Alcohol use Disorder

Last Updated on Thu, 1 December 2022 | Mental Health

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic illness in which you can't stop or control your drinking even though it's hurting your social life, your job, or your health.

The range includes alcohol abuse. This is where drinking can have serious consequences. This includes alcohol dependence, or alcoholism. It is when your drinking habits are out of control. You can learn more about symptoms of alcohol addiction.

How much alcohol is too much?

Experts suggest drinking "in moderation" if you are going to be drinking. That means you should drink no more that one glass per day for women, and two for men. One drink equals:

You can also look at how much alcohol you drink in a week to help determine your drinking habits. A woman who drinks more than seven drinks per week, or more often than that in any given day, is considered heavy or at risk. Men can drink more than 14 beverages per week, or four in one day.

Alcohol use disorder symptoms

A total of 16,000,000 Americans, both adults and teenagers, have an alcohol abuse disorder.

You can find the following signs in AUD:

There are three types of AUD: mild, moderate and severe. It all depends on the severity of your symptoms. If one of the following statements is true, you may be suffering from AUD.

Alcohol Use Disorders

Even if your case is mild, it can have a serious impact on your physical and mental health. AUD can cause other health problems, which you should avoid by quitting drinking. It creates an unhealthy cycle.

In the short term, AUD could cause:

These long-term effects can include:

This increases your risk of taking dangerous risks. You are more likely to be injured or die from this.

Alcohol abuse disorders: Risk factors and causes

There are many things that can lead to alcohol abuse disorder. These could include:

Diagnosis for Alcohol Use Disorder

The doctor might ask you about your drinking habits. They may also want to speak with family members and friends. Your doctor may also order laboratory tests and a physical examination to determine if alcohol abuse is negatively affecting your health.

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders says someone has alcohol use disorder if they meet two or more of 11 criteria in one 12-month period. The number of criteria that are true can determine whether AUD is mild, moderate, and severe.

These are the criteria:

Treatment for Alcohol Dependence Disorder

You may be eligible for one or several types of treatment depending on the circumstances. You want to live a healthier life and avoid drinking alcohol.

Alcohol withdrawal may occur if you quit drinking abruptly. It can lead to serious health problems. The following symptoms can be indicative of alcohol withdrawal:

These symptoms should be reported to your doctor immediately. You can generally treat alcohol withdrawal without the need to go to the hospital. However, there are some serious cases that require you being admitted.

Counselling And Support

You can get therapy, either alone or with a group of people, to understand what caused your disorder. The support you receive will help to avoid alcohol use and stick with your treatment plan. It is vital to have the support and involvement of loved ones.

Treatment

You may be prescribed one or more medications if your AUD is severe.

Residential Treatment

Patients with severe AUD might need to be treated by professionals experienced in treating this disorder. The majority of programs include therapy, support groups and education.

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