Alcohol Use Disorders: A Closer Look

by Katherine Yoder

What would it be like for you to go 72 hours without alcohol? As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, the National Council on Addiction and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has invited all Americans to abstain from alcohol the first weekend in April (5th-7th). Taking a break from alcohol can be a great way to explore what role it plays in your life, even if you would not identify as someone who struggles with alcohol use.

As you probably know, drinking too much can harm your health. According to the World Health Organization, the harmful use of alcohol contributes to more than 200 diseases and injury conditions, most notably alcohol use disorders, liver cirrhosis, and cancers.1 An estimated 88,000 people (62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the 3rd leading cause of preventable death in the United States.2

So what does responsible alcohol use look like? It may surprise you. Both the USDA and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have developed recommendations to limit the risk of alcohol-related harm, suggesting that women should consume no more than 7 standard drinks per week and men should have no more than 14.3, 4

It is important to note that these recommendations define a standard drink as: 1.5 oz of hard liquor (40% alcohol), a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol), or a 12 oz. beer (5% alcohol).5 Step foot into one of the many breweries located in Seattle, and you will notice that it is difficult to find a beer whose alcohol content is 5% or less; similarly, most cocktails contain multiple shots of hard alcohol and the alcohol content of wine can vary drastically.  All of this to say, you may be having more than “one standard drink” with every drink you consume.

In addition to the weekly guidelines highlighted above, the NIAAA recommends that daily consumption of alcohol is limited, no more than 3 drinks for women and no more than 4 for men, in order to reduce the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

What exactly is an alcohol use disorder? It is a clinical term describing a collection of symptoms related to alcohol use that cause significant distress and or impairment during the same 12-month period; these symptoms fall into four major categories including impaired control, social impairment, hazardous use, and pharmacological criteria (i.e. tolerance and withdrawal).  An estimated 16 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder.6

The good news is that there is hope for recovery from an alcohol use disorder. In fact, it is estimated that between 42%-66% of people with substance use disorders achieve full remission7,8  and as many as 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery from alcohol.9 Recovery is not a one-size fits all concept and it may include the use of self-help groups (i.e. AA, SMART Recovery, LifeRing, etc.) and/or formal treatment (i.e. medications, therapy); no single option is right for everyone, and treatment should reflect an individual’s unique history and hopes for their recovery.

Are you wondering if your relationship with alcohol may be problematic? Next steps might include speaking with your family, friends, or pastor; attending a self-help group; or speaking with a treatment professional in your area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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