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Summary
For most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful. However, about 18 million adult Americans have an alcohol use disorder. This means that their drinking causes distress and harm. It includes alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is a disease that causes
- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've started
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms
- Tolerance - the need to drink more alcohol to feel the same effect
With alcohol abuse, you are not physically dependent, but you still have a serious problem. The drinking may cause problems at home, work, or school. It may cause you to put yourself in dangerous situations, or lead to legal or social problems.
Another common problem is binge drinking. It is drinking about five or more drinks in two hours for men. For women, it is about four or more drinks in two hours.
Too much alcohol is dangerous. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain, and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide.
If you want to stop drinking, there is help. Start by talking to your health care provider. Treatment may include medicines, counseling, and support groups.
NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Latest News
- Study Ties Alcohol Abuse to Increased Heart Risks (01/03/2017, HealthDay)
- Alcohol Can Be a Risky Guest At Holiday Parties (12/11/2016, HealthDay)
- Scientists Spot 'Teetotaler' Gene (11/30/2016, HealthDay)
- More News on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Diagnosis and Tests
- CDC Vital Signs: Alcohol Screening and Counseling (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Screening Tests (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Signs of Alcohol Abuse and Addiction (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Drinking Levels Defined (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Treatments and Therapies
- Alcohol and Drug Treatment: How It Works, and How It Can Help You (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Naltrexone for Alcoholism (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Road to Sobriety Is Difficult, but Possible (American Osteopathic Association)
- Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
- Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment (American Psychological Association) Also in Spanish
- What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish
Living With
- Alcohol Abuse: Taking Medicines Safely after Alcohol or Drug Abuse Recovery (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Children of Alcoholics (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Intervention: Help a Loved One Overcome Addiction (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Support for Quitting: Choose Your Approach (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Related Issues
- Alcohol Poisoning (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Alcohol's Effects on the Body (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (American Liver Foundation)
- Minority Health and Health Disparities (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- PTSD and Problems with Alcohol Use (National Center for PTSD)
- Smoking Cessation in Recovering Alcoholics (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- What People Recovering from Alcoholism Need to Know about Osteoporosis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Specifics
- Alcohol Abuse (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- CDC Vital Signs: Alcohol Poisoning Deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Drinking Too Much Too Fast Can Kill You (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) - PDF
- Overview of Alcohol Consumption (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Genetics
- Alcohol Alert: Genetics of Alcoholism (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Family History of Alcoholism: Are You at Risk? (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
Images
- Motivation for Change (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF
Health Check Tools
- Interactive Worksheets and More (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Videos and Tutorials
- Binge Drinking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Statistics and Research
- Alcohol Alert (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Alcohol Facts and Statistics (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Biology of Addiction: Drugs and Alcohol Can Hijack Your Brain (National Institutes of Health)
- CDC Vital Signs: Binge Drinking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- FastStats: Alcohol Use (National Center for Health Statistics)
- Increases in Problem Drinking (National Institutes of Health)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Alcoholism (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Binge Drinking (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- NIAAA Spectrum (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Find an Expert
- Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Getting Help (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Teenagers
- Coping with an Alcoholic Parent (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Men
- Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Men's Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Women
- Alcohol: A Women's Health Issue (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) Also in Spanish
- CDC Vital Signs: Binge Drinking a Serious, Under-Recognized Problem Among Women and Girls (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Women's Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Seniors
- Alcohol Use and Older Adults (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
- Older Adults and Alcohol: You Can Get Help (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Alcohol use disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Alcohol withdrawal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Alcoholic ketoacidosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Alcoholic liver disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Alcoholic neuropathy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Deciding to quit drinking alcohol (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Health risks of alcohol use (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Helping a loved one with a drinking problem (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- When you are drinking too much - tips for cutting back (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish