What is Alcohol Dependence and How is it Different from Alcohol Abuse?

Though alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are similar sounding terms, they have different meanings. Alcohol abuse refers to an excessive use of alcohol such as binge drinking or generally drinking too much too often regardless of the negative consequences. It can seriously impact your health, create problems at home or work, affect your relationships, and increase your risk of accidents such as setting fires or being involved in car crashes due to drunk driving.

Excessive drinking is not necessarily the same as alcohol dependence. You can be a problem drinker without being dependent on alcohol. But over time, repeated alcohol abuse can impact your brain, damage your liver and kidneys, and increase your risk of developing alcohol dependence.

Unlike alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence is an actual physiological dependence on alcohol where your body and your brain cannot function properly without it. It creates an insatiable craving for alcoholic beverages that you are unable to resist no matter how hard you try.

Alcohol dependence is a chronic, but treatable disorder characterized by physical withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include shaking, sweating, nausea, hallucinations, and/or convulsions that manifest when you stop drinking or your blood alcohol level drops. Your brain has become so used to operating with a certain amount of alcohol in your system that it has chemically changed and altered to accommodate it.

Symptoms of alcohol dependence usually start six to 24 hours after a person’s last drink, and he or she will often resort to relief drinking to avoid feeling them.

Common signs of alcohol dependence.

• Strong, compulsive cravings for drinks containing alcohol.
• Requiring alcohol to be able to function.
• Feeling anxious and panicky without a drink.
• Needing to drink more to get the same effect you used to, due to an increased tolerance to alcohol.
• Inability to control how much you drink and drinking more or for longer than you intended.
• Inability to stop drinking once you start.
• Repeatedly trying to cut back or quit drinking but not being able to.
• Placing your need for alcohol above all other interests or responsibilities, including family, work, and relationships.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, nausea, anxiety, and hallucinations if you stop drinking.
• Depending on alcohol to prevent the symptoms of withdrawal.
• Continuing to drink despite harmful health, social, or occupational consequences.
• Drinking on inappropriate occasions and/or at inappropriate times or places.
• Denying that you have a problem.

Treatment options.

The first step toward recovery from alcohol dependence is to acknowledge that you have a problem. The next step is to get professional help.

If you are alcohol dependent do not suddenly stop drinking on your own. The potential symptoms of withdrawal that can result when you abruptly stop drinking can be severe, and even life-threatening, making it a dangerous endeavor to try without medical support.

Treatment usually starts with an inpatient stay at a hospital or rehab center where you can detox safely while learning how to live without alcohol. To prevent a relapse, and a return to heavy drinking at some point down the road, detox treatment needs to be followed up with a combination of counseling and participation in a 12-step peer support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery.

There, you can have a social support system that helps boost your motivation to stay sober and provides accountability, and where you can learn tips for coping with things such as high-risk drinking situations.

If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory, please give us a call.