ALCOHOL USE DISORDER

ALCOHOL USE DISORDER

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is defined as the need to consume alcohol to the point that it negatively affects your personal and professional life. Blackouts, major lapses in judgment, fighting with loved ones, struggling with school or work and withdrawing from others are all common markers of alcohol use disorder.

If you are dependent on alcohol, you may have a hard time controlling your impulse to drink. You may even go to extreme measures to hide your alcohol use disorder, such as stealing, lying or hiding alcohol. Alcohol affects your physical and mental health, which can put a massive strain on your relationships and work performance.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the United States, with tobacco and unhealthy diet at the forefront. According to a study in JAMA Psychiatry, one in eight American adults, or 12.7% of the U.S. population, meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder.