What is an Alcohol Use Disorder?

Medical and clinical professionals diagnose someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, when that person can no longer control or stop their alcohol use, despite knowing it can cause negative consequences. There are 11 criteria by which someone can be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder. The person must exhibit at least two of the following signs within a 12-month period: Consuming alcohol in increasing amounts or for a longer than originally intended, Wanting to cut down on alcohol use but not being able to, Spending increasing amounts of time trying to get, use or recover from alcohol use, Craving alcohol, Being unable to fulfill major obligations at home, work, or school because of alcohol use, Using alcohol even when they know that it will cause social or interpersonal problems, No longer participating in events or activities they enjoyed due to alcohol use, Consuming alcohol even when they know it could create a physically dangerous situation, such as driving a car, Continuing to use alcohol even with the onset of a psychological or physical problem, which may potentially be credited to the alcohol use, Building up a tolerance to alcohol, Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking, It’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder, like all substance use disorders, is not a moral failing—it’s a serious, but treatable, disease.

Alcohol Misuse, Addiction & Treatment

Learn what alcohol use disorder is and how to find treatment for alcohol addiction.

Written by: Laura Close

Reviewed by: Ryan Kelley, NREMT

Updated: Apr 25, 2023

Alcohol Use Disorder

Learn about the various aspects of alcohol addiction and effective treatment.

About Alcohol Misuse

Treatment Programs

Rehab Features

Alcohol Misuse Overview

Alcohol is a widely consumed and socially acceptable substance in the U.S. It’s less stigmatized than other substances that can lead to addiction, unfortunately making it one of the most misused substances.

Throughout 2018, a quarter of adults 18 years old or older consumed enough alcohol to be considered heavy drinking.¹ That same year, 3.4 million 18- to 25-year-olds and 11 million people aged 26 or older were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD).²

Alcohol use occurs across a wide, complicated spectrum, and it can be difficult to recognize when it becomes an addiction. The good news is that most people with an alcohol use disorder can benefit from treatment.

With the right help from professionals, recovery from alcohol use disorder and reducing harmful alcohol use is possible and within reach.

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol addiction is a chronic medical disease, where compulsive alcohol consumption causes not only health problems affecting many different systems in the body, but may also have negative social and occupational consequences.³

The substance interferes with how the brain works, causing problems with learning, memory and coordination, as well as changes in mood and behavior.³

Medical and clinical professionals diagnose someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, when that person can no longer control or stop their alcohol use, despite knowing it can cause negative consequences.⁴

It’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder, like all substance use disorders, is not a moral failing—it’s a serious, but treatable, disease.⁵

Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Effects and Health Risks of Alcohol Use

Alcohol is fast acting, which means it can enter your bloodstream and make you feel the effects within 10 minutes of consumption. As you continue to consume alcohol, your blood alcohol concentration level (BAC)—the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream—will increase.¹¹

Short-term effects of alcohol use can include:^{11, 12}

A lessening of inhibitions.
Feeling relaxed or sleepy.
Slurred speech.
Problems with limb movement and coordination.
Stroke.
Memory problems.
Difficulty concentrating or maintaining focus.
Breathing problems.
Emotional instability.
Alcohol poisoning (confusion, vomiting, hypothermia, loss of consciousness).
Pregnancy or fetal complications among pregnant women.

As alcohol use continues a person may begin to regularly experience episodes of binge or heavy drinking, abuse alcohol regularly, or develop an alcohol use disorder, worsening their health and increasing the risk of developing chronic medical conditions.

The long-term health risks of alcohol use are wide-ranging and can include:¹²

High blood pressure.
Heart disease.
Stroke.
Liver disease.
Digestive problems.
Cancers, including breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
Learning and memory impairment, including dementia.
Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.

Those who regularly consume heavy amounts of alcohol may also experience unintentional injuries (e.g., falls, burns, motor vehicle crashes), unemployment or problems at work, an increase in hostile or aggressive behavior, financial strain, and increased conflicts with family or friends.¹³

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol use disorder treatment is available for those who are ready to stop their problematic drinking and maintain sobriety. Treatment for addiction or alcoholism is effective, and lifelong recovery is possible.

Many people who enter treatment benefit from an individualized treatment approach, meaning that their course for treatment is dependent on factors that specifically affect them.¹⁴

Alcohol Abuse Treatment at Recovery First

Located in Hollywood, Florida, Recovery First Treatment Center offers a comprehensive collection of alcohol use disorder treatment options for those interested in sobriety.

You can learn more about the facility online or call our admissions navigators day or night with questions. We walk you through the treatment admissions process and are here to support you at every step of your recovery journey.

FAQs

The best person to diagnose whether you have an alcohol use disorder or not is a doctor or mental health professional. There are signs of alcohol abuse that you may be identify on your own, but a diagnosis should come from a medical professional.

We know that consuming alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in the brain, which can produce feelings of pleasure and reward. When someone abuses alcohol regularly, it can create changes in the neural circuits in charge of motivational processes that drive subsequent alcohol-seeking behavior.

Although more research needs to be done to understand how genetics affects someone’s predisposition to alcohol abuse, researchers have identified some genes that can impact a person’s chance to becoming addicted to alcohol.²¹

ADH1B and ALDH2 are two genes that so far are the strongest known to affect the risk of alcoholism. A handful of others (GABRA2, CHRM2, KCNJ6, and AUTS2) are currently being studied for their impact.²¹ Note that genes can either increase the risk of alcohol abuse or protect against that risk.

Genes aren’t the only thing that influence how a person might deal with alcohol consumption—their environment is an indicator as well.²²

Learn more about how genetics impact the chance for alcohol abuse.

Supporting a loved one or friend can be an incredible help to their recovery journey.²⁰ Avoid providing medical advice or your own diagnosis and focus on encouraging and helping your loved one to see a medical or mental health professional or find the right treatment program for them.