Welcome to SR!
Years ago, I went to AA meetings and met a "kid" who was 19, had 4 years of recovery. Yep, he started drinking at 15.
Thing is, his dad was also an alcoholic. Don't remember how many years HE had in recovery, but it was quite a few.
This "kid" grew up knowing all about alcoholism, what it did, yet he thought "it won't happen to ME, I know better".
I agree about the label...if an action is causing bad consequences, it's a problem. Though my DOC (drug of choice) is crack, and I have no problem calling myself a "recovering crackhead", I also have often say "doing that stuff causes me to make really bad decisions".
In other words, it doesn't matter what I call myself. I had a problem that was causing some serious problems. I only wish I'd recognized it when I was younger...could have saved myself a lot of problems.
Hugs and prayers,
Amy