AUD is a brain disease that can be inherited, not just a lack of self-discipline.
Alcohol Use Disorder can make people crave alcohol and unable to control how much they drink, or feeling withdrawal when not drinking. This means while sober, they remain at risk of returning to unhealthy alcohol consumption – even if it’s been years since their last drink. So AUD isn’t just about drinking too much – it can create real issues in your social, health, economic and legal life!
Lots of people like to drink when they’re hanging out with friends or having a special night with their partner. Some folks might even like to end their day with a beer or a glass of wine (or two or three…). It can be hard to know when you’ve crossed the line from casual drinking to unhealthy drinking or even alcohol use disorder.
Basically, if you keep drinking even though it’s causing problems in your life, then it’s probably not a good sign. Whether you’re drinking all the time or just binging every once in a while, too much booze can lead to alcohol use disorder (which used to be called alcoholism). This is a brain disease that can go into remission, but can’t be cured.
Unfortunately, a lot of people struggle with AUD. In 2019, about 14.5 million people in the US had it! And drinking too much can lead to more than 95,000 deaths in the US each year.
The good news is that AUD is something that can be treated. With the right meds and therapy, people can get better and recover.
So what is unhealthy drinking?
Drinking too much can wreak havoc on your body! It can increase your risk of developing liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and other conditions. Plus, alcohol affects your brain and other organs, causing sleep issues, depression, and more. And it doesn’t help existing medical conditions; it might even make them worse.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to all sorts of health problems, like liver disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. It can even harm your brain and make it hard to sleep or cause mental health problems like depression. Drinking too much can also make it tough to take care of other health issues you might have.
But how much is too much? Well, if your drinking is causing problems for you, then that’s not a good sign. There are a few different levels of “unhealthy” drinking.
At-risk drinking means you’re drinking enough that it’s starting to affect your health. That might mean having more than 4 drinks a day (or 14 a week) if you’re a guy, or more than 3 drinks a day (or 7 a week) if you’re a lady. If you’re over 65, then those numbers are the same for both guys and gals.
Binge drinking is when you drink a lot in a short period of time. That could mean 5 or more drinks in a few hours for guys, or 4 or more for ladies. Binge drinking can be really dangerous and can even lead to injuries, violence, and chronic health problems like heart disease and cancer.
It’s worth noting that not everyone who drinks too much has alcohol use disorder, but they are more likely to develop it.
How can I treat my alcohol use?
If you have alcohol use disorder, don’t worry, there are treatments available to help you. These treatments usually involve a combination of medication and counseling or therapy. You might get treatment at an outpatient clinic or at a residential facility where you can stay for a little while.
The goal of treatment is to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms, cut back on your drinking, and learn new skills that will help you either stop drinking altogether or drink in a healthier way.
