bayliss

I was wondering what the difference is...isn't it one and the same?

SOBERINNEPA

You can go on a tear and abuse the heck out of alcohol. That might not necessarily mean you're an alcoholic.

stillsleeping

Yeah, I agree. Alcohol abuse means you're abusing alcohol. You're in charge. Maybe you're an alcoholic, maybe you're not. I reckon if a college kid goes on a weekend bender and is drunk for 3 days straight, that's alcohol abuse.

And you can be a recovering alcoholic and not abuse alcohol at all...

xx

wheresthefun

Who cares?

Is my life better with or without my drinking alcohol?

stillsleeping

Girl asked a reasonable question. What do you care?

bayliss

It's a simple question - I was wondering what people's opinions were. :/

BillyPilgrim

If you abuse alcohol too much you become alcoholic

InsertNameHere

Alcoholism= physcialy and or mentaly dependant on alcohol

Alcohol Abuse= binge drinking

Those would be my definitions, though I had to pause on the alcohol abuse one and think for a minute because most people I know that drink "abuse" alcohol by a medical deffinition. Anyone that drinks to get drunk ever is according to what I have been told "abusing" alcohol. In the culture that I have spent the last few years in just about everyone that drinks (which is just about everyone) drinks to get drunk.

Can you have one and not the other, yes (again my opinion not fact). I think one abuse alcohol and not be an alcoholic. I dont think the reverse is true, and according to medical deffinition it deffinetly isn't true. what is it like any more than three drinks in a sitting or ten drinks in a week something like that. I drank 10 drinks in a couple of hours.

stillsleeping

I liked the question. When we ask questions we're learning. Learning is good.

And people replied, so they liked the question too

aeo1313

I would classify myself as alcohol abuse, not alcoholism. But BFD!! Still causes problems in my life. I think of alcoholism as physical symptoms which I don't have.

I have no idea!! Just confusing myself now

6palms

I've tried to convince myself that I was just an occasional alcohol abusers...took every "test" that I could find to get confirmation...pretty strange when ur HOPING that the results will say ur an alcohol abuser cuz then ur still in control of the "problem". Only recently when I literally could not NOT drink when I promised myself that I wouldn't , did I finally say,"Houston, we have a problem!" I have had several starts and stops in march but now I can say that I never drink...and I will not change my mind.

wheresthefun

And I gave MY reasonable answer, sorry if you, or anyone else don't like it.

(Just kidding, I'm not sorry. )

Sapling

I think they can both kill you.......I'm sure they can both screw your life over.

stillsleeping

Haha! Nice! never apologise, never explain...

Like it

PaperDolls

I called myself an alcohol abuser for a really long time. I was in denial. I was an alcoholic much before I admitted it.

wheresthefun

Seriously, stillsleeping, I don't want to fight. What more of an explanation do you want. A question was asked, and I gave my opinion. Is the OP looking for a definitive answer to her question? I don't think it was posed that way, not to mention that there really isn't one, hence why I thought the question was asking for our "thoughts" on the subject.

So again, I answered the question, explained myself and said that I did not feel an apology was warranted - what more do you want from me?

stillsleeping

Who's fighting? I was saluting your opinion of it and your explanation.

bayliss

It's all good!

Keep the opinions coming.

What does OP stand for btw?

wheresthefun

Sorry, things can get lost in online communication.

(See, I can apologize. )

stillsleeping

Thanks dude - really didn't mean to get in yr face xxx