Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

In the United States alone, nearly 18 million people have an addiction to alcohol. This drug can be a mild to chronic addiction and sometimes can turn out fatal for some people (Chakraburtty). Almost 100,000 people have died from overusing this drug (Chakraburtty). Alcoholism and alcohol abuse is not only damaging emotionally, physically, and mentally to the person who is doing it, but to the people around them as well.
Both alcoholism and alcohol abuse are each categorized as different cases. Alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism because people who are just alcohol abusers still have the ability to stop when they need, or to have the common sense to know when they have had too much. Alcohol abuse is still a very serious case though; people who abuse alcohol under any circumstance are not only risking their own life, but people around them. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both self- destructive and they can affect so many different things with themselves and their loved ones (“Alcoholism”).
Alcoholism is the most serious form of someone who is abusing alcohol. Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence (Edwards). When someone is known as alcohol dependent, it is where that person is completely addicted to the substance (“Alcohol Abuse and Dependence). They do not just want to have a drink or two, but they are craving and desiring that drink to cope, satisfy, or to help that person deal with something. Being an alcoholic is the point where someone cannot mentally or physically go without a drink (Edwards). Also, when someone makes the choice to try and stop the drinking issue, they begin to go through withdrawal symptoms (Edwards). Once someone’s body hits the state that they start having these symptoms like, shakiness,...

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...ractive,” and having learning issues; social incapability’s and can affect their attention span along with anger levels (Parsons). FAS can affect so much on someone and these effects are permanent. Lastly, the most severe case of FAS is a child sometimes having mental retardation (Parsons).
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both very serious diseases and most people are unaware of the toll it can take one someone. People who drink moderately or people who drink excessively should take caution in their actions with the any alcoholic substance. Becoming an alcoholic can be fatal, but it can also affect someone’s mental state, their emotions, and also how they act. Alcohol abuse can be very serious for some, but it does not always affect other people the same way.

Works Cited

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm