NO 100. Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?

Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?

You’ve probably heard about “alcohol abuse,” alcohol dependence,” or “alcoholism.” Or maybe you know the new term that doctors use: “alcohol use disorder,” which can range from mild to moderate to severe.

These are the guidelines that define an alcohol use disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association:

• Drinking more, or longer, than you planned to
• Tried to cut back or stop more than once, and couldn’t
• Spend a lot of time drinking, or being sick after drinking
• Want alcohol so badly you can’t think of anything else
• Have problems with work, school, or family because of your habit (or being sick after having alcohol)
• Kept drinking even though it caused problems for you with your relationships
• Quit or cut back on other activities that were important or enjoyable to you, in order to drink
• More than once found yourself in situations while or after drinking that made you more likely to get hurt
• Kept having alcohol even though it made you feel depressed or anxious, hurt your health, or led to a memory blackout
• Had to drink more than you used to in order to get the effect you wanted. Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before.
• Found that you had withdrawal symptoms when the buzz wore off, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, or a seizure. Or seeing, hearing, or feeling things that were not there.

If you've had two or three of those symptoms in the last year, that’s a “mild” alcohol use disorder.

It’s a “moderate” disorder if you've had four to five of those symptoms. And it’s “severe” if you've had six or more.

Keep in mind that a serving of alcohol is:

• 12 ounces of regular beer
• 8-9 ounces of malt liquor
• 5 ounces of wine
• 3-4 ounces of fortified wine (such as sherry or port)
• 2-3 ounces of cordial, liqueur, or aperitif
• 1.5 ounces of brandy, cognac, or 80-proof distilled spirits

Many places over-serve booze. It’s easy to do, even at home, if your wine or beer glasses are big.

But an alcohol use disorder isn’t just about how much you drink. It’s also about how often, what the effects are, and what happens when you try to cut back.

If you think you might have a drinking problem, you can get help. There are different approaches to try. Your doctor can help, or you could join a group for support.

If you want to try on your own, you’ll need to know your triggers that make you want to drink. Then you'll need to have a plan for something healthier turn to, and know how you’ll turn down alcohol if someone offers it.

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