Woman with hands to face suffering with alcohol use disorderAlcohol abuse is a common problem in the United States. Experts believe that the high number of people who abuse alcohol is a reflection of society’s stance on alcohol. For example, social drinking is widely accepted in our society. It’s common for college students to encourage peers to drink too much. These ideas cause a rise in the number of people who suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD).

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

People who suffer from alcohol use disorder have a problem with how they use or abuse alcohol. This problem occurs in both adults and teens. Friends, social standing, and mental illness can all contribute to people developing AUD.

Doctors and organizations have set up standards to determine if people have alcohol use disorder or not. To have AUD, some of the criteria that people must meet include:

  • Attempts to cut down on their drinking but can’t
  • Spend a lot of time drinking
  • Experience cravings that are as strong as drug abuse cravings
  • Continue drinking even after it causes problems with friends and family
  • Give up or lose interest in activities that were once interesting and rewarding

People who have alcohol use disorder often find that they no longer experience the effects of overdrinking. Sometimes the alcohol no longer has the same effect on them even when they drink large amounts.

How Does AUD Affect People?

Alcohol use disorder affects people in different ways. While research suggests that small amounts of alcohol are beneficial to the body, people with AUD have health problems. These health problems are a direct result of drinking too much.

Some short-term problems include hangovers, blackouts, and memory loss. If people get help for their condition, the health problems typically end there. However, people who continue to overdrink experience more permanent health problems. Some of these include cancer, heart trouble, stomach ailments and brain damage.

In general, drinking has a negative impact on the brain no matter how much people drink. Studies suggest that this negative impact is because alcohol kills brain cells. People who drink a lot also tend to lack vitamin B1. This vitamin is important in helping cells in the brain produce energy to function normally.

What Makes AUD Develop?

There’s no single cause of alcohol use disorder. However, some factors have a clear impact on someone’s probability of developing it. For example, people who experience trauma at a young age are more susceptible to AUD. Trauma can include family violence and sexual abuse.

People who have a history of family mental disorders are more likely to fall victim to AUD as well. Researchers believe that this is because people with one mental disorder are more susceptible to developing others.

Seek Help for Alcohol Abuse at Beaches Recovery

If you or someone you know experiences signs of alcohol addiction, it’s important that you get help right away. Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that can put your life in danger. At Beaches Recovery, we know how scary and life-threatening alcohol addiction is. To help you overcome addiction, we offer a number of programs, including:

Our goal is not only to help you overcome your addiction but also to educate you about relapse prevention. To achieve this goal, we strive to get to the root cause of your addiction through addiction counseling and other experiential therapies. Some of the different types of therapy that we offer include family, individual and group therapies. We also offer art and music therapy to reduce stress and make the rehab process easier.

Fight back against your addiction and take your life back. Discover the joy of living an addiction-free life. Contact one of our expert addiction specialists at Beaches Recovery today at 866.605.0532. Today is the day to get sober.