Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism though seem to have the same meaning, yet they are quite different from each other. A person abusing alcohol might not be an alcoholic or might not fall in the category of alcoholism. And to avoid such further confusion, here is the meaning of both the terms.

What is alcohol abuse?

People who are not in the regular habit of drinking alcohol or who do not possess all the signs of alcoholism are usually referred to as "alcohol abuse" or "problem drinking".

Such individuals sometimes engage in excessive drinking resulting in health or social problems but are not totally dependant on alcohol intake and have not fully lost control over the use of alcohol.  One should be fully aware of the negative effects of alcohol on our mind and body, so that we can stay away from it as much as possible.

What is alcoholism?

On the other side, alcoholism is a chronic disease. It is progressive and fatal which increases with time. There is an impaired control over alcohol intake, it becomes hard to resist the temptation.

Despite of the awareness of the harms it can cause, the victim continues its intake. This is a distortion in thinking. This habit takes no time in turning into a fatal addiction. So, it becomes quite necessary for all of us to be aware of the warning signs of alcoholism before its too late. It will make you enough capable of saving the life of your loved ones!