Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that involves compulsive drinking despite the negative implications that the behavior has on an affected patient’s life. Alcohol addiction is a leading social concern impacting millions of people globally. A clear understanding of AUD is essential to accepting its presence and being able to combat it. In this article, we will discuss what AUD is, what leads to it, what happens when a person is suffering from AUD, and what should be done to cure it.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder can be described as a medical condition that involves the inability to abstain from or reduce alcohol consumption despite adverse effects on the social, occupational, or health of one’s life. The American Psychiatric Association, in the DSM-5 classification, identified at least two out of eleven symptoms that are used to diagnose AUD.

In this context, alcohol consumption starts with moderate consumption and goes right up to pathological use and then to AUD. According to SAMHSA, 5 million adults in the United States suffer from AUD, but only a limited proportion seek treatment for alcohol addiction.

Causes and Risk Factors

Psychological and physiological factors are said to contribute to the development of AUD alongside genetic and environmental factors.

Genetic Predisposition

A study shows that genetic factors may contribute up to 50% of the risk of developing AUD. Alcohol dependence also has affected their family and, those who have a family history of alcohol dependence have increased chances of developing the condition due to genetic factors that influence alcohol metabolism and the brain.

Environmental Influences

This is where social impacts like family interaction, cultural practices, and peer pressure come in. Especially if a person grows up in such a household or environment, they are likely to develop AUD with frequent heavy drinking. Adverse life events stemming from traumatic events or other forms of social loss can also lead to the development of AUD as a way of managing stress.

Psychological Factors

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental illnesses usually develop in people who have AUD. Individuals with such conditions may resort to alcohol to mask the psychological problems and, in the process, develop further complications, including psychological problems and alcohol dependence.

Physiological Aspects

Regular alcohol consumption can alter brain chemistry and cause the cycle of addiction. As alcohol tolerance increases, a larger amount of alcohol is required to get the desired impact, as are cravings when the substance is reduced or stopped.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Identifying signs of Alcohol use disorder is one of the initial steps toward diagnosis and management. Symptoms can also be classified under behavioral signs, physical signs, and psychological signs.

Behavioral Signs

• The inability to consume the agreed amount of alcohol or its continued use for a longer time than was planned
• Failed alcohol reduction or abstinence attempts
• Drinking milk with alcohol, often for a long time to get it, drink it, or recover from it.
• Failure to perform duties at the workplace, educational institutions, or within the home environment

Physical Symptoms

• Some of the withdrawal symptoms that are associated with the use of alcohol include sweating, shaking, and nausea.
• The rising tolerance bar means that more alcohol will be needed to produce the needed effect.
• Some health complications associated with substance abuse include hepatic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and immunodeficiency disorders.

Psychological Signs

• Pangs of hunger and desires to consummate alcohol. This refers to the act or process of persisting in the consumption of alcohol even though the person is aware that he/she is developing or exacerbating issues.
• Fluctuations in mood or outbursts of depression or anxiety linked to alcohol consumption

Diagnosis is often done through clinical assessment by a healthcare practitioner aided by screening checklists like the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a history and physical examination.

Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD not only affects the physical and psychological well-being of the person but also the social and financial standing of any individual.

Physical Health effects

Alcohol addiction results in numerous health complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, cardiovascular diseases, and even different forms of cancer. It also impairs the ability of the immune system to fight off infections, leaving individuals more vulnerable to them.

Mental Health Effects

AUD and mental health disorders can be seen as complementary since the symptoms of one aggravate the manifestations of the other. Alcohol also worsens depression, anxiety, and other related conditions, and that makes the healing process harder.

Social Effects

Social relationships with family, friends, and even coworkers are harmed because of the behavioral modification linked with AUD. This is caused by trust deficits, poor communication, and aggression, all of which are common occurrences in homes with alcohol dependents.

Economic Effects

These are at the individual level and range from direct medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees all charged in Australian Dollars (AUD). Issues such as the burden of disease on healthcare systems, and the reduction of productivity due to workforce losses, are other issues that affect economies across the world.