Alcohol Misuse and Dependence Information, Adult

Alcohol is a widely available drug and people choose to drink alcohol in different amounts. Alcohol misuse and dependence can have a negative effect on your life. Alcohol misuse is when you use alcohol too much or too often. You may have a hard time setting a limit on the amount you drink.

Alcohol dependence is when you use alcohol consistently for a period of time, and your body changes as a result. Alcohol dependence can make it hard for you to stop drinking because you may start to feel sick or different when you do not drink alcohol. These symptoms are known as withdrawal.

People who drink alcohol very often and in large amounts, may develop what is called an alcohol use disorder.

How can alcohol misuse and dependence affect me?

• Poor work performance.
• Job loss.
• Financial problems.
• Car crashes or criminal charges from driving after drinking alcohol.
• Problems in your relationships with friends and family.
• Losing the trust and respect of coworkers, friends, and family.

• Damage to your liver or pancreas.
• Heart problems, high blood pressure, or stroke.
• Certain cancers.
• Decreased ability to fight infections.
• Brain or nerve damage.
• Depression.
• Early death, also called premature death.

If you are careless or you crave alcohol, it is easy to drink more than your body can handle (overdose). Alcohol overdose is a serious situation that requires hospitalization. It may lead to permanent injuries or death.

What can increase my risk?

• Having a family history of alcohol misuse.
• Having depression or other mental health conditions.
• Beginning to drink at an early age.
• Binge drinking often.
• Experiencing trauma, stress, and an unstable home life during childhood.
• Spending time with people who drink often.

What actions can I take to prevent alcohol misuse and dependence?

• Do not drink alcohol if:
  • Your health care provider tells you not to drink.
  • You are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant.
• If you drink alcohol:
  • Limit how much you have to:
    • 0–1 drink a day for women who are not pregnant.
    • 0–2 drinks a day for men.
  • Know how much alcohol is in your drink. In the U.S., one drink equals one 12 oz bottle of beer (355 mL), one 5 oz glass of wine (148 mL), or one 1½ oz glass of hard liquor (44 mL).
• If you think you have an alcohol dependency problem, decide to stop drinking. This can be very hard to do if you are used to frequently drinking alcohol.
• If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms, talk with your health care provider or a person that you trust. These symptoms may include anxiety, shaky hands, headache, nausea, sweating, or not being able to sleep.
• Choose to drink nonalcoholic beverages in social gatherings and places where there may be alcohol.

Activity

• Spend more time on activities that you enjoy that do not involve alcohol, like hobbies or exercise.
• Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as meditation or spending time with people you care about.

General information

• Talk to your family, coworkers, and friends about supporting you in your efforts to stop drinking. If they drink, ask them not to drink around you. Spend more time with people who do not drink alcohol.
• If you think that you have an alcohol dependency problem:
  • Tell friends or family about your concerns.
  • Talk with your health care provider or another health professional about where to get help.
  • Work with a therapist and a chemical dependency counselor.
  • Consider joining a support group for people who struggle with alcohol misuse and dependence.

Where to find support

• Your health care provider.
• SMART Recovery: smartrecovery.org
• Local treatment centers or chemical dependency counselors.
• Local AA groups in your community: aa.org

Where to find more information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: niaaa.nih.gov
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): aa.org

Contact a health care provider if:

• You drank more or for longer than you intended on more than one occasion.
• You often drink to the point of vomiting or passing out.
• You have problems in your life due to drinking, but you continue to drink.
• You keep drinking even though you feel anxious, depressed, or have experienced memory loss.
• You have stopped doing the things you used to enjoy in order to drink.
• You have to drink more than you used to in order to get the effect you want.
• You experience anxiety, sweating, nausea, shakiness, and trouble sleeping when you try to stop drinking.

Get help right away if:

• You have serious withdrawal symptoms, including:
  • Confusion.
  • Racing heart.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Fever.

• Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away.
• Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

• You have thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

• Call 911.
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 988. This is open 24 hours a day.
• Text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

Summary

• Alcohol misuse and dependence can have a negative effect on your life. Drinking too much or too often can lead to addiction.
• If you drink alcohol, limit how much you use.
• If you are having trouble keeping your drinking under control, find ways to change your behavior. Hobbies, calming activities, exercise, or support groups can help.
• If you feel you need help with changing your drinking habits, talk with your health care provider, a good friend, or a therapist, or go to a support group.