What is an Alcoholic?
An alcoholic is known as a person who drinks alcohol beyond their ability to control it and cannot stop consuming alcohol voluntarily. This is often coupled with being habitually drunk, daily drinking, and drinking larger quantities of alcohol than most. In general, an alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcoholism.
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a condition in which individuals have a craving or physical need to consume alcohol, even though it harms their lives [2]. In the past, an individual with this condition was referred to as an “alcoholic.” However, this is increasingly seen as an unhelpful and negative label. Health professionals now say that a person has an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) [3], an estimated 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States In 2019, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 10,142 deaths (28.0 percent of overall driving fatalities).
NIAAA describes alcohol use disorder as a “problem drinking that becomes severe.” Alcoholism is a mental disease. Exactly how alcohol affects the brain, and the possibility of reversing the effect of heavy drinking on the brain remain hot topics in alcohol research today. Lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse perpetuate alcohol use disorder symptoms and make individuals vulnerable to relapse. The good news is that no matter how severe the problem may seem, evidence-based alcoholism treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy, mutual-support groups, and/or medication-assisted treatment can help people with AUD achieve and maintain recovery.
Alcohol abuse can be used to talk about excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol, but not necessarily dependence. Moderate alcohol consumption does not generally cause any psychological or physical harm. However, if those who enjoy social drinking increase their consumption or regularly consume more than is recommended, alcoholism may eventually develop.
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Hotline (877) 378-4154Classifications of Alcohol Use Disorder
Medical conditions and disorders must be carefully defined both for clinical practice and research. The most widely used definitions for alcohol use disorders (AUD) are those determined by editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association issued the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5). Although there is considerable overlap between DSM–5 and DSM–IV, the prior edition, there are several important differences:
DSM–5 integrates the two DSM–IV disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, into a single disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD) with mild, moderate, and severe sub-classifications.
Under DSM–5, anyone meeting any 2 of the 11 criteria during the same 12-month period would receive a diagnosis of AUD. The severity of AUD—mild, moderate, or severe—is based on the number of criteria met. Moreover, DSM–5 adds craving as a criterion for an AUD diagnosis. It was not included in DSM–IV.
11 Criteria for Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorders are classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how many of the diagnostic criteria a person meets. The 11 DSM-5 criteria for a substance use disorder are:
- Hazardous use: You have used the substance in ways that are dangerous to yourself and/or others, i.e., overdosed, driven while under the influence, or blacked out.
- Social or interpersonal problems related to use: Substance use has caused relationship problems or conflicts with others.
- Neglected major roles to use: You have failed to meet your responsibilities at work, school, or home because of substance use.
- Withdrawal: When you stop using the substance, you experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Tolerance: You have built up a tolerance to the substance so that you have to use more to get the same effect.
- Used larger amounts/longer: You have started to use larger amounts or use the substance for longer amounts of time.
- Repeated attempts to control the use or quit: You’ve tried to cut back or quit entirely, but haven’t been successful.
- Much time spent using: You spend a lot of your time using the substance.
- Physical or psychological problems related to use: Your substance use has led to physical health problems, such as liver damage or lung cancer, or psychological issues, such as depression or anxiety.
- Activities are given up to use: You have skipped activities or stopped doing activities you once enjoyed in order to use the substance.
- Craving: You have experienced cravings for the substance.
In order to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, you must meet two or more of these criteria within a 12-month period.1 If you meet two or three of the criteria, you have a mild substance use disorder. Four to five is considered moderate, and if you meet six or more criteria, you have a severe substance use disorder.
What Causes Alcoholism?
Alcohol triggers your brain to release the reward-system chemical dopamine. This leads your brain to link positive feelings with drinking and motivates you to crave more. It also affects serotonin, which plays a role in things like mood and sleep.