What’s the Difference between Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence?

Question: What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence? 

Answer: Alcohol abuse, in the simplest terms, is a pattern of excessive use of alcohol to the point of self-harm. You continue to drink even though adverse consequences--ranging from marital problems to DUIs--have occurred. An example would be frequent episodes of binge drinking, followed by “sobering up” the next day. However, alcohol abuse is NOT addiction. It does NOT include

• a strong craving for alcohol
• loss of control over drinking
• physical dependence on alcohol

Alcohol dependence, on the other hand, is addiction to alcohol and includes

• physical dependence
• tolerance
• cravings
• loss of control
• withdrawal symptoms after stopping

Someone who is dependent will drink until passing out and continue to drink upon waking, creating a cycle stopped only by outside intervention (a family member) or running out of drinks.