There are two basic ways that someone can misuse alcohol – they can either have a behavioral disorder, more commonly known as “alcohol abuse,” or they can have an actual physical dependence on alcohol, which is the technical definition of alcoholism. Alcohol abusers typically have the ability to curtail their use of alcohol, but due to whatever external stimuli are driving them to drink, they typically are locked in a self-destructive cycle that can frequently lead to full-fledged alcoholism