Alcohol Addiction

What Is the Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction?

According to PubMed Health, alcohol abuse and alcoholism are two different types of drinking, but both are problematic for the drinker.

When alcohol abuse is an issue, it causes problems for the drinker in every day life – legal issues, financial woes, health ailments, etc. – but it does not cause physical addiction. When alcohol dependence is an issue, it is defined by both a psychological and a physical addiction to alcohol that controls every choice and action of the drinker. Both issues are treatable at alcohol rehab.

When Does Alcohol Addiction Mean a Dual Diagnosis?

When the patient is living with both alcohol dependence and a mental health diagnosis like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other disorders, then a Dual Diagnosis is present. According to the National Institutes of Health, alcoholics are two to three times more likely than the general public to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Additionally, a National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism study found that patients with a history of alcohol addiction were more than four times as likely to experience a major depressive episode as those without a history of alcohol abuse and addiction.

How Is a Dual Diagnosis Treated?

When a patient is dealing with issues related to both an alcohol addiction and a mental health disorder, it is necessary to receive medical treatment for both problems at the same time. In the past, it was believed that addiction should be treated first and the mental health issue should be treated second. However, it was quickly found that it was almost impossible for Dual Diagnosis patients to avoid relapse in early recovery when they weren’t receiving treatment for their mental health symptoms.

Often, patients originally turned to alcohol in an effort to self-medicate their mental health issues, and these untreated symptoms can serve as a trigger for relapse without effective medical and psychotherapeutic intervention.

Get the information you need to effectively address issues of alcohol addiction and mental health symptoms when you contact us at the phone number listed above. Dual Diagnosis treatment can be just what you need to effectively heal.