For others, drinking can turn into mild, moderate or severe alcohol use disorder, the term doctors and clinicians now use instead of alcoholism, alcoholic or alcohol abuse. All three of these therapies have demonstrated their effectiveness. Psychologists can also diagnose and treat these “co-occurring” psychological conditions. Further, a psychologist may play an important role in coordinating the services a drinker in treatment receives from various health professionals.

A BAC from 0.25% to 0.40% causes stupor, unconsciousness, anterograde amnesia, vomiting (death may occur due to inhalation of vomit while unconscious) and respiratory depression (potentially life-threatening). A BAC from 0.35% to 0.80% causes a coma (unconsciousness), life-threatening respiratory depression and possibly fatal alcohol poisoning. With all alcoholic beverages, drinking while driving, operating an aircraft or heavy machinery increases the risk of an accident; many countries have penalties for drunk driving. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.

What is alcohol use disorder and how prevalent is it?

However, about 18 million adult Americans have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Severe AUD is sometimes called alcoholism or alcohol dependence. It’s also called alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse. If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group.

• A person may go to the doctor about a medical condition, such as a digestive problem, and not mention how much alcohol they consume.
• AUD exists on a spectrum, meaning you can have a mild or severe case.
• Unhealthy alcohol use includes the spectrum of at-risk drinking and alcohol use disorders.
• An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help.

In addition to sex, factors such as weight, age, genetics, metabolism, and overall health, influence how someone will respond to alcohol. Read on to learn why AUD is considered a mental health condition, which mental health conditions commonly occur alongside it, and treatment options. For many people, alcohol seems inextricably linked with a social life. Friends gather for after-work drinks, spouses have cocktails together for “date nights” or some may just be in the habit of ending the day with a beer or a glass of wine—or two—or more. It can be hard to identify the lines between casual and occasional drinking and unhealthy alcohol use including alcohol use disorder.

Diagnostic investigations

“AUD” is not a term you are likely to hear at an average AA meeting, though plenty of other recovery programs and groups do use this clinically accurate term. Though some people may view terms like “alcoholic” as unhelpful or negative, many still use this term to describe their experience with AUD. Alcoholics Anonymous sober house (AA), for example, uses terms related to alcoholism to describe those in recovery (6). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is now the clinically accepted term used by doctors and mental health professionals. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within eight hours after the last drink, but they can still occur days later.

Treatment options often include a combination of medications, therapy and cognitive behavioral treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings. It has some elements of heritability, meaning there are genetic components that can run in families. Whether or not you develop diabetes is based on a combination of your family’s genes and your personal lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise. You may be genetically more predisposed to developing alcoholism if you have a family member or ancestor who had an alcohol addiction.