Treating an Alcohol Abuse Disorder

Alcohol misuse and alcohol addiction are serious problems throughout the UK. In England alone there are an estimated 600,000 dependent drinkers and many more binge drink or regularly drink above the recommended safer drinking guidelines.¹ In the UK the term alcohol misuse is generally used and this encompasses both harmful drinking and alcohol dependence.² Alcohol use disorder is sometimes used though, and is commonly used in the US

What is an alcohol use disorder?

An alcohol use disorder or AUD is a subset of substance use disorders (SUDs) where the substance involved is alcohol. The US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines AUD as “a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences”.³

It adds that this includes the conditions commonly known as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction and the informal term alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is generally a wide-ranging term that encompasses any form of drinking behaviour that is harmful. This could mean regularly drinking above the safer drinking guidelines or binge-drinking. Alcohol is recognised as a causal factor in many conditions, including several types of cancer, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver and depression. Drinking too much can also increase your risk of accident and becoming involved in risky and sometimes violent or criminal behaviour.

At the other end of the scale is dependency and addiction. At this point you are likely to have developed a tolerance for alcohol, meaning you need to drink more and more for the same effect – and eventually just to feel normal. Prolonged heavy drinking also affects the way your brain and central nervous system operate and when you stop drinking this can lead to alcohol withdrawal. A series of addiction treatments may then be needed to help you get through the detox process and overcome your addiction to alcohol.

What are the types of alcohol abuse disorders?

As noted above, alcohol use disorders can vary from relatively minor forms of alcohol misuse to alcohol addiction. Additionally, research has identified different profiles of people with an AUD – groups who share similar symptoms beyond the baseline of drinking too much.

These include:

• Alcohol-induced injury – People who engaged in risky behaviour and got into dangerous situations through drinking
• Highly problematic, low perceived life interference – Believe their alcohol consumption did not have an adverse impact on their lives despite experiencing many AUD symptoms
• Adverse effects only – reported hangovers or alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Difficulty cutting back – struggled or were unable to cut back on their drinking
• Highly problematic – the 7% of participants with every symptom of AUD.⁴

What are the symptoms of alcohol abuse disorder?

An alcohol use disorder can have a wide range of effects on your physical and mental health, as well as your behaviours.

The NIAAA lists a number of symptoms that can be used to diagnose an alcohol use disorder, including:

• Drinking more, or for longer than you intended
• Trying and failing to cut down or stop drinking
• Being sick from drinking or its after-effects
• Drinking more for the same effect
• Suffering withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink
• Getting into situations where you are more likely to get hurt through drinking
• Having your drinking affect family, work, school and other responsibilities
• Give up or cut back other activities in order to continue to drink⁵

Can people recover from alcohol abuse disorders?

Yes, people can and do recover from alcohol abuse disorders all the time. It is very difficult to do without expert help though as the very definition outlined above refers to “an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences”. This means willpower alone is rarely enough, but evidence-based treatments, developed over decades and delivered by experienced health professional and addiction recovery teams can give you the best chance in terms of recovery and relapse prevention.

How do I know if I need help?

Some people have an image in their heads of a ‘problem drinker’ that doesn’t necessarily match their self-image but if you regularly drink too much or struggle to control your drinking you may well need some kind of help. If you know you have a problem and have tried and failed to stop or cut down, or your drinking is significantly impacting your health, relationships, work and other aspects of your life, it makes sense to seek appropriate help as quickly as possible. Contact us today for confidential advice or to start the admissions process rolling.

Treatments for alcohol abuse disorder

Problem drinking problems of all kinds can be successfully treated in a variety of ways. The most suitable way of treating an alcohol abuse disorder will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the alcohol use disorder. Milder forms of alcohol misuse might be successfully treated through an outpatient or community-based treatment program. In the UK these are the treatment options most commonly available via the NHS. They do have limitations however, especially in relation to more serious cases of AUD such as full-blown alcohol addiction.

This type of disorder is usually best treated in a dedicated rehabilitation treatment centre. When you stop drinking after prolonged consumption of alcohol you are likely to suffer withdrawal symptoms and it is far safer and more effective to undergo this process of detoxification within safe and medically supervised facilities. A holistic rehab will go beyond managing your detox though, with a range of psychological and behavioural therapies that help you to explore and tackle the root causes of your drinking. Treatments will also provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to develop coping strategies for if and when cravings return and a comprehensive aftercare package can provide vital support to help prevent relapse in the crucial months following rehab.

If you are worried that you or a loved one may have an alcohol abuse disorder, get in touch today to find out how we can help in our rehab centre in Scotland.

Sources:

¹ https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-dependence

² https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg115/evidence/full-guideline-136423405

³ https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder

⁴ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323816#5-age-related-AUD-profiles-revealed

⁵ https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/whats-the-harm/what-Are-Symptoms-Of-alcohol-Use-Disorder.aspx

Dr Alexander Lapa - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

Dr. Lapa (MBBS, PG Dip Clin Ed, OA Dip CBT, OA Dip Psychology, SCOPE Certified) graduated in Medicine in 2000 and has since gained extensive experience in various psychiatric settings, handling a wide range of illness presentations and patient backgrounds in inpatient, community, and secure environments. This experience has been complemented by ongoing professional development in postgraduate clinical research, closely linked to their daily work as an NHS and Private Psychiatrist.