Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol use disorder is the repeat and chronic abuse of alcohol.
Mental healthOverview
Alcohol use disorder is the repeat and chronic abuse of alcohol. Alcohol use may be dangerous or self-destructive to yourself or those around you. Alcohol dependence (also called alcoholism) is alcohol use disorder in which patients also experience tolerance and withdrawal related to alcohol use.
People of all ages, life stages, and socioeconomic strata can be affected by alcoholism. A combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors likely contributes to and increases the risk of alcoholism.
You are more likely to experience an alcohol use disorder if you:
- Routinely consume several drinks at a time
- Have a parent with an alcohol use disorder
- Experience peer pressure to drink alcohol
- Have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia
- Have easy access to alcohol
- Have low self-esteem
- Have relationship problems
- Have many life stresses
Alcoholism can be treated, but there is no cure. It is a long-term disease that people must learn to manage. Most treatment plans for alcoholism involve behavioral changes, cognitive therapy, and rehabilitation programs. Most people who have a history of alcoholism need to stop using alcohol completely.
Symptoms
- You drink more or longer than you planned to
- You have wanted to, or tried to, cut down or stop drinking, but could not
- You spend a lot of time and effort to get alcohol, use it, or recover from its effects
- You crave alcohol or have a strong urge to use it
- Alcohol use is causing you to miss work or school, or you do not perform as well because of drinking
- You continue to drink, even when relationships with family and friends are being harmed
- You stop taking part in activities that you used to enjoy
- While or after drinking, you get into situations that can cause you to get hurt, such as driving, using machinery, or having unsafe sex
- You keep drinking, even though you know it is making a health problem caused by alcohol worse
- You need more and more alcohol to feel its effects or to get drunk (also known as tolerance)
- You get withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wear off, such as anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches
Causes & risk factors
There are no specific causes of alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence. A combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors likely contributes to and increases the risk of alcoholism. There is no way to accurately predict who will become dependent on the use of alcohol.
When to get help
Talk with a doctor if you cannot cut down on drinking or it is affecting your life. Do not stop abruptly without medical advice, and seek emergency care for confusion, seizures, hallucinations, fever, or a racing heartbeat during withdrawal.
All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health.