Alcohol Use Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is Alcoholism and Alcohol Use Disorder?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 28.9 million people aged 12 and older had alcohol use disorder in 2023. These folks included 12.1% of males and 8.3% of females in their teens and older.

The term alcoholism is used to describe a chronic mental and physical health disorder in which a person cannot control their alcohol consumption, despite experiencing negative consequences.

Clinically, alcohol use disorder is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and is characterized by a pattern of problematic alcohol use that leads to significant impairment or distress.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

To qualify for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, an individual must meet at least two of the following criteria within a period of 12 months.

You might ingest alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended or spend a lot of time obtaining or using alcohol or recovering from alcohol use, even to the point that other aspects of life, such as work productivity or spending time with loved ones, are negatively affected.

Some people have cravings that worsen during times of stress. This can lead to dangerous situations, such as driving under the influence.

Other signs include an inability to cut down on or stop alcohol use, even if you’re aware of the dangers of alcoholism or try to stop. You might notice a decline in your work, schooling, or personal life due to repeated drinking. Others give up their hobbies or being among friends.

Over time, you’ll notice a need for more alcohol to become intoxicated and a diminished effect from the same amount of alcohol that used to be necessary to become intoxicated.

Among the surest signs of alcoholism is the toll on your physical and mental health. Physical health issues related to alcoholism can include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and damage to the brain, nervous system, pancreas, heart, and liver.

Mental health issues related to alcoholism can include anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, trauma disorders, and other substance use disorders.

One major sign of alcoholism is withdrawal symptoms or drinking more alcohol to avoid or alleviate withdrawal symptoms. These include anxiety, nausea, seizures, gastrointestinal issues, tremors, tachycardia, increased agitation and irritability, restlessness, vomiting, and delirium tremens, which is a severe and dangerous form of withdrawal characterized by hallucinations, confusion, and fever.

It’s important to note that a person can participate in problematic drinking without officially qualifying for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. If you or someone you love is struggling with their drinking, it’s important to talk with a doctor, counselor, or other healthcare professional who can help.

FAQs

What is the Official Definition of Alcoholism?

According to the DSM-5, alcoholism’s definition is “a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.” An alcohol use disorder, or AUD, is diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms a person experiences within a 12-month period.

What are Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include tremors, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and, in severe cases, seizures, and hallucinations. These symptoms typically begin within hours of the last drink, often while a person is sleeping. They can last for several days.

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Alcohol is metabolized at the rate of about one drink per hour and is detectable in the blood for up to 12 hours. It’s detectable in the breath for up to 24 hours, in urine for up to five days, and in hair for up to 90 days.

What is Therapy for Alcoholism Like?

Therapy for alcohol use disorder is personalized and based on the client’s needs. In many cases, therapy focuses on changing drinking behaviors, identifying and managing triggers, and rebuilding relationships damaged by drinking.

Psychoeducation is a process whereby you learn more about the mental and emotional mechanisms of alcohol use disorder. It’s a valuable part of therapy for people living with AUD.

How Can I Support Someone Struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder?

Learning about alcohol use disorder, expressing concern without judgment, and encouraging your loved one to get professional health care are all valuable ways to show support.

Getting help for yourself can help identify and stop enabling behaviors that inadvertently hurt your loved one.

How Therapy Can Help With Alcohol Use Disorder

Professional alcohol therapy often plays a key role in recovery from alcohol addiction. Common types of therapy used to support people living with alcohol use disorder include the following:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps clients identify and restructure damaging thought patterns and behaviors related to stress and drinking.

Motivational interviewing (MI): MI enables you to explore your thoughts while developing and bolstering motivation and confidence in your ability to change.

Family therapy: In many cases, alcoholism is a family disease. Family therapy works to discover patterns, improve communication and heal difficult relationships directly or indirectly related to alcoholism.

Trauma-informed therapy: Many people living with AUD have experienced trauma. Trauma-informed therapy helps unpack deep-rooted issues and offers new coping mechanisms to lead to a healthier life.

It’s important to work with licensed therapists when seeking help with AUD. Therapy can help with emotional regulation, coping skills, and relapse prevention. Long-term success for many people requires a combo of individual, group and family therapy.

Inpatient and outpatient programs offer higher levels of support for those who need more than weekly therapy sessions to manage AUDs. Some also benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Relapse is common, but not inevitable. Continuing therapy and building resilience, developing coping strategies, and recognizing warning signs of relapse all lessen the likelihood of drinking again after a period of recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Other Support Systems

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is one of the most well-known support systems for people who want to stop drinking. AA was founded in 1935 and follows a 12-step model that emphasizes responsibility, spiritual growth, relationships, and community support.

Many people find AA meetings useful and appreciate the nonjudgmental community, sponsorships and mentorships, and the step-by-step structure for recovery. Meetings are free and confidential and held around the world. You can also find virtual AA meetings to make it easy to get support despite a busy schedule.

While AA is a good fit for many, there are other options available to get the support necessary to recover from alcohol use disorder, including:

SMART Recovery: These recovery programs offer self-empowerment strategies paired with challenges to existing thinking patterns. SMART Recovery programs don’t have a spiritual component.

Outpatient treatment programs: There are several different types of outpatient treatment programs for people with AUDs, including by-appointment programs, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). Your primary care doctor or therapist can work with you to determine the level of outpatient treatment that best fits your needs.

Online support groups: For people who live in remote areas or have busy schedules, virtual support groups make it easier to find and join recovery communities.

These support systems are most effective when combined with professional treatment, such as sessions with a licensed therapist or inpatient rehab. Group meetings offer community and accountability, while therapy provides personalized and intensive psychological work.

How to Help Yourself or a Loved One Struggling with Alcohol

Alcoholism is a serious condition, but recovery is possible. Learning more about therapy for alcoholism is a valuable first step toward recovery. If you’re interested in learning more about recovery or are curious about how to help an alcoholic, you’re on the right path simply by exploring your options.

Consider the following when working to help a loved one who you believe has a problem with alcohol:

Boundaries

Often, people who grow up with or live with alcoholics find it difficult to set boundaries. But doing so is necessary to protect your own well-being. Boundaries are clear, complete, specific statements about what you’re willing to tolerate and how you’ll respond when needs aren’t met.

For example, stating, “If you drink before it’s time to leave for the movies, I will not go,” is a clear statement that states what you are and aren’t willing to tolerate.

Interventions

An intervention is a structured conversation that expresses concern and offers support to help a loved one understand the impact of their drinking while encouraging them to seek help.

Interventions can be an informal one-on-one conversation or a formal meeting with several people and a trained interventionist. The goal of an intervention is not to force change; it’s to establish boundaries and plant a seed to open a person’s mind to the idea of treatment.

Finding the right time to talk

Timing is vital when it comes to talking to a loved one about their drinking. Talk when the person is sober and you’re calm. The setting should be quiet and private.

A trained therapist can assist you to find the right time to talk to your loved one about alcohol use.