
“One in three adults has engaged in binge drinking at least once in the previous month, and one in five teenagers has experienced drunkenness by age 15. Harmful patterns of alcohol consumption have far-reaching consequences for individuals, society and the economy. Using microsimulation modelling, this book analyses the cost of alcohol consumption in 52 countries (including OECD, European Union and G20 countries), showing how alcohol-related diseases reduce life expectancy, increase health care costs, decrease workers’ productivity and lower GDP. While recognising the importance of the alcohol industry in many countries, the report makes a strong economic case for enhancing policies to tackle harmful alcohol consumption.”

HEALTHLINE.ORG
Alcohol Use Disorder: Symptoms, Treatment & Screening
Drinking alcohol too much or too often, or being unable to control alcohol consumption, can be a sign of alcohol misuse and, in some cases, alcohol use disorder (AUD).
AUD previously went by other names such as “alcohol abuse,” “alcohol dependence,” and “alcoholism.” To differentiate AUD from alcohol misuse and to reduce stigma around the condition, in 2013, the DSM–5 integratedTrusted Source these terms into a single, diagnosable disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Alcohol misuse refers to single episodes during which you might drink excessively. When this occurs repeatedly over time, and when it begins to impact your health and your life, alcohol misuse can become AUD. The disorder can also be broken down further into mild, moderate, and severe subtypes.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says that about 14 million Trusted Sourceadults in the United States live with AUD. These disorders can be disruptive and life threatening.
However, since alcohol affects people in different ways, recognizing AUD in yourself or in others can be subjective and challenging. Read on to learn more about the symptoms, risk factors, treatments, diagnosis, and where to get support.
Alcohol misuse vs. alcohol use disorder
Alcohol affects different people in different ways. Generally, however, the difference between alcohol misuse and AUD lies in looking at how a person drinks in the short term, as opposed to over a prolonged period of time.
In addition, AUD is an addiction disorder, which means you may have a difficult time stopping alcohol consumption, even when you want to. The definition of AUD also includes the impact that such drinking has on your health and life.
Alcohol misuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, moderate drinking is typically defined as two drinks or fewer for men per day, or one drink or less for women.
If you are drinking more than that at any one time, you may be misusing alcohol. Excessive drinking is defined as 15 drinks or more a week for men and eight drinks or more a week for women.
But alcohol misuse can also be about how or when you drink. For example, any alcohol consumption by a pregnant person can be considered alcohol misuse, as well as drinking under the legal age of 21.
Alcohol use disorder
AUD refers to what is colloquially known as alcoholism, which is a term that the DSM-5 no longer uses.
According to the DSM-5, you may have at least mild AUD if you’ve experienced at least two of the following in the last year:
- had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended
- wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t
- spent a lot of time drinking, being sick, or getting over other after effects
- wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else
- found that drinking — or being sick from drinking — often interfered with taking care of your home or family, or caused job or school problems
- continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends
- given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink
- gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)
- continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious, or adding to another health problem, or after having had a memory blackout
- had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want, or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before.
- found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, or a seizure, or you sensed things that were not there
Symptoms
The symptoms of alcohol misuse and AUD can overlap. But alcohol misuse, also known as excessive drinking, has a more immediate impact, whereas the symptoms of AUD will be more prolonged.
Physical symptoms of alcohol misuse
A high concentration of alcohol in the blood causes physical symptoms, such as:
- slurred speech
- slowing of reflexes
- a decreased ability to control bodily movements
- difficulty concentrating
- gaps in memory, or brownouts
- poor decision-making abilities
- staying conscious but not having memory of your actions, which is called a blackout
- hangovers
Very high concentrations of alcohol in the blood can cause breathing problems, coma, or death. It can also lead to alcohol poisoning.
Behavioral symptoms of excessive drinking
Becoming cognitively impaired from excessive drinking of alcohol can lead to risky behaviors that can result in injury or death of an affected person or of others.
Research shows a high correlation between alcohol misuse and high-risk sexual behavior, violence, crime, self-injury, and fatal injury from things like motor vehicle accidents. People with AUD represent about 20–35 percentTrusted Source of completed suicides.
You shouldn’t attempt to drive or operate heavy machinery while under the effects of alcohol. In the United States, the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol is 0.08 percent, except in the state of Utah, where it’s 0.05 percent.
Physical complications of alcohol use disorder
Many people with AUD continue to drink even as they develop health problems related to drinking. Over the long term, AUD may lead to serious health conditions, while worsening others.
These can include:
- insomnia
- sexual dysfunction
- alcohol-associated liver damage or scarring (cirrhosis)
- brain damage
- pancreatitis
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- dementia
Additionally, research shows that prolonged consumption of alcohol may be associated with a rise in high blood pressure and can increaseTrusted Source the risk of cardiovascular problems over time.
It may also lead to the development of different types of cancer. This is because when you drinkTrusted Source, your body breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde. This is a chemical that can damage your DNA and lead to cells growing out of control.
Another complication is alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which may occur after you stop drinking and can causeTrusted Source symptoms such as nausea, shaking, and sweating. It can also lead to serious symptoms like seizures, fever, or hallucinations, and can be a medical emergency.
If you have a history of withdrawal symptoms, see a health professional before quitting. You should also see a professional before quitting alcohol if you have other health conditions.
Treatment for alcohol use disorder
Treatment of AUD focuses on relieving symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in the short term and then suppressing alcohol cravings in the long term.
But everyone’s recovery from AUD is different. Some require medications lifelong while others do not, and some drink in moderation during their recovery while others abstain.
Treatment also often involvesTrusted Source detoxification followed by medication and therapy, but everyone’s treatment plan is different where some do not require detoxification, for example, or some may opt-out of therapy.
While medication is recommended for anyone with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, those with mild AUD may consider therapy without medications.


VIDEO LINKS

NIAAA Short Takes Video Series | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)