Alcohol Use Disorder: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

If you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for example, alcohol use disorder might make symptoms like impulsivity worse. But not everyone who has alcohol use disorder will have the same symptoms. Immune systemDrinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than moderate drinkers. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections–even up to 24 hours after getting drunk. Signs of AUD may include an increased tolerance to alcohol, loss of interest in hobbies, and interference with interpersonal relationships.

Multiple body systems

• It can be life-threatening, causing serious medical issues like seizures and hallucinations that require immediate medical care.
• Some people seem to be just fine even though they misuse alcohol.
• Excessive drinking is defined as 15 drinks or more a week for men and eight drinks or more a week for women.
• Care is integrated with patients’ other health care to improve treatment access, reduce costs, and promote better physical and mental health outcomes.
• It may also lead to increased psychological distress among the partners and children of individuals with AUD.

Alcohol misuse and addiction can have harrowing and hazardous side effects at every phase. Effective, evidence-based treatment can help and recovery is possible. You can prevent alcohol use disorder by limiting your alcohol intake. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day, and men shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day. In 2021, 29.5 million Americans aged 12 or older met the diagnostic criteria for an AUD.

Causes and Risk Factors of Alcohol Use Disorder

Participation in support groups may help people develop strategies to deal with the urge to drink alcohol. Peer support may also help in coping with emotions that may have led to alcohol misuse. Anyone who is considering stopping drinking alcohol should speak with a healthcare professional.

What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?

Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There are also other support groups that don’t follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery. If you’re worried that someone you know has an alcohol addiction, it’s best to approach them in a supportive way.

Risk factors

The classic picture of someone with alcohol use disorder is someone who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart because of it. A 2019 study found that people with substance use disorder in their late adolescence years were four times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder in early adulthood. Children of a parent with alcohol use disorder may be more likely to develop the condition later in life. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), heavy alcohol use is defined as consuming more than four drinks a day for men or more than three drinks a day for women. However, there are some factors that may make a person more likely to develop it.

Support for People With Alcoholism

The Why Alcoholism is Considered a Chronic Disease more alcohol you drink, the higher your blood alcohol levels and the greater your level of alcohol intoxication. For some people, alcohol misuse results from psychological or social factors. They may drink to calm down or loosen up in social settings.

Research and Statistics: Who Has Alcohol Use Disorder?

• Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
• Group meetings are available in most communities at low or no cost, and at convenient times and locations—including an increasing presence online.
• If you have a history of withdrawal symptoms, see a health professional before quitting.
• Mutual-support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and inpatient rehabilitation are common treatments for alcohol problems.
• Males, college students, and people going through serious life events or trauma are more likely to experience AUD.

Though at-risk and binge drinking can result in a range of adverse consequences, not all people who engage in these kinds of unhealthy alcohol use have alcohol use disorder. In general, alcohol consumption is considered too much—or unhealthy—when it causes health or social problems. This broad category of alcohol consumption comprises a continuum of drinking habits including at-risk drinking, binge drinking, and AUD. It is important to remember that AUD is not due to an individual’s lack of self-discipline or resolve. Long-term alcohol use can produce changes in the brain that can cause people to crave alcohol, lose control of their drinking and require greater quantities of alcohol to achieve its desired effects. It can also cause people to experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue alcohol use.

Even mild symptoms can have negative effects in a person’s life, both personally and professionally. Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment. Seeking professional help early can prevent a return to drinking. Behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking.

In more severe cases, people may also have seizures or hallucinations. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person exposed to alcohol before birth. These conditions can affect each person in different ways and can range from mild to severe.

Others use alcohol to cope with psychological issues or stress in their daily lives. Treatment of AUD focuses on relieving symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in the short term and then suppressing alcohol cravings in the long term. Another complication is alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which may occur after you stop drinking and can cause symptoms such as nausea, shaking, and sweating. It can also lead to serious symptoms like seizures, fever, or hallucinations, and can be a medical emergency. 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.