I think by fictional diagnosis qualifications, Dean has had a drinking problem, and probably continues to drink too much. Trying to map that onto real world specific diagnoses will likely fail, because...fiction.

I don't know what the word is for someone who felt they had to drink 50 drinks a week to get by. It may not be alcoholic in the real world, but it isn't healthy.

Maybe Dean's self-medicating. If I were in the life, I'd need to refill my Xanax prescription asap. (And then I'd be dead soon thereafter, 'cause salt-and-burn does not loom large on my resume.) Drowning your demons probably looks like a reasonable option when you know half a dozen or so by name.

I don't understand the concern about Dean's drinking. My guess is he's drinking a whole lot less than he used to, certainly than before Sam went to hell and immediately thereafter, and not only is he holding down a job and involved in decently healthy relationships with Lisa and Ben, he actually seems to be getting some enjoyment out of them.

It was the least interesting thing about the premiere to me, in the sense that I didn't even think about it until it was brought up here.

Amy, I'm not really concerned with his drinking; like I said, SO many more issues.

But I like over-analyzing! It's in my nature!

For me, mostly I'm just discussing semantics.

he actually seems to be getting some enjoyment out of them

I'm waiting to see this. I think he's getting reward, but that opening montage was too sad, and the look on his face when Lisa asked him if he was okay was not one of simple enjoyment.

For me, the drinking leapt out right away. It was in the montage twice, IIRC, and then we jump to him in a bar, and then we see him drinking again. It was a tone-setter for me.

Like I said, I know plenty of people who habitually have a beer every night with dinner, etc. So maybe I just know a lot of heavy drinkers? It just didn't strike me as problematic at all.

I probably sound cranky, but I'm feeling pretty lonely in my enjoyment of the episode, and my anticipation for the season.

From a practical persective, Dean was working with power tools and such, wasn't he? That isn't the type of thing any man with a functioning brain would want to do with shaky hands unless he'd want to risk losing a finger. And I'd hope that Dean wouldn't risk driving Ben and Lisa in a car while he'd be compromised behind the wheel, although I don't doubt he was in that condition more than a few times when it was just himself or him and Sam. So perhaps he is continuing to drink, but has fewer uninterrupted opportunities to do so.

Other than that I agree with Erin's earlier post:

I think Dean definitely using booze as a coping mechanism, but I don't judge him for it. I think it's pretty damned understandable, given his life.

I think sometimes his reliance on it goes up and down, depending on circumstances, but drinking is, IMO, pretty far down on the list of shit that's wrong with him. I don't think he's living to drink. He's for sure using it to numb himself down, but...well, dude, his life has SUCKED. Sure, it would be better for him to take a nice jog or journal or talk to a shrink, but really. Not gonna happen at this point in his life.

On the other hand I don't have any practical experience dealing with alcoholics in my life, only fictional ones, so I have no grounding for my arguments.

Dean drinking makes me like the episode more, not less. I was worried that we'd come back to a magically healed Dean that needs no coping mechanisms, and that to get him back on the road Sam was going to have to be the source of his discontent. I'm glad that doesn't seem to be happening. I don't want Sam to be the bad guy here.

From a practical persective, Dean was working with power tools and such, wasn't he?

Dean was working with weapons and accelerants beforehand in life and death situations. He was never shown to be compromised by alcohol. I wouldn't expect that to start now. Whatever compartmentalisation he had displayed beforehand I'd expect him to be able to continue.

Amy, don't doubt that, for all my calling Sam names and hating on the Campbells and nitpicking Dean's drinking habits, that I did not enjoy the premiere very very much!

Even back when I was disgusted with Sam, I was entertained and interested.