Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol misuse and alcohol addiction can have a range of health consequences. If you’re struggling and not sure where to turn, you should know that treatment is available and can help you stop misusing alcohol and start the journey to recovery.
Alcohol addiction is a medical condition that involves compulsive drinking despite the negative consequences it has on a person’s life.1 Medical professionals diagnose alcohol addiction as an alcohol use disorder, or AUD.
AUD can have varying degrees of severity, ranging from mild to severe. The severity depends on the level of a person’s alcohol misuse and how many diagnostic criteria they meet as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the tool professionals use to assess whether a person has an AUD.
Alcohol misuse and alcohol addiction are not the same thing. A person can misuse alcohol but not be addicted to alcohol. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol misuse refers to:1, 2
- Heavy drinking, meaning consuming 5 or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week for men, or 4 or more on any day or 8 or more drinks per week for women.2
- Binge drinking, meaning a pattern of drinking alcohol that raises a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. This generally means consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more for women, in about 2 hours.2
- High-intensity drinking, which means drinking 2 or more times the gender-specific thresholds for binge drinking. This typically involves around 10 or more standard drinks for men and 8 or more for women.2
These patterns of drinking can increase a person’s risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD).3
Common Types of Drugs
Alcohol Misuse and Addiction
- Signs of Alcohol Addiction
- Alcohol Addiction Statistics
- Alcohol Addiction in Teens & Young Adults
The Effects of Alcohol
- Effects of Alcohol
- Alcohol Overdose
- Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
- Diagnosing Alcohol Addiction
- Alcohol Detox
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment
What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
There are many potential causes of alcohol addiction. Addiction is influenced by a variety of risk factors, which can increase the chances of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD).1 Some of these factors include:
- Biological factors, such as genetics, which account for around 60% of a person’s risk of developing an addiction or having a parent who engages in unhealthy drinking patterns.1
- Environmental factors, such as exposure to alcohol at an early age, easy access to alcohol, or community poverty.1, 4
- A history of trauma or having a mental health condition, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).1
Opioids
The opioid class of drugs includes prescription pain medications such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and illegal opioids such as heroin.6 Opioid misuse poses a significant risk of drug addiction and numerous health consequences, including respiratory depression and overdose.3, 6
Fentanyl is up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It can be deadly even in small amounts and is a major contributor to overdoses in the U.S.7 Illegally made fentanyl is synthesized in labs and often mixed with other drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, and MDMA, frequently unbeknownst to the user.8
What Are the Health Risks of Alcohol Misuse and Addiction?
Both alcohol misuse and alcohol addiction can result in health consequences and can negatively impact multiple bodily systems and organs.5 Some of the effects of alcohol include:
- A risk of heart damage and cardiovascular problems. Alcohol can cause or influence the development of conditions like cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), high blood pressure, and stroke.5
- An increased risk of cancer. This includes mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon cancer.5
- Brain changes and disorders. Acute cognitive impairment, alcohol-related dementia, alcohol-induced brain injury, brain shrinkage, Wernicke encephalopathy, and Korsakoff syndrome are all associated with excessive alcohol use.6
- An increased risk of pancreatitis. Alcohol can increase the risk of both acute and chronic pancreatitis, dangerous conditions that involve progressively painful inflammation of the pancreas that can impair endocrine function and digestion and result in several other complications, some of which may require emergent medical care.5, 7
- A weakened immune system. Alcohol can reduce your immune system’s ability to function and can increase the risk of contracting diseases and infections like pneumonia.5
- A negative impact on the skeletal system. This can result in issues such as poor bone repair, an increased risk of fractures, and a higher likelihood of osteoporosis.8
Alcohol Withdrawal
People who chronically misuse alcohol can develop alcohol dependence, which is a physiological adaptation that can occur due to the ongoing presence of alcohol.9 When a person who is dependent on alcohol stops drinking, they can suffer from alcohol withdrawal.9 Dependence is not the same as addiction, but it is often a feature of alcohol use disorder (AUD).1, 9
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
Are you worried about yourself or a loved one?
If you’ve noticed that your use of alcohol has grown out of control or is negatively affecting your life, relationships, or health, you may be questioning whether you have a substance use disorder. If you have been using alcohol and wonder if you may be addicted, answer the following 11 questions honestly.
At American Addiction Centers, our goal is to make care accessible for all those who need it. Whether you need financing or want to explore other payment options, we’re here for you.
How Do I Get Help for Alcohol Addiction?
People who chronically misuse alcohol can develop alcohol dependence, which is a physiological adaptation that can occur due to the ongoing presence of alcohol.9 When a person who is dependent on alcohol stops drinking, they can suffer from alcohol withdrawal.9 Dependence is not the same as addiction, but it is often a feature of alcohol use disorder (AUD).1, 9
Finding Alcohol Addiction Treatment
If you’re interested in finding alcohol treatment near you, you could start by consulting your doctor to discuss your situation, receive a diagnosis, and ask about treatment centers. You can also use our directories tool to search for a facility near you or out of state or learn more about using insurance coverage for rehab.
The criteria for SUD include:4
- Taking higher amounts or more frequent doses of the substance than originally intended.
- Having a persistent desire to cut down or regulate substance use but being unable to do so.
- Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the effects of the substance.
- Experiencing cravings, or strong desires or urges to use the substance.
- Failing to fulfill major role obligations at home, school, or work due to substance use.
- Continuing to use the substance despite having persistent or recurrent interpersonal or social problems caused or exacerbated by the substance.
- Giving up important occupational, recreational, or social activities due to substance use.
- Using the substance in situations in which it is physically hazardous, such as while driving or operating machinery.
- Continuing to use the substance despite having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is caused or exacerbated by the substance.
- Developing a tolerance (e.g., needing more of a substance to feel its effects).
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing consumption or needing to continue using a substance to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment for Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a treatable condition, and with proper treatment, people can overcome an addiction to drugs and regain control of their lives.12 According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), effective treatment is individualized and may involve different levels of care, including treatment for co-occurring disorders.13 Rehab for drug addiction might include one or more of the following options:
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- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2024, January). Understanding alcohol use disorder.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2024). Glossary.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2023). Drinking levels defined.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024, January 5). Drug misuse and addiction.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Alcohol’s effects on health.
- Sachdeva, A., Chandra, M., Choudhary, M., Dayal, P., & Anand, K. S. (2016). Alcohol-related dementia and neurocognitive impairment: a review study. International journal of high-risk behaviors & addiction, 5(3), e27976.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Definition & Facts for Pancreatitis.
- Eby, J. M., Sharieh, F., & Callaci, J. J. (2020). Impact of alcohol on bone health, homeostasis and fracture repair. Current pathobiology reports, 8(3), 75–86.
- Szalavitz, M., Rigg, K. K., & Wakeman, S. E. (2021). Drug dependence is not addiction-and it matters. Annals of medicine, 53(1), 1989–1992.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2015). Detoxification and substance abuse treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4131. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). What is substance abuse treatment? A booklet for families. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4126. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
