Alcohol

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What is alcohol addiction?

The first step to understanding alcohol addiction is defining safe and risky levels of consumption. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

• Moderate alcohol consumption, which is generally considered to be safe, is typically up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
• Binge drinking is consuming five or more alcoholic drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on a single occasion.
• Heavy alcohol use involves binge drinking on five or more days in one month.

Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use may indicate an alcohol use disorder (AUD), a chronic, relapsing brain disease. AUD symptoms include compulsive alcohol use, a loss of control over how much you drink, and a negative emotional state when you are not drinking. An AUD can range from mild to moderate to severe.

Signs and risks of alcohol misuse

Problems with drinking can take many forms, and people may keep misusing alcohol without hitting “rock bottom.” Even if you aren’t sure if a loved one’s or your own drinking habits indicate an alcohol use disorder, understanding and being on the lookout for signs of alcohol misuse can help you get support before drinking reaches a crisis point.

It’s also important to know the risk factors for alcohol addiction: Some people are more likely than others to develop an alcohol problem. Knowing the risk factors also allows us to take steps to reduce the chance of developing an addiction.

Alcohol Withdrawal

When someone who is physically dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking or significantly reduces their alcohol consumption, a set of symptoms known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome can occur. This sudden reduction of drinking disrupts brain activity, which leads to numerous withdrawal symptoms — physical reactions that can appear the same day that drinking stops. Learn more about the symptoms and timeline of alcohol withdrawal.​