A national survey in 2019 showed that 14.1 million Americans (adults) suffered from some kind of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in that particular year. The medical world recognizes AUD as a disease. There’s a medical diagnosis for this.
AUD includes:
- Alcohol misuse
- Alcohol addiction
- Alcohol dependence
- Alcoholism
Doctors’ definition of AUD
Doctors refer to AUD as a brain disorder, which makes a person unable to use or control the use of alcohol despite adverse effects on their physical, mental, social, and professional life.
Diagnosing AUD
Doctors use the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)” for diagnosing AUD. A person meeting 2-3 diagnostic criteria is said to have mild AUD. If 4-5 criteria are met, it indicates moderate AUD.
Severe AUD is diagnosed when a person meets 6 or more criteria.
In this case, the person may benefit from enrolling in a drug rehab program. Even moderate AUD cases may require expert help.
Mild AUD may soon turn into moderate and then severe if the drinker fails to correct their habits.
Signs and symptoms of AUD
Occasional binge drinking may not seem harmful, but it may lead a person to AUD. Binge drinking, according to experts, IS alcohol misuse. You are consuming more than the safe level of drinks in a short period.
Daily drinking is also a warning sign of impending AUD. If you cannot go without a drink for a single day, then it is something to worry about.
Here is a list of the commonest signs and symptoms of AUD:
- Spending most of the time drinking.
- Getting alcohol withdrawal symptoms when the effect of alcohol wears off or you decide to miss a drink.
- Strong alcoholic craving that makes you do just anything to grab a drink.
- Binge drinking leads to getting sick the next morning.
- Losing interest in hobbies and other activities of interest.
- Shirking from personal and professional responsibilities and commitments.
- Drinking despite problems in health, family, social life, and job.
- Wanting to quit drinking, but can’t.
- Increasing the number of drinks because you, no longer, feel the effects with the original amount (developing tolerance).
South Carolina drug rehab center helps people showing the above signs and symptoms of AUD. Whether your AUD is mild, moderate, or severe, it helps to undergo rehab for long-term sobriety.
Why do many alcoholics fail to get treatment?
Alcohol is a socially acceptable drink. People may not believe they are addicted. They believe it’s completely fine to drink daily or binge drink at parties or events. For many people, it is a way of life to get their “high” and then get to work. These are generally high-functional alcoholics.
If you want to stop drinking, but can’t, then this is a warning sign. Dial addiction hotline and ask for expert help.
Duration of rehab programs Depending on the severity of your alcohol addiction, your rehab program may last for a month, 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months. It could also last for a year, 2 years, or more.
