Yes, I agree, ultimately the problem is not the alcohol, but the reasons behind it that caused us to drink.
Please don't blame yourself for not seeking help or having the answers when you were in your teens. When I was in my teens I was chronically depressed, but had no clue what was wrong with me. When I did seek help in my twenties and thirties, I was told by drs that I was not depressed. Of course, that made me feel worse, and helpless. The bottom line is that I think we need to go through a process. The knowledge comes to us, when we are ready to deal with it. You are seeking help now and that's great!
And, please remember that alcoholism is not a character defect, it's a disease.