People consume alcohol, which is a psychoactive substance that can affect their health and well-being positively or negatively. However, excessive and long-term use of alcohol can cause severe physical, mental, and social problems. Individuals often refer to problematic alcohol use as alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Despite their interchangeable use, there are distinct differences between these two terms.
Read more to find out:
Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol abuse is a behavior that occurs when an individual consumes alcohol in a manner that results in negative consequences in various areas of their life. This behavior can manifest itself in dangerous or inappropriate ways, such as drinking and driving, engaging in risky behavior, or neglecting responsibilities.
Alcohol Dependence:
Alcohol dependence, also known as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, is a chronic and recurring brain disease characterized by an individual’s failure to regulate their drinking practices, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and compulsion to consume alcohol despite negative consequences.
Severity of symptoms
Another difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence is the severity of symptoms.
Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol abuse is usually less severe compared to alcohol dependence, and it manifests through binge drinking, blackouts, neglecting responsibilities, and interpersonal problems. Despite these symptoms, an individual may still maintain a normal level of functionality in their everyday life.
Alcohol Dependence:
Alcohol dependence can cause severe and chronic symptoms that can have a substantial impact on an individual’s daily functioning and quality of life. The symptoms may include tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment options
The treatment options for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence also differ.
Alcohol Abuse:
Individuals may receive brief interventions, counseling, and support from various groups. The primary aim is to assist the person in decreasing their alcohol intake and avoiding any future harm to themselves and others.
Alcohol Dependence:
To treat alcohol dependence, doctors may use a mix of medications, counseling, and support groups to help patients achieve and maintain abstinence, manage withdrawal symptoms, and avoid relapse.
To sum up, problematic alcohol use is described using two terms, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence, but they have different meanings. It is crucial to keep in mind that asking for help for alcohol use disorders displays strength and bravery, and it is possible to recover with adequate assistance and resources.
