Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, such as, compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is considered to be a disease now known as alcohol dependence. Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is when you have signs of physical addiction and continue to drink, despite problems with physical, and mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities that control your life and relationships. It is the severe end of alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse (severe alcohol use disorder) is when you're drinking leads to problems such as; negative work, medical, legal, educational, and social behavior, but not physical addiction. Most people are between the ages of 18 and 25 when they develop into this with symptoms relapsing and remission over time. There is no known cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism, but there are influences that can cause you to become an alcoholic. Some influences are if you are a child of an alcoholic, a young adult under peer pressure, have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia. If you have easy access to alcohol and have low self-esteem, stressful lifestyle, or have relationship problems, these can be factors also that can lead to alcoholism. Genetics, how your raised, your social environment, family history, and if you hang out with heavy drinkers, you are more likely to develop a drinking problem. Alcoholics use alcohol to self-medicate to avoid daily interactions with life. .
You may start out with alcohol abuse, which is when you cross the line between social drinking and over drinking that ends up causing problems in your life. It turns into alcoholism with you are using it for longer than planned and inability to use it in moderation, needing more and more amounts to achieve intoxication. There are stages of alcoholism. The first stage is having access to alcohol; the second stage is experimentation or occasional use to regular weekly use or binge alcohol drinking.
