Alcohol: Navigating Use, Abuse, and Addiction

Defining Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in damage to one’s health, interpersonal relationships or capability to work. People who abuse alcohol are still able to set limits for themselves, but alcohol continues to have an adverse impact on their life and health.

Along with increased risk of developing health issues related to alcohol consumption. Common symptoms of alcohol abuse include:

Neglecting duties at work, school or residence due to alcohol consumption and related patterns.
Drinking in dangerous situations like while driving or operating machines, combining with prescription drugs, etc.
Facing legal difficulties directly associated with alcohol like receiving a DUI, drunk and disorderly conduct, etc.

Alcoholics are often referred to a person who has a high demand for alcohol, but they develop a mental or physical dependency on alcohol to function on a daily basis. Symptoms of alcohol dependence include:

Powerful cravings for alcohol throughout the day and during regular activities.
Continued use despite emotional, physical or interpersonal issues that are kept. This often is seen when alcohol is used to mask emotional or mental distress.
Not being able to limit drinking. Alcoholics often black out or lose control when drinking on a regular basis.
Building an increased tolerance for alcohol, necessitating increased amounts of alcohol to accomplish the same effects.
Drinking more or for longer than meant, despite not needing to.

The Brand New Spectrum of Alcohol Use

As more research comes out about alcohol abuse, we are learning that diagnosing a drinking problem is not as black and white as it was once.

The new approach for drinking problems and addiction analysis measures an individual’s drinking problem on a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum, you’ve got the moderate drinker: a man who has 2 or fewer drinks daily or a woman who has less or 1. Various levels can categorize the dependency that a person has on alcohol.

The severity of a person’s alcohol use of a score of 3 subclassifications: moderate, mild and intense define disorder. There are 11 criteria to contemplate to decide on the degree of alcohol dependency, and it scores an individual if they have at least 2 of the symptoms in a 12-month period.

The current presence of 2-3 symptoms signals light AUD; 4-5 symptoms is reasonable; 6 or more is severe signals a high level of alcohol dependency.

Healing Is Possible No Matter Your Current Situation

America has developed to include alcohol in many social gatherings and events, so you likely have easy access to alcohol at most times of the day. This level of accessibility and acceptance of drinking has to lead to many people develop a dependency on alcohol.

Our knowledgeable and experienced staff are here if you or a loved one is fighting to overcome moderate or severe alcohol addiction. ADAPT Programs is a recognized leader in evidence-based alcohol rehab, and we provide you and your family the support, knowledge, and education you need to live a life free from alcohol addiction.

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