Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?AUD SymptomsWhen Is It Alcoholism?Effects on OthersTreatmentSupportNext in Alcohol Use Disorder/Alcoholism GuideWhat is a Functioning Alcoholic? Signs and Seeking Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
AUD Symptoms
When Is It Alcoholism?
Effects on Others
Treatment
Support
Next in Alcohol Use Disorder/Alcoholism Guide
“Alcoholism” and “alcohol abuse” are terms people use when referring to alcohol use disorder (AUD), a widespread issue in the United States. It affects 12.1% of males 12 and older and 9.1% of females in the same age group.
Healthcare providers define AUD as a brain disorder that affects your ability to regulate or stop drinking alcohol despite adverse impacts on your mental and physicalhealthand professional or personal life.
There are effective ways to treat this disease and steps you can take to help a loved one enter recovery. This article discusses alcohol use disorder symptoms and strategies for treatment and intervention.
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What’s Meant By Alcoholism (Alcohol Use/Abuse Disorder)?
AUD is a brain disorder and disease that occurs when people cannot stop or control their drinking despite adverse effects on relationships, work or school, finances, and overall health. Healthcare providers use the umbrella term “alcohol use disorder” to classify a wide range of problematic alcohol use, such as alcohol abuse, dependence, addiction, and severe alcohol use disorder (alcoholism).
Binge Drinking and Heavy Alcohol UseBinge drinkingis when you drink enough alcohol to raise your blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08% or higher.For men, that typically is about five standard alcoholic drinks within a few hours; for women, this is four alcoholic drinks within the same period.Heavy alcohol use is binge drinking on five or more days within the past month, or consuming more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men.Both binge drinking and heavy use increase your risk of AUD.
Binge Drinking and Heavy Alcohol Use
Binge drinkingis when you drink enough alcohol to raise your blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08% or higher.For men, that typically is about five standard alcoholic drinks within a few hours; for women, this is four alcoholic drinks within the same period.Heavy alcohol use is binge drinking on five or more days within the past month, or consuming more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men.Both binge drinking and heavy use increase your risk of AUD.
Binge drinkingis when you drink enough alcohol to raise your blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08% or higher.For men, that typically is about five standard alcoholic drinks within a few hours; for women, this is four alcoholic drinks within the same period.
Heavy alcohol use is binge drinking on five or more days within the past month, or consuming more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men.Both binge drinking and heavy use increase your risk of AUD.
Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms (and Signs in Other People)
The more of the followingsignsyou have, the more severe the AUD:
When Does Alcohol Use Become Alcoholism?
Not everyone who drinks alcohol has substance use disorder. Alcohol use becomes alcoholism when the following occurs:
Risk Factors
In addition, several factors increase your risk of developing an AUD, including:
Alcohol Use Disorder Comorbidities
Various diseases andhealth problemscan occur alongside or as a result of heavy alcohol use, including the following:
Does Alcohol Cause Inflammation?
Effects of Alcoholism on Others
Alcohol use disorder affects the person with the disease and their social circles (e.g., family, friends, colleagues). Children of those with AUD are particularly vulnerable and more likely to experience neglect, abuse, domestic or partner violence, and the associated mental health issues.
Alcohol use disorder in parents can cause lifelong mental and physical health problems in their children. In a longitudinal study of over 28,000 adults who had grown up in homes with parental alcohol problems, the researchers found higher rates of:
AUD can cause unintended consequences even before a child is born. Drinking while pregnant can seriously harm the developing fetus, raising the risk offetal alcohol syndrome, premature birth, and miscarriage.
Additionally, alcohol use disorder can affect family members and lead to the following feelings and experiences:
What is a Functioning Alcoholic? Signs and Seeking Help
Steps to Treating Alcohol Use Disorder
As harmful and debilitating as AUD can be for both the person with the disease and their loved ones, there are many approaches that you can take to manage the condition. Everyone’s road to recovery differs; treatments can occur in an inpatient or outpatient medical settings, individual or group sessions with therapists, or other specialty programs.
Primary Care
If you or a loved one is struggling with AUD, make an appointment with a primary care provider such as a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. People with severe AUD who have used alcohol long-term may experience severe withdrawal symptoms that require medical evaluation and treatment. A healthcare provider can evaluate the AUD severity and its health impacts, refer you to specialists, and determine the appropriate treatment.
Medications
In the United States, healthcare providers can prescribethree medicationsto help people with AUD stop drinking or prevent relapses. These medications are often used alongside other therapies and include:
Behavioral Therapies
Under the direction of licensed therapists or counselors, behavioral therapies involve psychological strategies to modify drinking behaviors. The therapy goals are to develop the skills needed to manage your habits, build social support, set and work toward realistic goals, and deal with or avoid things that trigger drinking.
There are many types of behavioral therapies for AUD, including the following common approaches:
Mutual Support Groups
Finding social support can be a critical aspect of managing AUD. Knowing that others are going through what you are can help with the loneliness and stigma and support you when you’re struggling.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other 12-step programscan offer that social support. There are regular, free group meetings in most cities and towns. In addition, some groups meet online. Alongside other therapies, such groups can play a critical role.
Support for People With Alcoholism
Undergoing treatment for AUD can be challenging, and there’s always a risk of relapse. Making such a significant life change can cause emotional turmoil, including guilt for past behaviors or burdening others.
As the loved one of someone struggling, remember that it’s ultimately up to them to manage the condition. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too; consider seeking out your systems of support or even medical help if you’re having trouble.
Here’s what you can do to support a loved one in AUD recovery:
The Problem With Calling Someone an “Alcoholic"If someone in your life has an alcohol use disorder, you should be careful about labeling them an “alcoholic.” This can be stigmatizing as it implies that “alcoholism” is their identity rather than a disease to manage. If speaking with someone about their drinking, consider using the term “alcohol abuse” instead, as this focuses on behaviors rather than identity.
The Problem With Calling Someone an “Alcoholic”
If someone in your life has an alcohol use disorder, you should be careful about labeling them an “alcoholic.” This can be stigmatizing as it implies that “alcoholism” is their identity rather than a disease to manage. If speaking with someone about their drinking, consider using the term “alcohol abuse” instead, as this focuses on behaviors rather than identity.
Many avenues, ranging from non-profit organizations to governmental programs, offer support and information for those struggling with AUD. These include the following:
Summary
Not only does AUD affect the health of the person with the disease, but it also impacts the lives of those around them. Medications, behavioral therapies, and social support groups are among the strategies to combat this disorder.
10 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.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic statistics.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.MedlinePlus.Alcohol use disorder.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking levels defined.Aronson MD.Alcohol use: When is drinking a problem?. In: Stein MB, Friedman M, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2022.Tawa EA, Hall SD, Lohoff FW.Overview of the genetics of alcohol use disorder.Alcohol Alcohol. 2016;51(5):507-514. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agw046American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology.Alcohol use in families.American Psychological Association.Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.Haugland SH, Carvalho B, Stea TH, Strandheim A, Vederhus JK.Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: A cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population.Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16(1):47. doi:10.1186/s13011-021-00384-9National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Treatment for alcohol problems: Finding and getting help.
10 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.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic statistics.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.MedlinePlus.Alcohol use disorder.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking levels defined.Aronson MD.Alcohol use: When is drinking a problem?. In: Stein MB, Friedman M, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2022.Tawa EA, Hall SD, Lohoff FW.Overview of the genetics of alcohol use disorder.Alcohol Alcohol. 2016;51(5):507-514. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agw046American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology.Alcohol use in families.American Psychological Association.Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.Haugland SH, Carvalho B, Stea TH, Strandheim A, Vederhus JK.Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: A cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population.Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16(1):47. doi:10.1186/s13011-021-00384-9National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Treatment for alcohol problems: Finding and getting help.
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.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic statistics.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.MedlinePlus.Alcohol use disorder.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking levels defined.Aronson MD.Alcohol use: When is drinking a problem?. In: Stein MB, Friedman M, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2022.Tawa EA, Hall SD, Lohoff FW.Overview of the genetics of alcohol use disorder.Alcohol Alcohol. 2016;51(5):507-514. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agw046American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology.Alcohol use in families.American Psychological Association.Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.Haugland SH, Carvalho B, Stea TH, Strandheim A, Vederhus JK.Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: A cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population.Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16(1):47. doi:10.1186/s13011-021-00384-9National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Treatment for alcohol problems: Finding and getting help.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic statistics.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.
MedlinePlus.Alcohol use disorder.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking levels defined.
Aronson MD.Alcohol use: When is drinking a problem?. In: Stein MB, Friedman M, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2022.
Tawa EA, Hall SD, Lohoff FW.Overview of the genetics of alcohol use disorder.Alcohol Alcohol. 2016;51(5):507-514. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agw046
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology.Alcohol use in families.
American Psychological Association.Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.
Haugland SH, Carvalho B, Stea TH, Strandheim A, Vederhus JK.Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: A cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population.Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16(1):47. doi:10.1186/s13011-021-00384-9
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Treatment for alcohol problems: Finding and getting help.
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