There’s a range of drinking patterns – use, abuse, dependence (alcoholism) – and it’s alcohol abuse that is the biggest problem.

Following the various articles and blogs that contain my google keywords: drunk driving, alcohol, underage drinking, alcohol abuse, alcohol research, alcohol and the brain, codependency, etc., brings me so may tragic stories of what can happen when a person abuses (or is addicted) to alcohol — things like impaired driving, date rape, domestic violence — all related to a person not being in their ‘right mind’ because they’ve had too much to drink. As I skim the comment trails of some of these, there is often a lot of ‘discussion’ about whether the person was really drunk or on medication or had a medical condition flair up. The fact is, however, that when these kinds of things/behaviors happen and alcohol is involved, at minimum it is alcohol abuse — consuming more than moderate drinking quantities. Alcohol abuse destroys a person’s ability to think and act responsibility — whether that person is an alcoholic or not.

Alcohol Abuse is Not Alcoholism

One of the misconceptions about drinking is that it is either “normal” or “alcoholic.” There are actually three stages of drinking – use, abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates there are four times more alcohol abusers than there are alcoholics.

To be an alcoholic (dependent on alcohol) is to have the disease of alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is not alcoholism, which is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease because the person is actually dependent on alcohol. Alcohol abuse is drinking pattern that repeatedly exceeds moderate limits, but it is not being addicted to alcohol (an alcoholic). Moderate limits are defined as:

• 7 per week for women; with no more than 3 of the 7 on any given day
• 14 per week for men, with no more than 4 of the 14 on any given day.

There are two key reasons to stay within moderate drinking limits and thereby avoid alcohol abuse:

1. to avoid the destructive drinking behaviors that occur with consuming too much alcohol — including binge drinking, blackouts, DUIs, unplanned or unprotected sex, verbal abuse, physical violence, poor work performance, financial problems, arrests and fighting with loved ones about the drinking.  (Basically doing things you wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the drinking.) These drinking behaviors are related to the amount of alcohol consumed and are common to both alcoholics and alcohol abusers; and
2. to avoid the chemical and structural changes in the brain that occur with alcohol abuse. To see brain change images of alcohol abuse, visit  www.amenclinics.com. The World Health Organization reports that all alcoholics go through a period of alcohol abuse but not all alcohol abusers become alcoholics.

If you are wondering about your drinking patterns, consider taking NIAAA’s anonymous quiz found at its website, www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov. This site also offers a number of great tips for changing your drinking patterns.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Lisa Frederiksen

Author | Speaker | Consultant | Founder at BreakingTheCycles.com

Lisa Frederiksen is the author of hundreds of articles and 12 books, including her latest, "10th Anniversary Edition If You Loved Me, You'd Stop! What you really need to know when your loved one drinks too much,” and "Loved One In Treatment? Now What!” She is a national keynote speaker with over 30 years speaking experience, consultant and founder of BreakingTheCycles.com. Lisa has spent the last 19+ years studying and simplifying breakthrough research on the brain, substance use and other mental health disorders, secondhand drinking, toxic stress, trauma/ACEs and related topics.

Latest posts by Lisa Frederiksen (see all)

• Does a Loved One Have to Hit Bottom? - November 20, 2022
• Resources for Parents of Children with Substance Use and Mental Disorders - October 18, 2022
• 4 Things to Support Brain Health and Function for Recovery - August 30, 2022