What Are Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism

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Many adults drink alcohol in the form of beer, wine, or liquor. People drink alcohol to relax, celebrate, and socialize. Alcohol affects people in different ways, and people have different relationships with alcohol. Many people can enjoy a glass of wine with food, or drink moderate amounts of alcohol in social settings, without any problems. Having one or fewer drinks per day for women and two or fewer drinks per day for men is defined as moderate drinking.

But drinking alcohol too much or too often, or being unable to control alcohol consumption, can cause or indicate alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence (also called alcoholism).

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that about 18 million people in the U.S. struggle with what it terms “alcohol use disorders”. These disorders can be disruptive and life threatening.

Alcohol Abuse
People who abuse alcohol may not have a physical dependence on alcohol. But they are more focused on intoxication than on safely enjoying alcoholic beverages. Abuse can affect relationships and lead to failure to meet obligations at home, work, ...
... or school. People who abuse alcohol often have legal or financial troubles related to their drinking. Long-term alcohol abuse may lead to alcoholism.

Alcoholism
Alcoholism is likelier to be a physical dependence on alcohol. It is a serious medical condition. People with alcoholism find drinking moderately or stopping drinking very difficult. They often struggle to live their lives normally. And they may face serious health consequences.

For many people, alcohol abuse or alcoholism is caused by psychological or social factors. Others use alcohol to cope with psychological issues or stress in their daily lives. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism may also seem to run in families, but a genetic tendency doesn’t guarantee problems with alcohol.

The causes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism are not known for sure. Often, alcoholism is the product of many factors.

Alcohol abuse is more common at certain points in life. Men, college students, and people going through serious life events or trauma are more likely to abuse alcohol. People who suffer from depression, loneliness, emotional stress, or boredom could be more likely to turn to alcohol to deal with their problems, and this can lead to dependence.

Alcohol abuse or alcoholism may cause serious health conditions. Alcohol worsens aging disorders such as osteoporosis. It can lead to certain cancers. And alcohol abuse may make it difficult to diagnose other health issues, such as heart disease, because of how alcohol affects the circulatory system.

Women who are pregnant are advised to completely avoid alcohol. Breastfeeding mothers should drink only with caution. Children, also, should not drink alcohol. In the U.S., people younger than 21 are prohibited from drinking alcohol.