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Medically Reviewed by: Charley Allen November 3, 2022
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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.
Alcohol abuse is when someone drinks more than what is recommended for their health, safety, or social responsibilities. Alcohol abuse is not the same as alcoholism, although many people confuse the two terms. Alcoholism is a dependence on alcohol that interferes with a person’s health and social relationships. There are many different types of alcohol abuse. There is binge drinking, underage drinking, drinking while pregnant, driving under the influence of alcohol, drinking too quickly (“speed-drinking”), and using alcohol as a coping skill. People who drink too much may have an alcohol use disorder.
There are many 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.
While it is important to understand what alcohol abuse is and how it can harm your life, it’s also important to understand 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. Keep in mind that even if you do not feel the effects of alcohol when you drink, you can still be dangerously drunk. This is especially true if you have a high body weight, are a woman, or are taking certain medications.
There are many different ways to drink too much, but most of them fall into two categories: binge drinking and heavy 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. 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 (which can be fatal), have negative effects on your health in the long run, and damage your personal relationships.
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. In order 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 one-on-one counseling. Other people go to inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment programs. You may also want to consider joining a 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.
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:
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:
If you think you may be struggling to control alcohol intake, there are some signs and symptoms that you should look out for. If you’re drinking too much, you may find yourself drinking alone, or experiencing negative consequences in your life as a result of your alcohol use. If you think you’re drinking too much, it’s important to seek help before things get worse. Some of the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse include the following:
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.
While many people don’t see alcohol as being addictive, it is possible for people to become dependent on alcohol over time. 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. If you notice that you are consuming alcohol more frequently or in larger quantities than you had planned to, you may be developing an alcohol use disorder. While not everyone who drinks ends up with an AUD, you should take action if you notice signs of an AUD in yourself.
If you have an AUD and decide to quit drinking, you will most likely experience some level of alcohol withdrawal. However, you can minimize the severity of withdrawal symptoms through medical intervention, especially if you have an AUD. There are several different types of withdrawal symptoms, but the most common include:
A medical (or “clinical”) term for “alcoholism” is alcohol use disorder (AUD). Most people use these terms interchangeably, though some healthcare providers prefer one term over the other. This diagnosis is only given to people who experience the following symptoms:
As with most mental health disorders, risk factors for alcohol abuse vary from person to person. Some risk factors include:
If you think that you might have a problem with alcohol abuse, the first thing that you should do is get educated. Reading up on the topic can help you to identify the signs of a problem and determine if it is something that you need to address. Use that information to talk to your doctor about your concerns. Your doctor can recommend different treatment options for alcohol abuse, including attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other group therapy sessions. If you don’t think that an AUD is appropriate for you, it can be helpful to find a therapist to talk to about your concerns. A therapist can help you to get a better understanding of your habits and decide how to proceed from there. With enough time, it is possible to fully recover from alcoholism and lead a happy and fulfilling life in sobriety.
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 condition. 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/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm.
National Library of Medicine. (2011). Alcohol-Use Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65500/.
Read Further: Alcohol Relapse Prevention
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