Alcohol Specialist

Alcohol Q&A

What is alcohol use disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that occurs when your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol. If you have an alcohol use disorder, you might spend most of your time thinking about, trying to acquire, or consuming alcohol.

As the condition worsens, it can affect your ability to work or maintain relationships. You might also experience alcohol-related health problems, like liver disease, high blood pressure, or gastrointestinal issues.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

Symptoms of alcohol use disorder include:

• Drinking alone
• Becoming violent or angry when others ask about your drinking habits
• Not eating or eating poorly
• Making excuses to drink
• Continuing to drink even if you have legal issues
• Drinking more to feel drunk

If you have an alcohol use disorder, you might also experience physical symptoms like alcohol cravings, lapses in memory, or muscle tremors.

What causes alcohol use disorder?

Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes alcohol use disorder, but it’s thought that drinking excessively causes chemical changes in the brain. These changes result in pleasurable feelings when you drink. That results in you drinking more, resulting in a vicious cycle.

After your body is addicted to alcohol, you need to keep drinking to prevent the uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal.

How is alcohol use disorder diagnosed?

To diagnose alcohol use disorder, your AIM Behavioral Health provider conducts a physical exam and asks about your alcohol use, including if you drive drunk, if you experience blackouts as a result of your drinking, and if you’ve tried cutting back but couldn’t.

Answer the questions honestly. Your provider isn’t there to judge you, but your responses help determine the best type of treatment. Your provider might also order blood work to assess your liver function and to check for signs of liver disease.

How is alcohol use disorder treated?

Treatment of alcohol use disorder depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction and its effect on your quality of life. Your AIM Behavioral Health provider might recommend:

• Detoxification to rid your body of alcohol
• Rehabilitation to learn new coping skills
• Counseling to address emotional issues or co-occurring conditions
• Support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Outpatient treatment
• Medication-assisted treatment with drugs like naltrexone
• Medical treatment for associated medical conditions

Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to help you achieve lasting sobriety.

To receive treatment for alcohol use disorder, make an appointment at AIM Behavioral Health by calling the office or booking online today.