Posts Tagged ‘Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Dependence’

The difference between alcohol abuse and dependence is large, but they have the same effects.

The difference between alcohol abuse and dependence is large, but they have the same effects. The one frightening thing about dependence is that there are so many issues that will mar a person’s judgment. So what should be the real fear with people when it comes to alcohol abuse? Well, for a fact, there are dangers beyond just the personal damage. Everyone get’s a affected by an addict’s problems. What you can do is to change that completely. Instead of getting stuck in problems, you can instead do something to learn about the differences between alcohol abuse and dependence. That way, you know when your actions need to be much more proactive. Once you know if your loved one has a problem, then you can start searching for an addiction treatment center to aid you in your problems.

If there is one thing that confuses people very much it is the difference between alcohol abuse and dependence. That is because they are correlated with each other too easily. In truth, these two are the most different in forms of alcoholism.  Our experts at Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Treatment Program would explain to you, a dependence on alcohol would not be about the person running from their problems with drinking. As well as that, they would also tell you abuse is not in the dependence of the person. Rather, it’s their constant use of alcohol because of various elements in their lives.

So what is the difference between them? Well, here, we’ll discuss the very different issues pertaining to both.

Alcohol abuse

If you find that one of your loved ones falls upon alcohol, then there might be an issue with abuse. You see, abuse is mainly just the extensive and “harmful” use of alcohol. People who abuse alcohol are usually the ones that find solace from their problems by drinking extensively. When there are social run-ins that don’t go well, or if they have hang-ups with their family, they usually turn to a drink at the bar after. While they do drink for a reason, they don’t do it religiously. Instead, whenever they find themselves in binds, they’ll be sure to be drinking instead. Another thing about abuse is that it can be a slope to fall into dependence. It when they start showing up at the bar regardless of problems. So, what is dependence?

Alcohol dependence

Another serious effect of alcohol abuse is that it’s a gateway to more serious problems. Dependence is the next step in a more serious plethora in an alcoholic’ issues, but it’s a much more deep need for alcohol. Now when an alcoholic becomes dependant, it sort of means that they can no longer function for long without alcohol. There are some heavy signs when it comes to dependence, and they all form a very big pattern you can watch out for. This means you can seek out help from places like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Treatment Program. The following are all the signs you need to watch out for. This will also teach you about the importance of the difference between alcohol abuse and dependence.

They start to develop a tolerance to alcohol, regardless of what they may try out. Instead of just the usual one drink after work, it becomes ten everyday. That’s the moment where they can no longer function as well as they could before. This segues to…

They start to seek out that drink at any time of the day. And by that, you start to skip out on functions without drinks. Whether its weddings, parties, or even funerals, you’ll find that they won’t show up if functions don’t have booze. And what is worse here is that they learn to function less and less with no alcohol. When it hits this point, then the last sign is…

They start to drink with to relieve their withdrawal symptoms. Each drink helps them stave off physical and most of all, the mental symptoms of withdrawal. That is the point where you should fear for them, or even yourself. It is a point where waking up everyday warrants a drink.

Once you see that they are more dependant than anything, then its high time you get them help from places like Hawaii Island Recovery’s Addiction treatment center. It would be the right time to get help from outside sources if you deal with these many problems.

So why should you consider Hawaii Island Recovery’s treatment center’ on the Big Island? Well, for a fact, they’re very extensive in their alcohol addiction treatment program. If you have a loved one that is trapped in the throes of self destruction, be it alcoholism or drug use, then they can make sure to take care of it. The professionals at Hawaii Island Recovery’s addiction treatment center help in every way they can, and every type of abuse they take. From heavy opiods to depressants, they know exactly what treatment will work for those in trouble.

Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island Treatment Center is sure to cater to every issue you might find when it comes to an alcoholic. Everything we mentioned above tells you what you need to know about change. Most of the time, you might find that a person who’s fallen into these issues won’t come to the same conclusion themselves. If you want them to make and effort, then reading more about the signs is your step.

The rest is up to them. Besides just trying to push the alcoholic into Hawaii Island Recovery’s addiction treatment program, there is still a huge amount of will that goes into this. An addict’s mindset will always tell them to deny everything. For all your efforts of hinting and pushing, nothing will ever amount more than to their own self realization. Once they have that, then the next step is to tell them about options. The affordable private Hawaii rehab treatment center on the Big Island offers everything an alcoholic requires to successfully manage their addiction. To learn more about the difference between alcohol abuse and dependence call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911

There are different forms of problem drinking and the two most common are alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. Alcohol dependence, often referred to as alcoholism, is the most severe form of problem drinking and defined in Wikipedia as the addiction to or dependency upon drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol abuse, also known as binge drinking, on the other hand is described as any harmful consumption of alcohol, that is, when drinking leads to problem but not necessarily physical addiction.

According to professional and research studies, there is indeed a difference between alcohol abuse and dependence although some people use the terms interchangeably. Alcohol dependence follows a progressive pattern – from an individual’s consumption of alcohol as form social drinking or simply to feel good or casual drinking and leading to greater tolerance of alcohol intake. Excessive intake of alcohol will manifest physical addiction that leads to harmful consequence in several aspects of a person’s life such as physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Alcohol abuse is committed by an individual who drink despite repeated undesirable effects that affect social, interpersonal relationships and more often leads to legal problems. The aftermaths on physical or mental damage are result of harmful use of alcohol.

Who are at risk?

Those at risk of developing alcohol dependence include:
•Men who have at least 15 alcohol intake in a week
•Women who have at least 12 alcohol intake in a week
•Anyone who has at least 5 alcohol intake per occasion at least once a week

A single alcoholic intake is defined as 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1 ½ ounce shot of hard drink or liquor.

Those at risk to most likely abuse alcohol include:
•Young adults under peer pressure
•Persons suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia
•Those with easy access to alcoholic beverages
•Individuals with low self-esteem
•Those having problems with relationships
•Those living in an environment where alcohol intake is more common and accepted

It was also noted that individuals tend increase the chance to suffer from alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse if they have parents who are with such problems. Studies about predisposition to drinking based on genetic makeup, have yielded results that are helping a lot of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors understand their clients better.

What are the symptoms?
Clinicians can identify alcohol dependence if an individual shows at least three of the following two physiological factors and five behavioral patterns over a twelve month period.

Physiological behaviors are:
•Alcohol Tolerance – having to drink more to achieve intoxication
•Withdrawal Symptom – experiencing mental or physical symptoms after stopping alcohol intake even for a short while

Behavioral Patterns are:
•Being unable to stop drinking alcoholic beverages once using starts
•Exceeding the self-imposed limits of alcohol intake
•Cutting dedicated time for other activities just to be able to drink
•Spending excessive time drinking
•Taking alcohol despite experiencing health problems or deterioration

Clinicians can identify drug abuse if an individual gets involved in any one or more of the following four situations over a period of twelve months:
•Missing work or school or other important obligations
•Being arrested for reckless activities such as driving while intoxicated
•Getting arrested by law enforcers or encountering legal troubles
•Continuing to drink alcohol despite personal problems or relationship problems

What are the effects of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse?

The Physical Effects
Long term alcohol use, the main cause of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse, can lead to several physical symptoms such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, and sexual dysfunction and eventually can be fatal. People who suffer from drinking problems also increase their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, alcoholic liver disease and cancer. Prolonged alcohol consumption can damage the central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system.

The Psychiatric Effects
Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse can lead to many mental health problems such as dementia, anxiety and depression. Other psychiatric symptoms that may be worsened with misuse of alcohol include psychosis, confusion, organic brain syndrome, and panic disorder.

The Social Effects
Drinking problems put a great pressure on the sufferers as well as to those people around them. Alcohol abuse is linked with an increased risk of committing child abuse, domestic violence, rape, burglary and assault. Alcohol dependence is a sure way to unemployment and eventually financial problems leading to living in poverty. Often times, people with drinking problems are doomed to isolation that separate them from their family and proof to this is the high incidence of divorce involving them.

Is there hope for people suffering from alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse?

Understanding the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence is a big step in acknowledging the problem. An individual who admits having a drinking problem has taken the first step for help. The second step is reaching out for support. This is the support that the Big Island Treatment at Hawaiian Island Recovery is offering to anyone who is struggling with alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. There is no better place to start than at Hawaiian Island Recovery that offers a comprehensive and ideal environment – that understands the importance of seeking a recovery experience. Read more information about difference between alcohol abuse and dependence.

If you need help for yourself or for people whom you love, Hawaii Island Recovery is always here to support you. Give us a call at 866-906-6911 and know more about Hawaii Big Island Treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery.