This guide clears up the confusion between alcohol dependence vs alcoholism.

1. Alcohol dependence means you can’t stop drinking without feeling sick or uncomfortable. People often keep drinking to avoid these withdrawal symptoms.
2. Alcoholism is another name for alcohol use disorder. It’s a long-lasting condition where a person feels a strong need to drink alcohol, even when it causes bad things to happen in their life.

Read on to learn how to tell the difference between alcohol dependence and alcoholism. You can also discover how to get effective alcohol addiction treatment.

What Is Alcohol Dependence?

Alcohol dependence is a long-lasting medical condition. It means a person needs to keep drinking to avoid feeling sick or uncomfortable, which are called withdrawal symptoms. When someone is dependent on alcohol, they show some or all of these signs:

1. Alcohol tolerance: Needing to drink more alcohol over time to feel the same effects.
2. Withdrawal symptoms: Feeling physical symptoms like trouble sleeping, shaking, and mood swings when not drinking.
3. Drinking to avoid withdrawal: Drinking alcohol to stop feeling shaky or to get rid of a hangover.
4. Craving alcohol: Having a strong desire to drink.
5. Drinking more than intended: Drinking more or longer than planned and not being able to cut down.

What Is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism – alcohol use disorder – is a common medical condition affecting 29.5 million U.S. adults. People with alcoholism can’t stop drinking, even if it causes problems in their lives. They may promise to quit or cut down but find they can’t.

Drinking too much can cause problems at home, work, or school. Alcoholism can be mild, moderate, or severe. Long-term drinking can cause serious health issues like liver disease, heart problems, and brain damage.

People with alcoholism often have strong cravings for alcohol. Treatments like MAT (medication-assisted treatment) and behavioral therapy can help manage alcoholism.

5 Signs That Show Someone Is Alcohol Dependent vs Alcoholic

Here is a comparison in some key areas.

1) Need to drink more

1. Alcohol dependent: Needs more alcohol over time to feel the same effects.
2. Alcoholic: Needs more alcohol, but drinking also controls their life.

2) Feeling sick without alcohol

1. Alcohol dependent: Feels sick or anxious when not drinking.
2. Alcoholic: Feels withdrawal but continues drinking despite consequences.

3) Strong urge to drink

1. Alcohol dependent: Thinks about drinking often and feels an urge.
2. Alcoholic: Has a compulsive, uncontrollable urge to drink.

4) Loss of control over drinking

1. Alcohol dependent: Struggles to control drinking.
2. Alcoholic: Completely loses control and drinks more than intended.

5) Drinking despite problems

1. Alcohol dependent: Continues drinking even if it causes issues.
2. Alcoholic: Drinks despite major problems at work, school, or home.

Knowing these differences can help you understand if someone is alcohol-dependent or an alcoholic. Almost all addictions are treatable with the right therapies.

Alcoholism | FAQs

What are the symptoms of alcoholism?

Symptoms include heavy drinking, cravings, and trouble stopping despite problems.

What do I do if someone I know is an alcoholic?

Talk to them gently and encourage them to seek help or join a support group.

How can I get help for alcoholism?

Talk to a doctor, join a support group, or go to a rehab center. Call 844-576-0144 for addiction treatment.

Get Compassionate, Insurance-Covered Addiction Treatment at Gratitude Lodge

We help treat all types of substance abuse at Gratitude Lodge. Our luxury rehabs in Long Beach and Newport Beach offer personalized treatment for alcohol dependence and addiction.

Supervised detox keeps withdrawal safe. After detox, clients continue treatment in our rehab centers.

All alcohol addictions are different, so our treatment programs include:

1. Talk therapy
2. Medication-assisted treatment
3. Counseling
4. Group therapy
5. Family therapy
6. Holistic therapy
7. Aftercare

Call our recovery experts today at 844-576-0144

Sources

1. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
3. https://medlineplus.gov/alcoholusedisorderaud.html
4. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42728/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetTabsSect5pe2022.htm
5. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/medical-complications-common-alcohol-related-concerns
6. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/information-about-medications-opioid-use-disorder-moud