Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsSymptomsSteps to Take for Signs in OthersSteps to Take if You’re Abusing AlcoholNext in Alcohol Use Disorder/Alcoholism GuideHow to Stop Drinking Alcohol: Home Remedies and Complementary Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs
Symptoms
Steps to Take for Signs in Others
Steps to Take if You’re Abusing Alcohol
Next in Alcohol Use Disorder/Alcoholism Guide
Alcohol addiction, oralcohol use disorder, is a chronic mental illness that impacts judgment, behaviors, and a person’s physical health. Recognizing the difference between non-harmful alcohol consumption and alcohol addiction can be difficult. However, certain physical and behavioral traits may indicate that alcohol adversely affects someone’s health.
This article will explain the signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction and outline the steps to take if you or someone you know may have an alcohol use disorder.
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Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Other signs of alcohol use disorder are related to drinking frequency, habits, and its impact on relationships, which we’ll explore below.
Age of Most People With Alcohol DisordersAlthough it’s common for young people to consume alcohol, alcohol use disorder doesn’t usually occur until after age 30.
Age of Most People With Alcohol Disorders
Although it’s common for young people to consume alcohol, alcohol use disorder doesn’t usually occur until after age 30.
Frequency of Drinking
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) provides the following guidelines about alcohol abuse:
Drinking Habits
Drinking habits may differ from person to person. In general, people who are at risk of or who have alcohol use disorder drink alcohol regularly and experience cravings when they don’t. They often spend time and money trying to obtain alcohol and continue to drink despite experiencing adverse health effects. There is usually a transition that occurs at some point from choosing to drink alcohol to drinking compulsively.
Relationships and Work
Most people with an alcohol use disorder will experience a negative impact on their relationships. They will likely experience deteriorating relationships with family and friends and might have difficulty at work. Those with alcohol use disorder will continue to drink despite increased isolation and separation from loved ones. People with alcohol use disorder might reduce their participation in social events and become withdrawn over time.
Reasons for Drinking
People consume alcohol for various reasons. Some people might use it to cope with a difficult situation, such as a mental or medical illness. For others, drinking alcohol is learned from family culture or is genetic. Alcohol dependence can also develop from low self-esteem or a desire to be socially accepted. Though it has many possible causes, the physiological effects ofalcohol withdrawalcan be enough for some people to continue drinking heavily and start a dangerous cycle.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Symptoms: How Does Alcohol Make You Feel?
Alcohol is often associated with euphoria, leading people to drink recreationally. However, heavy alcohol consumption can significantly impact a person’s health and safety. Commonsymptomsassociated with alcohol consumption include:
There is also an increased risk of injuries from drowning, violent acts, and motor vehicle accidents.
Over the long term, alcohol abuse can lead to physical illnesses that affect the liver, such as alcoholic hepatitis andcirrhosis. These are serious illnesses that can lead to disability or death. Research also shows a connection between heavy alcohol use and heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer.
Alcohol Abuse Correlates to Mental IllnessAlcohol abuse is strongly associated with mental illness, such asdepression,anxiety, impaired cognition performance, and drug addiction.
Alcohol Abuse Correlates to Mental Illness
Alcohol abuse is strongly associated with mental illness, such asdepression,anxiety, impaired cognition performance, and drug addiction.
Most people with alcohol use disorder do not seek treatment on their own. Given the high mortality rate associated with alcohol use disorder, friends and family members can be an important source of support and connection to treatment options for those with thedisease.
Here are some steps you can take if you think someone you know may have an alcohol use disorder:
Most People Don’t Seek TreatmentFewer people seek out treatment for alcohol addiction than for any other mental illness. This means family and friends can play a significant role in helping people access the treatment they need.
Most People Don’t Seek Treatment
Fewer people seek out treatment for alcohol addiction than for any other mental illness. This means family and friends can play a significant role in helping people access the treatment they need.
What is a Functioning Alcoholic? Signs and Seeking Help
If you notice signs of alcohol use disorder in yourself based on the amount of alcohol you consume daily or weekly, or if you’re drinking alcohol as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges, talk to a healthcare provider. They can refer you to a mental health professional or help you develop a plan to begin treatment. Seeking mental health and medical advice offers a holistic approach to reducing or eliminating alcohol use.
Contact a Mental Health Professional
A mental health professional can help you recognize whether your habits are cause for concern. If you are abusing alcohol, a mental health professional will work with you to develop a treatment plan that includes an effective approach to treating alcoholism, such ascognitive behavioral therapy.
Seeking therapy can also keep you on track in your treatment goals and provide a supportive outlet and opportunity to learn healthy coping mechanisms that replace alcohol.
Contact a Medical Professional
A medical professional will monitor your physical health as you work through treatment plans. A medical professional can also prescribe you medications to help reduce your alcohol consumption. These medications might include:
Find a Support Group
There are many group support options for those with alcohol use disorder. Attending a group can provide community and accountability and offer resources, tools, and coping techniques. Here are a few options to consider:
Summary
Alcohol addiction, clinically referred to as “alcohol use disorder,” is a chronic illness in which people experience alcohol withdrawal, difficulty regulating consumption, tolerance development, and difficulty making sound judgments or controlling behaviors. It often affects a person’s health, relationships, and work, yet they continue drinking heavily despite these negative impacts. If you or someone you know might be suffering from alcohol use disorder, seek mental and medical professional help to discuss resources and treatment plan options.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang SC, Chen YC, Chen SJ, et al.Alcohol addiction, gut microbiota, and alcoholism treatment: a review.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(17):6413. doi:10.3390/ijms21176413Ciubară A, Burlea SL, Săcuiu I, et al.Alcohol addiction—a psychosocial perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2015;187:536-540. doi:0.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.100National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA).The basics: defining how much alcohol is too much.Wiers CE, Stelzel C, Park SQ, et al.Neural correlates of alcohol-approach bias in alcohol addiction: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak for spirits. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;39(3):688-697. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.252Roerecke M, Rehm J.Cause-specific mortality risk in alcohol use disorder treatment patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Epidemiol. 2014;43(3):906-919. doi:10.1093/ije/dyu018
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang SC, Chen YC, Chen SJ, et al.Alcohol addiction, gut microbiota, and alcoholism treatment: a review.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(17):6413. doi:10.3390/ijms21176413Ciubară A, Burlea SL, Săcuiu I, et al.Alcohol addiction—a psychosocial perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2015;187:536-540. doi:0.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.100National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA).The basics: defining how much alcohol is too much.Wiers CE, Stelzel C, Park SQ, et al.Neural correlates of alcohol-approach bias in alcohol addiction: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak for spirits. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;39(3):688-697. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.252Roerecke M, Rehm J.Cause-specific mortality risk in alcohol use disorder treatment patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Epidemiol. 2014;43(3):906-919. doi:10.1093/ije/dyu018
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang SC, Chen YC, Chen SJ, et al.Alcohol addiction, gut microbiota, and alcoholism treatment: a review.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(17):6413. doi:10.3390/ijms21176413Ciubară A, Burlea SL, Săcuiu I, et al.Alcohol addiction—a psychosocial perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2015;187:536-540. doi:0.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.100National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA).The basics: defining how much alcohol is too much.Wiers CE, Stelzel C, Park SQ, et al.Neural correlates of alcohol-approach bias in alcohol addiction: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak for spirits. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;39(3):688-697. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.252Roerecke M, Rehm J.Cause-specific mortality risk in alcohol use disorder treatment patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Epidemiol. 2014;43(3):906-919. doi:10.1093/ije/dyu018
Wang SC, Chen YC, Chen SJ, et al.Alcohol addiction, gut microbiota, and alcoholism treatment: a review.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(17):6413. doi:10.3390/ijms21176413
Ciubară A, Burlea SL, Săcuiu I, et al.Alcohol addiction—a psychosocial perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2015;187:536-540. doi:0.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.100
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA).The basics: defining how much alcohol is too much.
Wiers CE, Stelzel C, Park SQ, et al.Neural correlates of alcohol-approach bias in alcohol addiction: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak for spirits. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;39(3):688-697. doi:10.1038/npp.2013.252
Roerecke M, Rehm J.Cause-specific mortality risk in alcohol use disorder treatment patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Epidemiol. 2014;43(3):906-919. doi:10.1093/ije/dyu018
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