Yes, there is a difference between alcohol abuse and being alcohol dependent. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders a person that is described as an alcohol abuser is one that drinks despite social, impersonal, legal and recurrent problems that arise out of his or her alcohol drinking. An alcoholic that drinks without caring for physical or mental damage is typically known to be an alcohol abuser.
An alcohol dependent on the other hand, meets many of the symptoms and qualities of an alcohol abuser explained above and in addition exhibits many of the following characteristics.
- Only goes to parties and social gatherings where he or she knows that liquor is going to be present.
- Needs to drink an increasing amount every time to achieve the feeling of being high.
- Have severe withdrawal symptoms, shaking and shivering to loss of memory.
- Continues to drink to relieve themselves of withdrawal symptoms.
- Very particular about the brand of liquor that they drink.
- Aware that drinking is bad for their health but continues to do so.
- Falls off the wagon repeatedly after trying to stay sober or after rehab or detox.
An Alcohol Abuser can be helped relatively easily when compared to an alcohol dependent person. Usually education, an explanation of the harmful effects of alcohol and the social and personal destruction that comes with being an alcoholic is generally enough to convince an abuser to go easy on liquor. An alcohol dependent person though will need much more, usually outside help, psychological and family support, most cases a period of stay at a certified professional rehab or detox center with intensive counseling and follow up sessions to cure themselves of being an alcoholic.
Look at your drinking habits carefully? What are you? An abuser or a dependent? Be honest and you can start down the path of alcohol recovery sooner. Watch your drinking patterns, understand the symptoms of an alcoholic. Recovery is possible only when you are truthful to yourself and will only get easier if you start down the path to recovery sooner rather than later.
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