About alcohol.

Every year, about 95,000 deaths in the United States can be attributed to excessive alcohol use.  It is estimated that there are roughly 14 million adults over the age of 18 in the US that suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD).   The misuse of alcohol, often called alcohol abuse, refers to excessive alcohol use that  places you at risk for developing physical, mental health and social problems. Having more than one drink daily for women  or two drinks daily for men is generally considered alcohol misuse.  Binge drinking, a form of alcohol misuse, is when a man has five or more drinks, or a woman has four or more drinks within a short period of time. Binge drinking or alcohol misuse can increase someone’s risk of developing AUD, more commonly known as alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder is a disease characterized by the inability to control alcohol use despite negative, harmful consequences. Craving alcohol, having a tolerance to the effects of alcohol, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop drinking are but some of the criteria that point toward having alcoholism. When a person has a physiological dependence on alcohol, the withdrawal symptoms that are experienced after they significantly reduce or stop drinking can be extremely distressing and uncomfortable, and people commonly return to drinking alcohol as a way of relieving their discomfort.

Alcohol addiction is a common problem and can create major difficulties in a person’s life, socially, economically, interpersonally and occupationally. It’s important for people to be aware of the symptoms that accompany alcohol abuse and dependence and seek help immediately for medical detoxification if these symptoms are present.