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What Is Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol abuse is a general term that can refer to many things. It doesn’t just mean getting blackout drunk, either. There are many different types of alcohol abuse, and they all can have negative effects on your life. A person who drinks too much–and often–might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as “alcoholism.” People with an AUD may continue drinking despite recognizing negative consequences from their drinking or experiencing cravings for alcohol. However, different people react differently to alcohol in their bodies, and some people are more likely than others to develop an AUD as a result of their drinking habits. If you think that you might be struggling with alcohol abuse, here is more information about the topic and how you can get help.
How Addictive Is Alcohol?
Alcohol is an addictive substance, and dependence usually develops gradually as your brain and body adapt to regular drinking. Over time, it can shift from something you choose to do into something that feels hard or even scary to stop.
Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States, and it is the most commonly abused substance among teens and young adults.
Government agencies use the term alcohol use disorder (AUD) to describe this pattern of addiction. In recent U.S. data, roughly 28–29 million people ages 12 and older met criteria for AUD in a single year, which is about 1 in 10 people in that age group.
Types of Alcohol Abuse
Some of these types are more serious than others, but all of them can result in negative consequences in your life.
- Binge Drinking: Health agencies like the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) define binge drinking as a pattern that raises your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher, usually 4 or more drinks for women or 5 or more drinks for men in about 2 hours.
- Heavy or frequent drinking: Heavy drinking means regularly going over recommended limits, such as drinking most days of the week or having many more drinks than advised in one sitting. Over time, this pattern raises the risk for liver disease, heart problems, certain cancers, and developing AUD.
- Underage drinking: Government data show that starting to drink at a younger age is linked with a higher chance of later alcohol dependence and repeated heavy drinking episodes. Underage drinking also increases risks like injuries, assaults, and school or legal trouble.
- Drinking during pregnancy: No amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy. Drinking while pregnant can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), miscarriage, stillbirth, and lifelong learning or behavioral problems for the child. Because of these risks, agencies like the CDC and WHO recommend avoiding alcohol entirely during pregnancy and when trying to conceive.
- Drinking and driving (DUI): Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination, which is why driving after drinking sharply increases the risk of crashes, injuries, and deaths. Even “a few drinks” can put BAC above legal limits or slow your responses enough to be dangerous.
Binge Drinking: The Most Dangerous Type of Excessive Drinking
Binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks during a single sitting for an adult woman and five or more in a single sitting for an adult man, while heavy drinking refers to drinking too much on a regular basis.
Health agencies like NIAAA define binge drinking as a pattern that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to at least 0.08%, which typically means 4 or more drinks for women, or 5 or more drinks for men, in about 2 hours.
Binge drinking is the most common type of excessive drinking, and it is especially dangerous because it is often associated with risky behavior like driving after drinking too much or other risky activities. Like excessive drinking in general, binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, have negative effects on your health in the long run, and damage your personal relationships.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse
If you think you may be struggling to control alcohol intake, there are some signs and symptoms that you should look out for. Some of the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse include the following:
- Feeling guilty about your drinking
- Experiencing blackouts
- Changes in social relationships
- Experiencing hallucinations
- Changes in diet
- Feeling too fatigued to complete daily tasks
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Using alcohol as a coping skill
- Changes in hygiene
- Using alcohol to deal with health issues
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Feeling unsafe when drinking
- Feeling irritable
- Facing legal consequences as a result of your alcohol abuse
- Missing work or school
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The short-term effects of alcohol abuse vary between individuals and will depend on factors such as your age, weight, gender, and metabolism. Short-term effects of alcohol abuse can include:
- Unsafe sexual activity
- Increased risk for injury
- Poor decision-making
- Increased risk for sexually transmitted infections
- Disrupted sleep
- Increased risk for unplanned pregnancies
- Decreased social connection
- Increased risk for legal repercussions
- Decreased productivity
- Increased risk for health issues
- Worsened academic performance
- Increased risk for eating disorders
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
The long-term effects of alcohol abuse can be serious. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to changes in brain chemistry that are difficult to reverse. Alcohol abuse also puts your health at serious risk. The long-term effects of alcohol abuse include:
- Changes in brain chemistry
- Changes in academic performance
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Changes in productivity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Changes in sexual function
- Liver disease
- Legal repercussions
- Metabolic disorders
- Financial problems
- Changes in hormone levels
- Poor self-esteem
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Eating disorders
- Changes in social relationships
- Psychological issues
- Suicidal ideation
If alcohol is costing you sleep, peace, or relationships, support is available.
Are you at Risk of Developing Alcohol Abuse Disorder?
As with most mental health disorders, risk factors for alcohol abuse vary from person to person. Some risk factors include:
- Being under the age of 21: The younger you are when you start drinking, the more likely you are to develop a problem with alcohol.
- Having a family history of alcoholism: People whose families have a history of alcoholism are more likely to develop an AUD themselves.
- Having a mental health disorder: People with mental health disorders are more likely to develop another mental health disorder, including an AUD.
- Being in a situation where you are drinking more often or in larger quantities than you planned: If you find yourself drinking more often or in larger quantities than planned while you are at a party or out with friends, this can be a warning sign that you have a problem.
What Is the Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence?
While alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are related, they are not the same thing. The main difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence is that people who abuse alcohol do not have a medical condition that requires treatment, while people who are dependent on alcohol do. Individuals who are dependent on alcohol show signs of withdrawal when they don’t drink, they have a strong desire to drink, they drink large amounts more than once per week, their health is negatively impacted by excessive alcohol consumption, their ability to work is affected by their drinking habits, and/or their personal relationships have been seriously affected.
What is the Daily Limit for Drinking Alcohol ?
While it is important to understand what alcohol abuse is and how it can harm your life, it’s also important to know how much alcohol is too much. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a branch of the Mental Health Services Administration, recommends that adult men drink no more than two standard drinks per day and that adult women drink no more than one drink a day.
A standard drink is: 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content), 8 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content), 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol content). Some people metabolize alcohol differently than others, so there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for alcohol consumption.
What Is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome?
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is a set of symptoms that occur after you stop drinking alcohol after drinking heavily or drinking heavily for a long time. AWS is more commonly referred to as “the shakes,” but it is a lot more serious than just being cold and having a slight tremor. When you have AWS, your body is going through a very serious and painful detox that can be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to get help if you think you might have AWS. Some medical professionals can provide treatments that can help make the symptoms milder and easier to manage.
Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse, you should avoid using other drugs. Drugs, including prescription medications, can interact negatively with alcohol. This can cause you to experience the effects of both drugs much more strongly than usual. In some cases, this can lead to accidental overdose. An alcohol overdose can lead to an emergency situation and even death.
Finding Support for Alcohol Abuse
If you think you might have a drinking problem, the first thing that you should do is be honest with yourself and with your doctor. To get a diagnosis for an AUD, you need to be open and honest about your alcohol use and the consequences that it has caused in your life.
There are many ways that you can get help for an alcohol use disorder. A lot of people go to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which offers group therapy as well as peer support meetings. Other people go to inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment programs.
You may also want to consider joining a Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support group where you can meet other people who are going through the same things that you are.
If you don’t have access to a support group, you can find online forums where people are discussing the challenges that they are facing with their alcohol use.
Design For Recovery: Sober Living Homes in Los Angeles for Alcohol Abuse Recovery
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, Sober Living Housing Los Angeles may be able to provide the support and resources needed to overcome this challenging journey.
Our sober living house offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals in recovery, providing a sense of community and a structured program to help individuals achieve their goals.
With our focus on long-term recovery, we are dedicated to helping our residents develop the skills and tools needed to maintain a sober lifestyle and build a brighter future.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our sober living housing program, please reach out for more information.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2014, December 5). Alcohol abuse. Harvard Health Publishing:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/addiction/alcohol-abuse
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2023, December). Alcohol’s Effects on Health. NIAAA:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 14). Alcohol Use and Your Health:
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/
National Library of Medicine. (2011). Alcohol-Use Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence:
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