My name is Nick and I'm an alcoholic. Or am I an addict? Am I an alcoholic or am I
an addict!? In this video let's discuss the difference between an alcoholic and
an addict and we'll see if there's even a difference.
I am very guilty of doing this and I do it all the time
and that is this. I like to call myself an alcoholic and I refer to people in
recovery as "alcoholics" and "addicts" but there's something to discuss her. One of
which is alcohol is a drug. Alcohol is the oldest known and most widely used
psychoactive drug in the world. But many people like to put it in its own class.
I surely like to believe that there was a difference between alcohol and drugs.
There's even Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and it's easy to
think "oh, I can't stop drinking" therefore "I'm an alcoholic" or "I can't stop smoking
weed" therefore "I'm an addict" or I could say "I can't stop doing the booze and the
druggies" therefore "I'm an alcoholic and an addict", which is kind of like this
guy's saying he's a carrot and a vegetable. So if you think about it what
is addiction? Addiction is defined as a chronic relapsing brain disease that is
characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use despite harmful consequences. So
how is that any different than what alcoholism is? Alcohol has a long history
of use and misuse throughout recorded history. Biblical, Egyptian, Babylonian, all
of these sources record the abuse of alcohol and the dependence upon it. So
perhaps because of its wide availability and the destruction that it causes it
got its own word. But regardless of the history, alcohol is a drug and if
somebody can't stop drinking or they can't quit entirely, well, that's a really
good definition of addiction. So why do people call themselves an addict or an
alcoholic or both? I'm not sure why other people do but I have a better
understanding of why I have. I can't speak for other people in recovery, of
course, when I first got sober — and there we go — that's another word that's used
sometimes to divide people. Sober means not drinking, right? If you look it up in
the dictionary, then yes. But the word "sober" is from the Latin "sobrius"
— think that's how you say it. From "sē" that means "without" and "ebrius" that
means "intoxicated". So really sober should just mean "without intoxication" — from
alcohol or drugs or whatever. But regardless, labels are used to divide
people. You're either this or you're that. You're
either on Team Edward or you're on Team Jacob. And when I quit drugs and alcohol,
I used the label "alcoholic" because alcohol was that primary addiction I had
and sadly I also used that label to feel better than people. I'm not saying
everybody does this but when I said "I'm an alcoholic"
it was, you know, "I'm not a drug addict". I didn't want to be associated with people
that did worse stuff. I wanted to be viewed as an alcoholic because I thought
it was classier — which makes no sense because instead of using heroin to
destroy my life I used alcohol to destroy my life — what difference doesn't
matter what I used? But some of those 12-step programs ask that you have a
problem with a specific drug which makes sense because I found it easier
sometimes to connect with people when you're recovering from the same
substance or behavior. But to me, the error of judgment I had was thinking
there is alcoholics and then there's addicts. You know — pick a side. Which is
crazy to say that. Maybe other people see a difference but to me today I'm all
about people coming together. A voice, a movement, is stronger when you see
similarities not differences. That the common bonds won't break the group's
resolve. I view alcoholism as addiction and sure
I'm not saying disband all groups on specific substances — not at all. They're
often helpful because there's certain withdrawal symptoms or considerations to
have when coming off a specific drug and it can be easier to seek out guidance
from somebody that has recovered from that same drug or behavior. But I can
only speak for myself and for me I view anybody and everybody that's looking to
quit some destructive behavior as an ally. Addiction affects way more people
than it does just alcoholics or drug addicts because drug use is really just
a destructive behavior — or maladaptive behavior and doctor talk. Sugar, social media,
video games, shopping, your phone, all of those things
addictive. So it's important for me to remember that there are no alcoholics
there aren't any addicts it's just a group of people looking to stop
behaviors that are destroying their lives and most of the harm comes from
the stories that we tell ourselves. That we're not good enough, we're not wealthy
enough, we're not "something" enough. We are all enough. We have always been enough.
Let's remain together because we're stronger together. Thanks for watching
today's video on how there's really no difference between alcoholics and
addicts — it's all the same to me. But if you disagree please let me know in the
comments below. I'd love to hear what you have to say. Please subscribe for your
daily dose of soberness and I will see all of you tomorrow in the next video!
For more infomation >> Difference in British & American Formal English pronunciation –Speak English Clearly & Confidently - Duration: 10:12. 
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