Author: Gary Jackson

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

That means no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one drink a day for women. (A drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) Moderate drinking appears to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other circulatory diseases. There is evidence that a small amount of alcohol can boost levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the beneficial cholesterol in your blood, as well as reduce the formation of plaque in blood vessels.

Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. Working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the main treatment goal. You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. Severity is based on the number of criteria a person meets based on their symptoms—mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). Societal factors include level of economic development, culture, social norms, availability of alcohol, and implementation and enforcement of alcohol policies.

Types of Behavioral Treatments

Recognizing the early signs and risk factors for AUD can help you seek early treatment and intervention to break alcohol misuse patterns. Based on clinical experience, many health providers believe that support from friends and family members is important in overcoming alcohol problems. But friends and family may feel unsure about how best to provide the support needed. The groups for family and friends listed below may be a good starting point. Because AUD can be a chronic relapsing disease, persistence is key.

• If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern.
• Fatal alcohol-related injuries tend to occur in relatively younger age groups.
• Combined with treatment led by health professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support.
• They are led by health professionals and supported by studies showing they can be beneficial.
• A person who needs help for alcohol addiction may be the last to realize he or she has a problem.

Alcoholism has been known by a variety of terms, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Long-term overuse of alcohol can also increase the risk and severity of pneumonia and tuberculosis; damage the heart, leading to heart failure; and cause cirrhosis of the liver, leading to liver failure. Several evidence-based treatment approaches are available for AUD. One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another.

Medical and non-medical addiction specialists

Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment. Behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Medications also can help deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk of a return to drinking (e.g., divorce, death of a family member). Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.

Remember that your loved one is ultimately responsible for managing his or her illness. This is not an uncommon concern, but the short answer is “no.” All medications approved for treating alcohol dependence are non-addictive. These medicines are designed to help manage a chronic disease, just as someone might take drugs to keep their asthma or diabetes in check. Many people who seek treatment are able to overcome the addiction. A strong support system is helpful for making a complete recovery.

Medical Professionals

Alcohol-related problems—which result from drinking too much, too fast, or too often—are among the most significant public health issues in the United States. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and AlcoholScreening.org offer more comprehensive self-tests. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.

• As you recover from AUD, you may find it helpful to see a psychotherapist who uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.
• Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later.
• Becoming cognitively impaired from excessive drinking of alcohol can lead to risky behaviors that can result in injury or death of an affected person or of others.
• An important part of these programs is to make the drinker responsible for his or her behavior, and to help the family stop shielding the drinker from the consequences of drinking.

Children of parents who have trouble with alcohol have a fourfold increased risk of the disorder. A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person’s symptoms. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate drinking is typically defined as two drinks or fewer for men per day, or one drink or less for women. If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if AUD is present. For an online assessment of your drinking pattern, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov. Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later.