If by "not be dependant" you mean "I can quit any time", I think only an unreformed alcoholic would strongly agree. Even if you could arrange a definition of d

If by "not be dependant" you mean "I can quit any time", I think only an unreformed alcoholic would strongly agree. Even if you could arrange a definition of dependence such that it doesn't apply to a regular problem drinker, then I think the term loses it's utility. The physiology and psychology of dependence is an interesting topic, but the disease of substance abuse IS the problematic behavior. EDIT: I had to clean this up a bunch, apologies for the butchered first attempt.