Alcohol Abuse vs Alcohol Addiction
All of us have been guilty of comparing Alcohol Abuse to Alcoholism or Alcohol Addiction
but the truth is Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse refer to
two completely different states of mind.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Addiction
Drinking is a problem when you notice that you’ve started to neglect things that are important to you for the sake of alcohol.
Whether it’s responsibilities as a parent, a spouse, an employee or even to yourself – you’re probably in the danger zone with drinking if you’re neglecting any daily responsibilities.
Please take everything into account when defining your own Drinking habits. Try to recognize patterns and become aware of your drinking problem before it spirals out of control.
Finding Help Is Vital
We provide resources and treatment options for alcohol, prescription and illicit drug dependence.
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Please call our admissions department and speak live with a crisis counselor for a confidential assessment.Explain Your Needs
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Explain your needs as clearly as possible. We help thousands of people learn about options for treating drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions.Begin The Journey
Follow Our Map Down Recovery RoadOur Plan
We understand you or your loved one’s needs and will make every effort to prevent financial difficulties from becoming a roadblock to recovery.The Stages of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Stage One
Experimenting With SubstancesExperimenting With Substances
Experimentation is using drugs and alcohol voluntarily. This can be as a reaction to life circumstances, depression, or peer pressure. Use is occasional, and most people are able to quit on their own. However, many choose to continue because they like the feeling they get from drugs and alcohol.Stage Two
Regular Substance UseRegular Substance Use
In this stage, the use of substances becomes more frequent, and the individual may begin to do it alone.Stage Three
Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse
The third stage is when individuals begin to suffer negative consequences from drug and alcohol use. Examples of problems could be relationship issues, physical or health problems, legal problems, trouble with a job, or getting into trouble while driving. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, almost a third of the people in the United States display risky drinking behavior.Stage Four
Drug and Alcohol DependenceDrug and Alcohol Dependence
When an individual reaches the dependence stage, they no longer seem to care whether they suffer negative consequences. Some of the specific criteria for being dependent on drugs and alcohol include an increased tolerance to the substance, withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce usage, and extremely irresponsible behaviors, such as losing a job.Stage Five
Substance AddictionSubstance Addiction
Drug and alcohol addiction is when the condition is considered to be a disease. The person is no longer capable of controlling any aspect of it, and their life revolves around the substance. Obvious physical and mental changes have occurred.Keep in mind however that many people can drink alcohol their entire lives, on a regular basis, and never have any issues. This is where the average drinker and the alcohol abuser differ.
In short a person who abuses alcohol is a person that consumes more alcohol than his or her body can accept, which could lead to minor health problems with a possibility of developing a major Alcohol Addiction in the future.
Some people are more susceptible to alcohol abuse than others. This is why many people can drink their entire lives without abusing it, and others experience problems right away.
Risk Factors for Alcohol Abuse | Signs of Alcohol Abuse |
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If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol abuse and showing any of the above symptoms, you should start getting help as soon as possible. The sooner you get help for your alcohol abuse problem, the more successful treatment will be.
Many will tell you to admit you have a problem before seeking treatment, but as long as you’re willing to try and enter an alcohol rehab center, you’re on your way to becoming clean and sober.
Binge Drinking and Alcohol Abuse
Binge Drinking is a form of Alcohol Abuse that is defined as four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more drinks for men.
If your drinking tends to “sneak up” on you – you might be a binge drinker. Similar to that of your health, unexpectedly becoming intoxicated is unhealthy and shows your lack of ability to stop before it’s too late.
Many Medical Reports have shown that having seven drinks a week can lower your risk of developing Diabetes or Heart Disease. However, waiting all week to drink negates any of those supposed health benefits. Binge Drinking can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of Alcohol Poisoning.
Binge Drinking causes over 80,000 deaths each year just in the United States; and it is the third largest cause of preventable deaths. Research focused on college students has provided evidence that Binge Drinking impairs decision-making capabilities and increases impulsiveness.
For example, individuals who Binge Drink are more likely to choose options that provide short-term benefits with long-term problems, rather than opting for benefits over the long run.
Alcohol Abuse inhibits your ability to do multiple things at one time. It delays your actions, your ability to think abstractly, plan for future events and multi-task.
Individuals who have an Alcohol Abuse problem (specifically college students in these studies) are less able to handle common things.
Getting Help
Substances are frequently used to escape from something, and you must figure out what that is for you in order to be successful in recovery. By getting addiction treatment help, you can begin to change your thinking so that you no longer need to depend on drugs and alcohol.
The process of detox allows you to be free of physical dependence; but a large part of transformation in a successful alcohol rehab program comes from psychological work in individual counseling, group therapy, and other activities.
You will learn the tools necessary to cope with problems in a new and healthier way.
This requires developing a new outlook on life and the concrete skills to manage your alcohol addiction.