Social Drinking & Drug Abuse
 
Most people who drink alcohol are social drinkers, and most people who use drugs are social users. Social drinkers & drug users... 
 
...drink or use simply to enhance the pleasure of normally pleasurable experiences, and that's what happens.
...don't experience problems of any kind associated with drinking or using.
...never feel out of control or that they've had too much to drink or use.
...don't think about how much or how often they drink or use; it's just not an issue.
...never get complaints about how much or how often they drink or use because there's nothing to complain about.
 
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
 
Some people who drink alcohol and/or use drugs become substance abusers. Alcohol and drug abusers, or substance abusers... 
 
... use alcohol or drugs to help them change the way they feel about themselves and/or some aspect(s) of their lives.
... experience some problems associated with their alcohol or drug use but use those experiences to set appropriate limits on how much and how often they drink or use.
... seldom, if ever, repeat the alcohol- and drug-related behaviors that have caused them problems in the past.
... know what their limits are and drink or use within those limits - unless they have a good reason not to.
... get complaints about their drinking or using and accept those complaints as expressions of concern for their well-being.
 
Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
 
A few people who drink alcohol and/or use drugs become alcoholics and/or addicts. Alcoholics and drug addicts...
 
...experience negative consequences associated with drinking or using but continue to drink or use despite those consequences.
...set limits on how much or how often they will drink or use but unexpectedly exceed those limits.
...promise themselves and/ or other people that they will drink or use in moderation but break those promises.
...feel guilty or remorseful about their drinking or using but still fail to permanently alter the way they drink or use.
...get complaints about their drinking or using and resent, discount, and/or disregard those comments and complaints.
 
Alcohol & Drug Use Management
 
Social drinkers & users, substance abusers, and alcoholics & addicts can best manage their relationships with alcohol and drugs in different ways.
 
  Social drinkers and social users are fine. They need do nothing. Drinking and using in and of itself is not the issue. If it's really not a problem, then it's not a problem.
 
  Substance abusers may not need to abstain completely from the use of alcohol and drugs, but they need to deal with the problems and issues that make them want to change the way they feel, even it means getting professional help.
 
  Alcoholics and addicts need to abstain completely from all addictive and potentially addictive mood- and mind-altering substances, and they will almost surely need professional help and/or support to accomplish that goal.
 
What's the next step?
 
Take a good, hard look at these pages:
 
  Abstinence or Recovery
  The Road(s) to Recovery
 
And read these articles:
 
  Definitions & Characteristics of Addiction
  Symptoms of Addiction: Loss of Control
  Myths & Facts about Addiction & Treatment