Every field of study has their own language, terms that are used within the field that the general public may have other definitions for.

With respect to addiction medicine, this can lead to confusion at best and a misdiagnosis at worse.

Understanding the terminology of alcoholism will help you in understanding the different aspects and treatments of the disease.

Some of the differences are subtle and unfortunately others are not yet industry standards.

For example, the clinical definitions of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse are quite different.

Some use the terms interchangeably, but they have very different meanings and treatments.

The following will explain some of these terms, understanding the difference is critical in understanding today's treatments.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a hand book published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and contains the standard classification of mental disorders used by many mental health professionals in the United States.

First published in 1952, with the latest version (DSM-IV) in 1994, it is a widely used book that standardizes some, but not all, of the terminology in addiction medicine.

There is still ongoing controversy and debate over many of the terms used in the manual, but understanding them will provide a good base.

The evolution of diagnostic criteria for behavioral disorders involving alcohol reached a turning point in 1980 with the publication of the DSM-III, for the first time, the term "alcoholism" was dropped in favor of two distinct categories labeled "alcohol abuse" and "alcohol dependence" 1,2

Alcohol Abuse = harmful alcohol use, alcohol misuse
Alcohol Dependence= Alcoholism, alcohol addiction

A person can abuse alcohol without actually being "alcohol dependent" -- that is, he or she may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol.

Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school, or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions.

Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous -- for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.3

Proper diagnosis is essential in determining the appropriate treatment and should be made by a physician trained in addiction medicine.

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