tryingtolive

Well the title says it all. What is the difference between someone who has a drinking problem and an alcoholic? I know that alcoholics have a drinking problem but are all problem drinkers alcoholics? Sorry if this has been asked many times before, didn't see anything on the search.

2dayzmuse

A very fine line. When it was crossed? I'll never know.

Pick-a-name

For me a "problem drinker" is or should be a once or twice thing..........if it causes you a problem and you don't stop.........THAT is a problem. That is where I personally would start questioning the casualness of my drinking. "Social" drinking doesn't cause a problem.

When you start to wonder or ask that question, I personally would see that as a red flag. JMHO

CarolD

See if this helps..

http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#8

Also...look in here for lots of info on Alcohol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

leviathon

Good question, one I've never had to answer b/c I am not a problem drinker. For me I have a always drank to get drunk. In my mind, problem drinkers like drink more than most, but don't desire it and crave it like alcoholics do. Sorta like you don't have the "obsession of the mind" phenomena.

I have never had that problem of just drinking too much... for me it has always been I have a drink and the obsession sets in and I cannot stop.



Peace levi

laurie6781

I had it explained to me this way early in sobriety:

All Alcoholics are Problem Drinkers, but not all problem drinkers are alcoholics. A problem drinker given enough motivation, ie loss of family, loss of job, etc can learn to moderate and control and enjoy his drinking.

Well over these many ODAATs now I have never seen a proclaimed Alkie able to control and enjoy his drinking, but I have seen quite a few with a drinking problem learn to modify. Have an occassional drink and not have a problem.

So that is my gauge for the difference between a problem drinker and an alcoholic.

JMHO

Love and (((((to all))))),

Jellyfish

HI!

I am newish- have been "lurking" about for some time. This post is the basis of my unwillingness to fully address my drinking behavior. I think I am a social drinker because I get drunk when I get together with a group of friends from the area I grew up in (Milwaukee). I only see them when I am home in the summer. I teach out of the US 9 mos a year and generally do not drink while on assignment- if I do, it's to try a local beer or participate in a toast.
I don't know. If I am an alcoholic, then how can I stop most of the year? If I am not, why do I get wasted every Friday and Saturday night when I am back home?
Anyway, thanks for discussing this issue-

J.F.

Pick-a-name

Is it that you don't really want to get wasted those Fridays and Saturdays but still end up doing it over and over again? Is it becoming a problem for you? ( and JMHO...what is it that got you thinking about it enough to the point of coming to a board like this? even though it is a great idea )

Questions I have. They may or may not "mean" anything.

AH says he isn't an A, can stop anytime he wants to but he just doesn't want to; never has and never will; (drinks nightly) According to him, he is not an A. I have heard no one can say if another is an A or not. I have my own opinion about this and I have reached a different conclusion than AH. This is where it gets confusing to me.

Glad you are here and thinking about these things. Good luck.

MNGirlyGirl

I believe that I became an alcoholic before I became a problem drinker. I didn't get into a whole lot of trouble because of my drinking until it was way past an addiction.