Alcoholism: Diagnosis, Effects, and How to Deal with Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder, commonly called alcoholism, can ruin the lives of everyone it affects. And dealing with alcohol use disorder is no easy task, both for the person experiencing the disorder and their family and loved ones. While only a licensed clinician can diagnose alcohol use disorder, the information below will introduce this disorder, its characteristics, and your options for treatment.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Generally, alcohol abuse is a drinking pattern that has major and recurrent adverse effects, such as serious problems at school, work, or with family. People who abuse alcohol may also encounter legal problems related to drinking, such as repeated DUIs.

People with alcohol dependence have little to no control over their alcohol use. They display an increased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking, and they’re often unable to stop once they start.

How Is AUD Diagnosed?

For AUD to be diagnosed, you must meet the criteria in the DSM-5. At least three of the following need to be present over 12 months:

• Alcohol tolerance, though as the liver becomes damaged from repeated alcohol use, tolerance can decrease.
• Withdrawal symptoms, such as tremors, nausea, or insomnia. In some cases, the person may drink more to alleviate these symptoms.
• Beyond intentions, which is when a person drinks more alcohol than they intend
• Unsuccessful attempts to stop or reduce alcohol use.
• The time spent consumed, if a person spends a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol consumption.
• Social withdrawal, or when a person withdraws from social or work activities.
• Persistence with alcohol use, despite physical or psychological harm.

Adverse Health Effects of AUD

In the short term, alcohol can undermine judgment and lead to potentially dangerous decisions and reckless behavior.

Excessive, prolonged alcohol use can lead to serious mental and physical effects, such as:

• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Weak eye muscles and eye control
• Heart problems, such as heart failure, stroke, and cardiomyopathy
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure
• Diabetes, including potential complications with hypoglycemia while consuming alcohol as a diabetic
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fetal alcohol syndrome, if alcohol is consumed during pregnancy
• Menstrual problems
• Bone loss and an increased risk of fractures
• Nervous system problems, such as neuropathy and dementia
• Cancer, particularly of the mouth, esophagus, colon, liver, rectum, breast, pharynx, and prostate
• Liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis
• Gastrointestinal conditions like gastritis or pancreatic damage, which can affect the body’s ability to digest food and obtain nutrients

What Are the Symptoms of AUD?

AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on the diagnostic criteria, but the symptoms may include:

• Being unable to moderate alcohol use
• Attempting to control alcohol use unsuccessfully
• Feeling strong cravings for alcohol
• Failing responsibilities due to alcohol use
• Continuing to use alcohol despite problems with health, interpersonal relationships, work, school, or the law
• Spending a lot of time thinking about, using, and recovering from alcohol
• Giving up on hobbies and other activities to pursue alcohol use
• Using alcohol in hazardous situations like driving
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, and shaking after the effects of alcohol wear off

What Is Alcoholism?

In the past, when someone had a problem with alcohol use, they were referred to as an “alcoholic.” Clinicians now refer to alcoholism – a term used for the most severe form of alcohol abuse – as an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Alcoholism, now known as AUD, is a condition that involves a pattern of alcohol use that can’t be controlled.[1] As a term, alcoholism isn’t clearly defined and isn’t recognized as a diagnosis. AUD and alcohol dependence are more precise terms to describe different levels of unhealthy alcohol use.

What Is Unhealthy Alcohol Use?

Unhealthy alcohol use may include any alcohol use that puts someone’s health or safety at risk. This may include binge drinking, a normalized behavior among young people that carries significant health and safety risks.[4]

Among men, five or more drinks within two hours is considered binge drinking. For women, four drinks within two hours is considered binge drinking. While usually not considered a “problem,” since people who binge drink don’t necessarily have dependence on alcohol, it’s harmful on its own.

Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18 to 34. Though it’s just one pattern of drinking, it accounts for nearly all excessive drinking. Over 90% of US adults who drink excessively report binge drinking.

There are many risks associated with binge drinking, including:

• Unintentional injuries from car accidents, serious falls, and alcohol poisoning
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Unintended pregnancy and poor outcomes like miscarriage
• Violence, such as homicide, suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault
• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Certain cancers
• Memory and learning problems
• Chronic illnesses like stroke, heart disease, and liver disease

The Cycle of Alcohol Use

For people with AUD, the cycle of alcohol use includes periods of being intoxicated (drunk) followed by periods of withdrawal.

Alcohol intoxication happens when the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream increases. The higher the concentration, the more likely you are to experience drunkenness or other ill effects. Intoxicated people may display slurred speech, poor judgment, unstable moods, problems with memory or focus, poor coordination, and inappropriate behavior.

If the intoxication is severe, you may experience blackouts, or periods you can’t remember the events. Once blood alcohol concentration reaches excessively high levels, it can lead to coma, permanent brain damage, or death.

Alcohol withdrawal follows intoxication and can occur within several hours to several days later. The symptoms may include hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, sweating, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness, and anxiety. Seizures may occur in severe cases.

Because there’s some overlap between a hangover – the ill feeling people may have after drinking – and withdrawal, it’s assumed that a hangover is withdrawal. However, hangovers can occur after a single time using alcohol, whereas withdrawal occurs after multiple times using alcohol.

Seeking Treatment for AUD

“Alcoholism” may have fallen out of favor as a term, but AUD is still a prevalent issue with wide-reaching physical, mental, and societal effects. For many struggling with AUD, denial is a common response because of how common alcohol use is. But if you or a loved one have a problem, it’s crucial to seek help before it becomes severe and life-threatening.