Alcohol abuse is a term that is often used amongst many others, such as alcohol dependency, when people are in some senses either trying to avoid using the word alcoholism, or when people are quite significantly opposed to the idea of alcoholism being a progressive illness.
In some ways, the terminology itself does not really matter.
People debate the nature of alcoholism, whether or not it is an illness, and whether or not a rehab or treatment center is the best option, whether people should or should not use Alcoholics Anonymous etc.
Whilst all of these are valid questions and debates in their own right, the reality is that someone has a drink problem it should be owned as such, either by the individual themselves if they are able, or by family members, or by an employer or friends.
If the fact that the person has a drink problem can be owned, that Lisa is a process set in motion whereby the nature of the problem is identified, whatever the terminology.
Once a problem has been to some extent owned, then at least a search some type of solution will move forward.
If the debate stays around terminology, be it alcoholism, alcohol abuse, binge drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous, then quite literally the person may never get the proper help and treatment that they need.
ALCOHOL ABUSE
There is a much greater sense that if people are open to the reality of their lives, then they can see over time clearly the nature of the problem and of the solution.
Alcohol abuse may relate to either active alcoholism, heavy drinking at a sustained level, periods of binge drinking or simply a long-term decline in an individual’s sense of motivation and purpose about the life.
Getting an individual to relate to the fact and understand the fact that they have a problem with alcohol is obviously the most difficult and pressing challenge.
If someone is an alcoholic or has a serious alcohol addiction and / or alcohol abuse there is a fair chance that at some point they have moved that locus of control from within themselves to alcohol.
At this point they are likely to see alcohol as being the solution to their problems, rather than the problem itself.
It is this viewpoint that is the most damaging to both themselves and their own lives, and is without doubt the most difficult barrier to get the the person to lower and seek help.