Alcohol Addiction &
Abuse: Signs, Symptoms, 
and Treatment

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

Besides the DSM-5, healthcare professionals might utilize other tools to assess your alcohol use and the severity of an AUD.7 That’s why it’s important to talk honestly to your healthcare provider, who can give you a thorough evaluation and diagnosis.

Additionally, there are many tools you can find online to help you examine the nature of your alcohol use and your behaviors surrounding it. In fact, we have one. It’s important to note that our “Has My Alcohol Use Become a Problem?” questionnaire is intended for educational purposes and should not be used to self-diagnose. This evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor.

Take our free, 5-minute alcohol use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with alcohol misuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of an alcohol use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

Alcohol also affects more than just the mind. Evidence indicates that long-term alcohol use increases an individual’s risk of developing certain cancers and cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also damage the liver, lead to pancreatitis, and weaken the immune system.8,9

Additionally, chronic alcohol use can lead to dependence—wherein the body becomes so used to having alcohol present that without it, potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms surface. It can also result in addiction.8

What are the Causes of Alcohol Addiction?

Some of a person’s risk in developing an AUD depends on how much, how often, and how quickly they consume alcohol. Certain biological, psychological, and social influences are also believed to play a role in the development of AUDs. Some risk factors that may lead to someone developing an AUD can include:1,10

• Genetics.
• A family history of alcohol use disorder.
• Parental drinking patterns.
• Exposure to trauma and stress during childhood.
• Drinking alcohol at an early age. Scientists have found that people who began drinking at age 15 or younger were
• 5 times more likely to develop an AUD than those who started drinking at age 21 or older. In addition, the risk
• for women among this group is higher than for men.

Certain psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and antisocial personality disorder are commonly associated with alcohol use disorder, although whether or not these co-occurring disorders are a result of alcohol use disorder or contributed to the development of an alcohol use disorder is unclear and may differ for each individual. Some studies suggest that schizophrenia, depression, and personality disorders are also predisposing factors for AUDs. This means that if a person has one or more of these psychiatric conditions, they may have an increased risk of alcohol use disorder.11

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Although there is currently no cure for alcohol use disorders, AUDs—much like many other chronic, relapsing diseases—can be successfully managed and treated.1 Professional addiction treatment in a rehabilitation center can help people suffering with AUDs recover from substance misuse issues and remain sober. If you or someone you care about is struggling with an AUD, you will likely benefit from some form of treatment.

If you’re considering professional addiction treatment for problematic alcohol use, you have a variety of options to treat your AUD, ranging from detoxification, to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, behavioral therapies, medication, and mutual-help groups.1

Effects of Alcohol Addiction on Your Health

Repeated, prolonged alcohol use impacts an individual’s physical and mental health. It is associated with cognitive and mental health issues, including learning and memory problems as well as worsening or causing mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.7

Alcohol also affects more than just the mind. Evidence indicates that long-term alcohol use increases an individual’s risk of developing certain cancers and cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also damage the liver, lead to pancreatitis, and weaken the immune system.8,9

Additionally, chronic alcohol use can lead to dependence—wherein the body becomes so used to having alcohol present that without it, potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms surface. It can also result in addiction.8

What are the Causes of Alcohol Addiction?

Some of a person’s risk in developing an AUD depends on how much, how often, and how quickly they consume alcohol. Certain biological, psychological, and social influences are also believed to play a role in the development of AUDs. Some risk factors that may lead to someone developing an AUD can include:1,10

• Genetics.
• A family history of alcohol use disorder.
• Parental drinking patterns.
• Exposure to trauma and stress during childhood.
• Drinking alcohol at an early age. Scientists have found that people who began drinking at age 15 or younger were
• 5 times more likely to develop an AUD than those who started drinking at age 21 or older. In addition, the risk for women among this group is higher than for men.

Certain psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and antisocial personality disorder are commonly associated with alcohol use disorder, although whether or not these co-occurring disorders are a result of alcohol use disorder or contributed to the development of an alcohol use disorder is unclear and may differ for each individual. Some studies suggest that schizophrenia, depression, and personality disorders are also predisposing factors for AUDs. This means that if a person has one or more of these psychiatric conditions, they may have an increased risk of alcohol use disorder.11

Alcohol Detoxification

Detox is an ideal first step toward recovery from an AUD, but detox alone is rarely sufficient in helping a person achieve long-term abstinence.12 Detoxification is a set of interventions designed to help someone safely and comfortably withdraw from alcohol, which then positions them to transition into a formal, potentially longer treatment program.

Before entering a detoxification center, a physician will need to perform a thorough assessment of a patient’s experience with alcohol misuse, previous withdrawal experiences (if any), and their medical and psychiatric history in order to determine their withdrawal risk. For the sake of this assessment, patients may also undergo blood tests and screening for the presence of any co-occurring mental or physical health issues.

Individuals at risk of severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, including seizures and delirium tremens (DTs), should undergo detox in an inpatient facility, such as a hospital or other acute care facility, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).2ve an increased risk of alcohol use disorder.11

Residential or Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

Inpatient or residential AUD treatment entails patients living and residing in the rehabilitation center 24/7. Inpatient alcohol rehab may vary in duration, sometimes consisting of short stays of 3–6 weeks, which may or may not be followed by attendance at an outpatient rehab. Some people require longer stays of 6–12 months at facilities known as therapeutic communities (TCs), which provide structured programming and offer assistance with reintegration into their community.

Inpatient and residential rehab stays are beneficial because they remove a person from distractions and environments where they may be surrounded by people, places, or events that can trigger a relapse, allowing them to focus solely on their recovery and building the necessary coping skills to live a sober life. Here, patients also receive around-the-clock care and monitoring, which helps address any post-acute withdrawal symptoms and offers necessary support.12

Alcoholism Aftercare and Long-Term Health

Recovery from alcohol addiction is a lifelong process that does not end when addiction treatment completes. After finishing a rehabilitation program, many people choose to participate in some form of aftercare. Many of the aftercare methods below are extensions of similar or even the same types of therapy a person receives in primary treatment. Aftercare is the word used to describe long-term, ongoing treatment that begins once intensive forms of rehabilitation end and is designed to provide additional support and help prevent relapse.17

Patients may choose to participate in one or many different types of aftercare, such as:17

• A stay at a therapeutic community (TC), where patients can live with others who are in recovery as a way of gaining support as they re-enter sober daily life.
• Individual counseling to help patients develop insight into the issues that can lead to relapse, and learn alternative coping mechanisms so they do not return to drinking.
• Group therapy, which is led by a counselor and includes others in recovery.
• Mutual-help groups, such as 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or non-12 step groups like SMART Recovery.
• Complementary or alternative treatments, such as art therapy or music therapy, which are typically beneficial for people who are also participating in another form of aftercare.
• Couples or family counseling can help address underlying issues and continue to work on the relationship.