What is alcohol use disorder?

Alcohol use disorder (sometimes called alcoholism) is a common medical condition. People with this condition can’t stop drinking, even if their alcohol use upends their lives and the lives of those around them. Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. Treatments may include medication and behavioral therapy. While people with this condition may start drinking again, studies show that with treatment, most people are able to reduce how much they drink or stop drinking entirely.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

When you think about medical condition symptoms, you may focus on physical issues like pain, fever or a cough that won’t go away. Alcohol use disorder symptoms focus on changes in your mood and behavior, including:

• Craving beverages containing alcohol.
• Continuing to use these beverages even though your drinking affects your relationships with your family, friends and colleagues.
• Drinking more than you intended, or for longer than you intended.
• Spending lots of time obtaining and drinking these beverages or recovering from hangovers caused by drinking.
• Repeatedly trying to reduce how much you drink.
• Repeatedly failing to meet work or family obligations because you’re drinking.
• Giving up important social, work or recreational activities because of alcohol.
• Using alcohol in physically hazardous situations.
• Continuing to drink when you have a medical condition or mental disorder that gets worse when you drink.
• Having a high tolerance for beverages containing alcohol.
• Having alcohol withdrawal symptoms or drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

How much is too much?

The American Medical Association recommends a two-drink daily limit for men. Heavy drinking in this population is five or more drinks in one day or 15 or more drinks in a week. Women should limit drinking to one drink a day. Heavy drinking in this population is four or more drinks a day or eight drinks a week.

Management and Treatment