is a more severe form of alcohol abuse that indicates an individual has developed a physical dependence on alcohol.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person who abuses alcohol is not considered an alcoholic or doesn't meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Effects Of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Excessive alcohol consumption, whether it be binge drinking or chronic drinking, is a leading cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that excessive alcohol consumption causes three million deaths each year.
Besides that, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence have many negative effects. Some of these include:
- Increased rates of violent crime, including domestic violence and child abuse.
- Higher rates of drunk driving and vehicular accidents, which lead to injuries or deaths.
- Health problems such as liver disease or cancer, which can affect an individual’s quality of life.
- Loss of productivity at work and school, which can lead to loss of income.
- Social problems such as broken relationships and family issues.
- Financial problems, including debt or spending money on alcohol instead of necessary expenses.
- Increased risk of alcohol poisoning.
- Lowered immune system, which can lead to infections and disease.
- Changes in personality, including aggressiveness or depression.
These effects can be short-term or long-term, depending on the individual and the severity of the situation. Some effects may be immediate, while others may not be noticeable until months or years after using alcohol.
Risk Factors of Excessive Alcohol Use
There are many factors that can lead to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Some of these risk factors include:
- Family history - people who have family members who are alcoholics are more likely to develop a problem with drinking.
- Psychological problems - people who suffer from depression or anxiety are more likely to develop an alcohol problem.
- Environmental factors - the availability of alcohol, peer pressure, and stress can all lead to excessive alcohol consumption.
- Social factors - alcohol use is more prevalent in some cultures than others.
- Gender - men are more likely than women to develop an alcohol problem.
- Financial problems - people who are experiencing financial problems are more likely to drink heavily.
- Genetics - studies show that genes can play a role in alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse.
Alcohol Use Disorder Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol use disorder withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, serious, and even dangerous. They can vary from person to person and range from mild to severe.
The severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms will depend on how long the addict has been drinking, the amount of alcohol that they consume every day, and their body weight and overall health.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Sweating, fever, and chills.
- Fast heartbeat.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Anxiety or agitation.
- Headaches.
- Tremors or uncontrollable shaking of the hands.
- High blood pressure.
- Seizures.
- Hallucinations and/or delusions.
- Confusion.
These symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. If you have severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you may need to be hospitalized so that medical staff can monitor your condition.
Treatment For Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are serious problems that can cause a great deal of harm to the person who suffers from them, as well as their family and friends.
The important thing is knowing when a person has crossed the line from responsible drinking to excessive drinking and clearly needs professional treatment.
There are many signs that can indicate a problem with alcohol. But the only way to know whether or not someone is suffering from an alcohol use disorder or simply abusing alcohol is if they have been diagnosed by a medical professional.
The treatment for alcohol abuse is quite different from the treatment for alcohol dependence. The type of treatment that is most appropriate will depend on the severity of the person’s drinking problem and other factors, such as whether or not they have developed any co-occurring mental health conditions.
There are many different types of treatments available for people with alcohol addiction. The most common types include:
Psychotherapy
This type of therapy focuses on helping patients understand the reasons why they began abusing alcohol in the first place, as well as how they can change their behavior moving forward.
Medications
Medications are often prescribed to help with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and other symptoms associated with alcohol use disorder.
Doctors typically prescribe these medications alongside psychotherapy in order to maximize their effectiveness and minimize side effects such as nausea or drowsiness.
Counseling
It's not easy for someone who is used to drinking to stop drinking cold turkey on their own. Because of this, a doctor may recommend counseling to help the patient manage their cravings and learn how to cope with their urges.
This can be especially helpful for those who are trying to stop drinking on their own but find themselves struggling with it.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is an important part of any treatment program for addiction. It helps families understand addiction and what they can do to support a loved one. It can also help families deal with the emotional impact of having an alcoholic in the family and learn how to handle conflicts more effectively.
Family therapies are usually conducted by licensed medical professionals who have been trained in addiction treatment.
Support Groups
These groups provide peer support for those who suffer from alcoholism by sharing their experiences with one another through discussions and activities such as meditation sessions or yoga classes.
Lifestyle Changes and Aftercare
Seeking medical help for alcohol abuse or alcoholism is the first step in the recovery process. However, this is not the end of an addict's journey.
Once an addict has been through detox and treatment, their doctor will likely recommend that they make lifestyle changes to avoid the risk of relapse.
These changes include avoiding situations where alcohol use is likely to occur, learning to live without alcohol, and developing healthy coping mechanisms. They may also include eating well and exercising regularly to improve physical health.
The doctor may also recommend aftercare, especially if the patient has a history of relapsing. The purpose of aftercare is to provide additional support for recovering alcoholics who may be at risk of relapse.
And it involves a combination of individual, group, and family therapy sessions. In addition, some people may benefit from a residential treatment program. This is an inpatient program that provides 24-hour supervision and support for recovering alcoholics.
Wrapping Up
Alcohol addiction may not be the same as alcohol abuse, but they are both dangerous and can have dire consequences if left untreated.
These consequences can include mental illness, physical health problems, and even death. It’s therefore important to seek help if you think you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol.
Seeking help means taking the first step and getting in touch with a medical professional who can help you or your loved one get off alcohol and onto the path to recovery.
There are many treatment centers like our rehab in Thailand offer comprehensive services for people struggling with alcohol addiction, including detox, therapy sessions, group meetings, and more.
