Everything About Alcohol Use Disorder

Drinking is a common, almost essential part of society today. Alcohol is available nearly everywhere you look, from restaurants to the grocery store, sporting events to concerts and shows. You can’t get away from it no matter how hard you try. It’s no wonder alcohol use disorder is such a pervasive problem in the United States.

The majority of people throughout the country have no issues with their alcohol consumption. They can have a drink or two and put it down without a second thought. Someone with a drinking problem couldn’t imagine leaving a drink half-finished. People without a drinking problem don’t even think about the fact that they didn’t finish their drink.

More than 139 million people in the United States ages 12 and older actively drink alcohol. Over half the population in this age group has had at least one drink in the past 30 days. That number might seem enormous, but the majority of that group remains within that category of normal drinkers.

Problems arise for those who can’t control their drinking. They have trouble stopping once they start. The effects of their drinking may impact other areas of their lives, from school to work to their family. They might continue despite the consequences that pile up.

What separates normal drinkers from those who go too far? Continue reading to learn everything about alcohol use disorder (AUD) that you might want to know.

Most people have an idea of what they think someone with a drinking problem looks like. The reality is there is no single picture of what alcohol use disorder looks like. Alcohol abuse can affect anyone: rich or poor, young or old, white-collar or blue-collar, extrovert or introvert. Sometimes you can’t even tell whether someone has an AUD by looking at them.

There are some things people with an AUD have in common, though. Alcohol use disorder describes a severe, dangerous, and chronic patterns of drinking. It is a severe disorder characterized by the relapsing of the condition, seen when the person thinks they can control their drinking.

Of those 139 million people who drank in the past month, nearly 15 million qualify as having an alcohol use disorder. They display compulsive drinking behaviors, have little to no control of their alcohol intake, and feel poorly when they aren’t drinking.

Not everyone who drinks heavily has an alcohol use disorder, though. There are a few different levels of drinking that describe various patterns of alcohol use:

What are the differences between the drinking levels?

Drinking alcohol is fine in moderation. There isn’t an issue with people who have a glass of wine with dinner, a drink after a day at work, or a few beers while watching a game. It’s a way to unwind, relax, and socialize and isn’t a problem when used responsibly.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In it, they define acceptable moderate drinking levels for American adults ages 21 and older. Moderate drinking counts as 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for me.

The majority of people who drink alcohol remain within these levels. Moderate drinkers very rarely abuse alcohol. They may have a night where they drink a few more than they should every so often, but their drinking tends to stay within moderate levels.

Drinkers who remain within the moderate category of drinking have little to no risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. They have one or two at certain times but don’t drink nearly enough to develop alcohol dependence.

Some people cross the line from normal drinking into the realm of alcohol misuse. Misusing alcohol qualifies as anything more than the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations. For example, drinking with the sole purpose of getting intoxicated counts as alcohol misuse.

Binge drinking is another pattern of drinking that qualifies as alcohol misuse. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as any drinking behaviors that bring a person’s BAC to the legal limit, or 0.08. It usually takes 5 or more alcoholic drinks for men and 4 or more for women within 2 hours to reach that level.

Alcohol misuse is common throughout the country. More than 1 in 4 people ages 18 and older reported binge drinking at least once in the past month. Misuse doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has a drinking problem, though.

Plenty of people have a night where they have one or two more than is recommended but can put it down the next day. They should be fine as long as their misuse doesn’t become a pattern or start to affect their daily life.

Alcohol dependence refers to the condition when a person’s body is physically or psychologically dependent on alcohol. It develops as a result of drinking on a consistent and regular basis. A person’s body builds a tolerance to alcohol after drinking for a while. This means they need to drink more to achieve the same effect as before.

Someone who is alcohol-dependent needs a certain amount of alcohol in their system or they will start experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms refer to the physical and psychological reactions caused by a lack of alcohol in someone who is alcohol-dependent.

Alcohol dependence ranges from minor to severe depending on how much a person drinks. If someone is alcohol dependent it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have an alcohol use disorder. But those with alcohol use disorder tend to have alcohol dependence as one of the side effects.

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are the everyday terms used to describe someone with a drinking problem. Although it’s a word commonly referring to those who can’t control their drinking, the medical community does not use the term alcoholic or alcoholism. Alcohol Use Disorder, or AUD, is the official medical diagnosis for someone with a drinking problem.

Not everyone who misuses or is dependent on alcohol has an AUD. It’s a serious mental and physical condition that results in both short- and long-term health effects. There is a specific set of criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that describe symptoms of an AUD.

The DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder include:

There are three different categories of alcohol use disorder divided down by the number of criteria a person displays.

It’s easy to look at the criteria above and determine whether there is cause for concern for you or your loved one. Ultimately it’s best to seek insight and an official diagnosis from a medical professional. Still, the criteria from the DSM-5 give you a detailed idea of what problematic drinking behavior looks like.

The drinking and behaviors seen in those who struggle with alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder look similar. It can be difficult to tell where the line between the two types of drinking lies. If the person drinking is someone you care about it is even more challenging to tell the difference between the two; you just want your loved one to stop drinking.

Alcohol abuse and alcohol misuse are blanket terms for people who drink too much alcohol. They may go a bit too far for a night or they might display a pattern of alcohol abuse. For example, binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are two types of alcohol misuse and abuse.

All individuals with an alcohol use disorder abuse alcohol, but not everyone who abuses alcohol automatically qualifies as having an AUD. There is one specific factor that sets those with an AUD apart from heavy drinkers: cravings.

People who abuse alcohol may overshoot the mark during a night out drinking. They may spend a few nights drinking more than is recommended. But when the party is over their drinking stops. They’re able to put down the drink and return to their everyday lives without a second thought.

This is where people with alcohol use disorder are different. Cravings are one of the defining characteristics of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol cravings refer to a mental obsession with drinking. It is the overwhelming feeling of needing a drink that separates someone with an AUD from someone who is a heavy drinker.

When someone with an AUD isn’t drinking they’re often anxious, depressed, or generally uncomfortable until they can have a drink. Then after they have their first drink, they kick off the compulsive aspect of their AUD. Once they start drinking they find it almost impossible to stop.

Those who misuse or even abuse alcohol don’t experience this same level of discomfort while sober. Alcohol cravings and compulsive, uncontrollable drinking are what separate people with an AUD from people who only misuse alcohol.

Some still debate whether alcohol use disorder is truly a disease. They wonder if it’s accurate to categorize drug and alcohol abuse alongside conditions like cancer heart disease. But this type of thinking stems from the belief that people with an alcohol use disorder can control their alcohol use.

It’s important to understand that people with alcohol use disorder cannot control their drinking. They are a separate category of drinkers compared to those who abuse or misuse alcohol. Their drinking is compulsive and they’ll often drink to overcome that compulsion regardless of the consequences.

Additionally, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines alcohol use disorder as a “chronic relapsing brain disease.” They understand that individuals in recovery from an AUD are at risk for relapse, similar to those in remission from cancer. Maintaining recovery requires active, ongoing treatment of the disease.

There are various warning signs that someone you love may struggle with an alcohol use disorder. The list of criteria from the DSM-5 above gives you an idea of the kinds of things that an AUD does to people. Some more real-life examples of AUD warning signs include:

If you see any of the warning signs above you may have a reason to be concerned about their drinking. Approaching someone with a drinking problem can be a challenge, though. If you want to talk to someone about your concern with their drinking, it’s best to come up with a plan first.

The 4th edition of the DSM (DSM-IV) outlined two separate categories of problem drinking: alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. In the updated and current 5th edition (DSM-5), the APA combined the two disorders into one condition: alcohol use disorder. They also added the important craving criterion to the definition.

You’ll need to see a doctor to receive an official diagnosis for an alcohol use disorder. It isn’t difficult to observe your own drinking or the drinking of a loved one to determine whether it qualifies as an AUD.

Look at the list of criteria from the DSM-5 above and honestly ask how many apply to your drinking. You can develop a rough idea of how severe your drinking is before seeking professional help. It isn’t always easy to answer those questions honestly, though. The objective third-party input from your doctor may help you look at the reality of your situation.

It seems like nearly everyone over the age of 21 in the United States drinks alcohol. It’s available everywhere you go, from the grocery store to the gas station, a concert to a baby shower. It might be easier to count the number of places alcohol isn’t available.

How many people drink alcohol? And now that you understand the difference between alcohol use disorder and other drinking levels, how many people have an AUD? What about the rates of people who qualify for binge drinking or heavy alcohol use?

What are the rates of alcohol use disorder on an even larger scale? How many people throughout Europe struggle to control their drinking? There are plenty of studies offering further information on the number of people who drink around the world. Continue reading to learn more about the rates of drinking, alcohol use disorder, and more.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducts research, publishes articles, and educates the general public on alcohol use. Their website contains an extensive amount of helpful information about the effects of alcohol, statistics on use, and more.

Again, about 139 million people in the US aged 18 and older drank alcohol in the past 30 days. What do the rates of use look like for other drinking levels? And how many people in the United States struggle with an alcohol use disorder?

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 26.5 percent of people had at least one episode of binge drinking in the past month. That means that more than 1 out of every 4 people binge drinks at least once per month.

Heavy alcohol use describes people who have at least 5 binge drinking episodes in the past 30 days. Drinkers in this category are at a much higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. Of the 139 million people who drank in the last month, 6.6 percent of those engaged in heavy alcohol use.

Alcohol use disorder affects 14.4 million adults ages 18 and older, or 5.8 percent of the population in this age range. This breaks down into 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women who have an active alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use disorder doesn’t only affect adults; it affects teenagers as well. There are 401,000 individuals between the ages of 12 and 17, or 1.6 percent of those in that age range, who live with an AUD. This breaks down into 173,000 males and 227,000 females.

Alcohol-related incidents and diseases took the lives of an estimated 88,000 people in 2018. About 62,000 men and 26,000 women died which makes alcohol the third-highest preventable cause of death in the US.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducts research on the impact of alcohol on populations around the world. Their research also looks at the prevalence of alcohol use disorder in the populations of each country.

WHO offers extensive information about drinking rates throughout Europe. According to their standards, heavy drinking refers to the consumption of at least 60 grams of pure alcohol at least once in the past 30 days.

According to these standards, 30.4 percent of the population in Europe had an episode of heavy drinking. 47.4 percent of men and 14.4 percent of women had at least one episode that qualified as heavy drinking.

They also gathered statistics on the prevalence of heavy drinking for individual countries in the European Union. Some examples of the prevalence rates in various countries include:

Heroin is one of the most dangerous and harmful drugs available. It causes an alarming amount of deaths due to overdose each year yet use continues rising. What exactly is heroin and why is it that people use it?

It’s difficult to determine one particular reason why people abuse alcohol. Research has yet to pin down a single cause for alcohol abuse. Current studies point to a combination of both genetic and environmental factors that lead people to pick up the bottle.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for anyone at any age. Heavy drinking and alcohol abuse increase your risk of various health conditions and diseases. They also increase the chance of developing an alcohol use disorder, a condition that’s even more complicated and chronic.

Despite 21 being the legal drinking age across the United States, teenagers still manage to find a way to drink. Drinking ages limit teenagers’ ability to access alcohol but there are always older siblings or friends willing to pick up alcohol for the younger ones.

Underage drinking and alcohol abuse in teenagers is especially harmful because their young brains are still developing. Teenagers run the risk of causing a lasting impact on their development when they drink, especially binge drinking or heavy drinking.

Binge drinking is one of the biggest issues in underage drinkers. They are more likely to binge drink because most of them have limited access to alcohol. Alcohol abuse in teenagers is common because they tend to drink heavily when they’re able to get their hands on it.

An estimated 9 million people between the ages of 12 and 17 actively used alcohol at some point in the past year. Of those adolescents, 2.2 million drank alcohol at least once in the last month.

1.2 million, or more than half of the adolescents who drank in the last month, binge drank at least once in the last 30 days. Finally, 131,000 reported heavy drinking, meaning they had 5 or more binge drinking episodes over the last month.

It’s easier to access alcohol as you get older so greater numbers of young adults drink. Over half of the population between the ages of 18 and 25, or about 18.8 million young adults, are active alcohol users.

Alcohol abuse in young adults is still a common practice, similar to the data seen in teenagers. 34.9 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds, approximately 11.9 million people, are active binge drinkers. Of those drinkers, 3.1 million reported drinking behaviors that qualify as heavy drinking.

Alcohol abuse in young adults is still alarming because similar to teenagers, they are not finished developing. Although they have a few additional years of life experience, they’re still working on decision-making skills and risk aversion. Young adults are more likely to put themselves in risky situations, especially when drinking.

Their ability to access alcohol legally when they turn 21 doesn’t mean they’re suddenly capable of making better decisions. Young adults should use alcohol with caution to avoid putting themselves in dangerous positions. Young adults who abuse alcohol also should consider the possibility of developing an alcohol use disorder at some point.

Alcohol abuse in the elderly is another concern. Anyone can have a drinking problem; heavy drinking is not limited to teenagers and young adults. Elderly individuals who drink heavily also put themselves at risk.

It’s easier for older adults to hide or mask their drinking but it helps many get through their days. Some turn to alcohol to cope with the loss of a spouse or a child while others use it as a way to pass the time. Regardless of the reasons they drink, though, circumstances surrounding alcohol abuse in the elderly are often dangerous.

Physical abilities start to diminish as people age. Elderly individuals are more likely to have trouble with their balance which leads to slips and falls. When they add alcohol into the equation, a substance that impairs coordination, they’re more likely to fall and hurt themselves.

In addition to alcohol abuse in the elderly, impaired driving is another concern. Elderly adults also put themselves and others at risk when they drink and drive. The chances of being in a car accident increase at the age of 55 and older adults are more likely to get hurt in a crash.

When questioning why someone might be an alcoholic, do you first look to their parents? Many people assume alcohol abuse is hereditary or genetic, that if someone has an alcohol problem their parents must have one, too.

Some genetic factors contribute to the likelihood of developing an alcohol problem. It’s too simple to claim the presence of one single “alcoholism gene,” though. Researchers are actively conducting extensive studies to understand more about the way the risk of alcohol
abuse passes from parents to children.

Current research points to a combination of both genetics and environmental factors as the cause of alcoholism. Genes are responsible for roughly half of the picture and environmental factors make up the other half.

Environmental factors that lead to alcoholism include things like possible traumas someone experiences. They may have an extended family member or close family friend who drank heavily and set a negative example. The location someone lived in or friends they spend time with as they grew up may also play a factor in their ability to access alcohol.

Prescription opioids are a popular medication used to treat moderate and severe pain. They have developed a notorious reputation over the past two decades, though, for their incredible addiction potential.

Both alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder can lead to both short- and long-term physical effects. These effects range from minor to severe depending on various factors such as on the amount you drank, how long you drank for, your age, or any pre-existing medical conditions.

Drinking alcohol over a long time may lead to many different heart complications. Possible heart problems that may develop as a result of long-term alcohol use include:

Some complications are reversible with separation from alcohol, but others are irreversible.

Your liver takes on much of the responsibility for the way your body processes alcohol. When you drink large amounts of alcohol or you drink for a long time, you expose your liver to a lot of toxins. This leads to numerous liver problems that often progress in severity if you continue drinking.

Hepatic steatosis, commonly called fatty liver, is the first stage of liver disease. It’s caused by the harmful substances left behind in your liver after it processes the alcohol you drink. These substances cause inflammation, damage your liver cells, and weaken your immune system. Abstinence from alcohol can reverse the early effects of fatty liver.

Alcoholic hepatitis is the next phase of alcoholic liver disease caused by continued drinking, especially after the presence of fatty liver. It refers to the extreme inflammation of the liver. Alcoholic hepatitis is a more serious condition but survival is still possible for those who quit drinking. The 3-year survival rate for those who keep drinking is less than 70 percent.

Cirrhosis is a condition that refers to the scar tissue that forms on the liver as a result of long-term drinking. The scarring keeps your liver from performing its normal, healthy functions, such as fighting infection, digesting food, and cleaning the blood. Existing scars are irreversible but quitting drinking can keep the condition from progressing. Pancreas Pancreatitis happens when blood vessels in the pancreas swell and become inflamed, which keeps the body from digesting food properly. It is a result of the toxic substances left behind after the pancreas processes the alcohol you drink.

Excessive alcohol use increases your risk for several types of cancer throughout the body. The toxins left behind by alcohol, especially when drinking large amounts over a long time, heighten your chances. Possible types of cancer that alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder may cause include:

In addition to increasing the risk of cancer, continuing to drink after developing cancer decreases your body’s ability to fight the condition.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol has a heavy impact on your immune system. It decreases your ability to fight infections which increases your risk of developing any of the conditions listed above.

Alcohol has numerous effects on mental health in addition to the physical effects of alcohol use disorder and alcohol abuse. Despite the short-term enjoyable effects of alcohol, heavy drinking has the opposite effect. Alcohol is a depressant substance, meaning it leads to a decrease in mood, not an increase.

Some people have pre-existing mental health conditions and turn to alcohol for relief. It might seem like alcohol relieves some of their symptoms, but all it does is make them worse. They find themselves in a vicious cycle of worsening symptoms and increased drinking levels. This may result in them abusing alcohol or developing alcohol use disorder.

An estimated two-thirds of people who enter treatment for alcohol use disorder show signs of depression and anxiety. People may use alcohol as a way to escape their depressive thoughts or feelings of anxiety. Since alcohol is a depressant, though, all it does is make their symptoms worse as time passes.

According to some studies, bipolar disorder is the second-most common mental disorder seen in those with alcohol use disorder. It’s difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder in someone who still actively drinks, though. Clinicians can only differentiate symptoms of alcohol abuse from those of bipolar disorder after the person is completely sober.

Suicide is a serious effect for some people who struggle with alcohol use disorder. Those with a drinking problem are at a significantly higher risk of a suicide attempt. They may feel there is no escaping the cycle of drinking and settle for what feels like the only solution at the time.

Anyone who lives with or loves someone with an alcohol use disorder understands the width of its impact. Alcohol use disorder doesn’t only affect the person with the drinking problem. After long enough it affects everyone who knows or cares about them or, if it gets bad enough, even comes into contact with them.

The specific social effects of someone’s AUD depend on their particular situation. Someone who is a parent with children will cause a different impact than someone who has no children. A person with a high-ranking position at a large company will likely have a greater impact than someone who works in an hourly position.

Regardless of the specific results, though, it’s difficult to deny that alcohol use disorder has at least some kinds of social effects. These range from family members to intimate relationships to society at large. What are some of the specific social effects of alcohol use disorder?

Whether directly or indirectly, the family of someone with an AUD is often the group that’s impacted the most. The person with the problem may not realize how their drinking affects their family. Their family might not even realize the way their loved one’s drinking controls the dynamics. But there are many ways alcohol use disorder affects the family.

A parent with an alcohol use disorder has an incredible impact on their family dynamic. Their drinking affects their ability to show up as both a spouse and a parent in numerous ways. For example, a parent with a drinking problem may leave their partner to take care of the children or handle the majority of the household responsibilities.

Perhaps they’re capable of managing things around the house but their drinking makes them emotionally distant from the rest of the family. Maybe they go out to drink and don’t return until the late hours of the evening or early hours of the morning. Some people become angry and aggressive when drinking and there may be threats of physical violence in the home.

Other drinkers withdraw from their family entirely, believing their absence is preferred or won’t be noticed. Some people even make the conscious decision to put alcohol ahead of their family and end up estranged as a result. The ways alcohol use disorder affects the family are endless.

Someone with an AUD may be able to maintain their relationships for a certain period, both platonic and romantic. They might date successfully or find a steady relationship that they can keep up for a while. At some point, though, in the same way their AUD impacts their family, their alcohol use disorder affects relationships in their lives as well.

The ways alcohol use disorder affects relationships ranges because of the variety of types of relationships a person may have. If they’re dating they might notice difficulties in either finding someone in the first place or staying sober long enough for someone to stick around. Someone who has a spouse might get to the point where they drink their spouse away.

Alcohol use disorder even impacts the friendships of plenty of people who struggle with the disorder. Friends are often willing to put up with or cover for their drinking for some time but eventually reach a breaking point. People with severe AUDs tend to change groups of friends frequently or eventually choose to spend most of their time alone.

People whose alcohol use disorder gets bad enough may drink away all the important relationships in their lives. It’s common for people to choose alcohol over certain groups of friends, instead choosing to spend their time with groups who won’t comment on their drinking.

Alcohol use disorder affects society at large in addition to the family and other relationships. Society sees both physical and financial impacts caused by people with AUDs. People with drinking problems place unsuspecting and innocent members of society at risk with their drinking behaviors every day.

A person’s drinking plays a role in their workplace productivity. They bring down their own performance but their lack of productivity often ripples and affects the whole team, or even other departments in the company.

Students with alcohol problems see effects not only on their own academic performance but some may affect their classmates or instructors. They draw attention away from other students who need the time from their instructors as well.

Alcohol use disorder affects society in more serious manners as well. Drinking and driving is a serious problem, especially for those who are considered “functional alcoholics.” They carry out their daily responsibilities, including driving to various places throughout the day.

But driving under the influence places more than themselves and their passengers at risk. 28 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States in 2016 involved a driver under the influence of alcohol.

Heavy alcohol use reduces inhibitions which leads to poor decision-making skills and a greater likelihood of risk-taking. Numerous studies have shown the relationship between alcohol use disorder and crime, and how the two go hand in hand.

The mood swings and aggression displayed by some people with an AUD coupled with lowered inhibitions can lead to some terrible results. Some of the crimes associated with heavy alcohol use or alcohol use disorder include robbery, aggravated assault, battery, domestic violence, or homicide.

This doesn’t mean that everyone with an alcohol use disorder commits crimes, though. It only suggests that criminal activity is a possible outcome for some people with severe AUD. And the impact of those crimes may follow them for much longer than their alcohol use does.

Women who abuse alcohol during their pregnancy put not only themselves at risk but the developing baby as well. Fetal alcohol exposure can affect fetal development at any stage of a pregnancy, including those weeks before a woman finds out she’s pregnant.

Drinking any amount of alcohol puts the fetus at risk of numerous complications both pre-and post-birth. Heavier drinking, including binge drinking, alcohol abuse, and alcohol use disorder, increase the chances of severe problems.

Alcohol affects the developing fetus because it passes through the mother’s bloodstream into the baby’s blood. Drinking alcohol in pregnancy causes many problems, including developmental disorders, cognitive difficulties, and behavioral issues. These may be present at birth or reveal themselves as the child grows older.

One common misconception about alcohol use disorders is that someone could stop drinking if they really wanted to. In reality, alcohol use disorder is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time. People with severe AUD usually cannot stop drinking on their own. They passed the point of controlling their drinking and now drink to maintain.

Thankfully, despite the complexity of the condition, there are numerous ways to treat alcohol use disorder. Alcohol treatment is a common method for people who find they cannot quit drinking on their own. There are multiple steps to treating alcohol use disorder and different types of treatment options available.

The body develops a tolerance for and eventual dependence on alcohol after drinking for months or years. A person with a severe alcohol use disorder who stops drinking suddenly will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol detox safely separates people from alcohol and relieves these symptoms of withdrawal with the help of medication.

Detox is often the first step for people who have severe AUD. It ensures the alcohol clears out of their system while keeping them as safe and comfortable as possible. Detox usually takes between three to 10 days depending on the severity of a person’s alcohol use. Once they complete detox they move into the next phase of treatment.

Inpatient rehab is what comes to mind when most people think of treatment for alcohol use disorder. It is an all-inclusive approach to treatment, providing programs during the day and residential amenities in the evening. People who attend inpatient rehab stay at the facility for the course of their program, usually for 30, 60, or 90 days.

Inpatient rehab is the most intensive way to treat alcohol use disorder. It provides supervision and care around the clock, during both program hours and after hours. Inpatient rehab removes people from their everyday environment and places them in one focused entirely on recovery. It’s intended to equip them with the skills needed to maintain long-term sobriety.

A partial hospitalization program, or PHP, provides programming similar to inpatient rehab but doesn’t have the onsite residential component. PHP treatment still takes place five days per week with the same level of care offered at an inpatient rehab program. But those attending have the ability to return home or to an offsite sober living house at the end of the day.

One of the greatest benefits of PHP is it tends to cost less than inpatient rehab while still providing exceptional treatment. It’s also a great option for people who have responsibilities they need to attend to at home and can’t stay at a facility.

Intensive outpatient programs, also called IOP, are a step down from inpatient rehab and PHP. People tend to move from one of the two higher levels of care and into an IOP for aftercare. Outpatient continues building on the coping skills and relapse prevention methods learned in inpatient or PHP but for fewer hours during the week.

IOP is a transitional step back into the “real world” from the treatment world. The open hours during the week give people the ability to return to their employment or education. They can also look for a job or start school if they don’t have anything lined up right away.

Medication-assisted treatment refers to the use of various medications used to help people through their early recovery. Alcohol abuse treatment drugs are an important part of the programs offered at many facilities.

For example, medications are used during detox to relieve the effects of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This makes for a more tolerable detox process which helps people stay sober through the first few difficult days.

Some alcohol abuse treatment drugs relieve the cravings that are characteristic of an AUD. Sometimes clinicians prescribe other medications that help with the anxiety and other physical and psychological discomforts of early recovery. Relieving these aspects helps people focus more on their program instead of feeling distracted by constant anxiety and cravings.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are one of the criteria used to diagnose alcohol use disorder. They refer to the physical and psychological reactions that occur when someone who is dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking. Heavy alcohol use alters brain and body chemistry. It becomes used to and expects the regular incoming flow of alcohol.

Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol use disorder range from mild to severe depending on a few factors:

Some of the symptoms caused by alcohol withdrawal include:

Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms require medical intervention and treatment to avoid serious reactions. For example, detox facilities are equipped to handle the reactions people experience during the first few days of quitting drinking. Withdrawal symptoms last anywhere between three and 10 days until the alcohol is completely out of a person’s system.

Although the prevalence of alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder is alarming, there’s another statistic that’s an even bigger shock: the rate of people who receive treatment. You might think that everyone who needs the help of an alcoholism treatment program can get it but that isn’t always the case.

According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, an estimated 21.1 million people needed alcohol or drug treatment in 2018. Of those people who needed it, only 3.7 million people received any type of treatment for addiction or alcoholism. Not even 20 percent of people got the help they needed from a qualified facility.

Thankfully, there are many different ways that people struggling with an alcohol use disorder can get help. Some start the process of getting sober at treatment centers but there are additional avenues to support sobriety. From 12-step meetings to other support groups, counseling to treatment, there are treatment options available.

In 1939, a man with a severe drinking problem was introduced to a spiritual solution for his drinking problem. He brought his solution to another alcoholic and together the two founded the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the original programs used to help people recover from their drinking problems. The 12-step model of A.A. shifted into numerous other programs for a variety of issues. It also encouraged the growth of alternative groups that found another solution to stop their drinking.

These programs help millions of people step away from alcohol every year. Some people are skeptical of the 12-step approach or other types of support groups. They’re a readily-available and affordable way to receive additional support and accountability from other sober individuals.

There isn’t one “right program” for people to go to and each has its positives and negatives. Plenty of options are available. It’s best to try a meeting or two from various programs before deciding on and settling into any one approach to sobriety.

Alcoholics Anonymous is often viewed as the starting point for many sober support groups available today. Truthfully, the A.A program was originally based on another group called the Oxford Group which also utilized a multi-step approach to combating alcoholism.

Still, Alcoholics Anonymous brought a message of sobriety to anyone interested in hearing it and taking the steps. Sister programs like Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Heroin Anonymous, and Crystal Meth Anonymous also branched out from the A.A. program.

After arriving in the program, members are encouraged to select a “sponsor” who guides them through the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. stresses a spiritual approach to recovery by way of helping other alcoholics stay sober one day at a time.

SMART Recovery is one of the most common alternatives to the 12-step approach of groups like Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. It stands for Smart Management and Recovery Training and the goal is to empower individuals to maintain their recovery.

It addresses the difficulties some have with the spiritual approach in 12-step by encouraging individuals to empower and achieve freedom from alcohol themselves. SMART Recovery describes itself as a mental health and educational program that aims to change human behavior.

Alcohol abuse counseling is a less intensive approach than alcohol treatment that offers ongoing support on an outpatient basis. Some programs offer medication-assisted treatment alongside therapy to help manage cravings.

There are two main avenues through which people arrive at alcohol abuse counseling. Sometimes people feel they don’t need the long-term intensive approach offered at alcohol abuse rehab treatment centers. They’re looking for something less frequent that allows them to attend to their daily life while still receiving treatment.

Others attend alcohol abuse counseling as part of their aftercare plan at their treatment center. They start with a higher level of care, such as detox, inpatient rehab, or a partial hospitalization program. Then they use alcohol abuse counseling as a support system during their transition from intensive treatment back into everyday life.

Alcohol abuse rehab treatment centers are one of the most common approaches to sobriety. Although not everyone who needs treatment receives it, those looking for ways to stop drinking usually turn here first. There are numerous levels of care like those listed above that help different people depending on their needs.

Treatment is not the only way to approach sobriety but it does provide a helpful foundation to recovery. Rather than trying to quit alone, alcohol abuse rehab treatment centers places people in the middle of a recovery-focused environment. Learning to stay sober one day at a time is the sole purpose of going to treatment.

Not everyone can attend treatment, though, for a variety of reasons. If attending alcohol abuse rehab treatment isn’t an option, one of the resources listed above provides helpful alternatives to rehab.

One of the two main types of rehab for alcohol abuse is inpatient treatment or residential treatment. Inpatient facilities provide the highest level of care to individuals with alcohol use disorder. Clients receive well-rounded treatment during the day and live at the facility or an associated off-site residence.

Inpatient treatment programs offer a full continuum of care from the first day sober. The exact path a client takes depends on their particular situation and the severity of their alcohol abuse. Many require a medical detox to safely separate from alcohol. Clients then transition into an ongoing treatment program, typically lasting between 30 and 90 days.

Treatment services take place 5 days per week and include a combination of individual and group therapy, holistic treatment methods, activities, family groups, and more. Effective programs also consider co-occurring mental health disorders during treatment.

The residential component of inpatient treatment sets it apart from other levels of care. Instead of living at home and avoiding temptations during early recovery, inpatient treatment gives clients the ability to focus entirely on their recovery.

Ultimately, the goal of inpatient treatment is to teach individuals to reintegrate into life without relying on alcohol. Alcohol abuse takes people away from their families, friends, and other responsibilities. Inpatient treatment equips them with the tools to become effective participants in their lives once again.

The other type of rehab for alcohol abuse is outpatient treatment. There are a few different levels of outpatient treatment including:

Partial hospitalization programs offer the most treatment hours of the three options. They are similar to inpatient programs but don’t provide the residential component. Clients are free to live at home or a sober living and attend their treatment sessions during the day.

Intensive outpatient programs are a step down from both inpatient treatment and PHP. IOP usually meets three days of the week and provides more flexibility in terms of scheduling. The fewer treatment hours give clients the time to find a job or start going back to school. It’s often used as a transition between a full-time treatment program and the real world.

Both PHP and IOP include similar programs to those provided during inpatient treatment. Clients attend both individual and group therapy along with alternative therapeutic methods. Certain facilities still offer activities to their PHP and IOP clients despite the programs’ lack of a residential component.

Some of the therapeutic methods used during individual and group therapy in both inpatient and outpatient treatment include:

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism outlines various drinking levels from moderate consumption to an alcohol use disorder. Research and studies show that both binge drinking and heavy alcohol use increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol use disorder. People whose behaviors fall within binging or heavy use should reconsider their drinking.

Binge drinking is considered any form of drinking that brings BAC up to 0.08, the legal limit. It typically takes 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men over two hours to reach this level of intoxication.

One occasional binge drinking episode, although risky and dangerous, will not necessarily lead to long-term alcohol abuse problems. But anyone who has 5 or more episodes of binge drinking in the past month qualifies as a heavy alcohol user. Heavy alcohol use significantly increases a person’s risk of developing alcohol use disorder over time.

The only true way to avoid alcohol abuse is to avoid drinking alcohol at all. It’s impossible to abuse alcohol if you don’t drink. Not everyone realizes when their drinking crosses into dangerous territory and some only realize it once it’s too late to prevent alcohol abuse.