Instead, doctors use the term AUD, relying on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to diagnose it. If you’re looking for Florida alcohol addiction treatment, Orlando Recovery Center offers a range of options. Our treatment offerings include medical detox, inpatient and outpatient care, intensive outpatient programming, partial hospitalization services, aftercare and teletherapy.

• In addition to medication assisted treatment, a patient’s care can include substance abuse counseling, mental health therapy and psychiatry.
• Alcoholics depend on alcohol to function in their daily lives, while alcohol abusers may not drink daily but simply develop unhealthy habits surrounding alcohol consumption.
• To avoid these tendencies, try to drink alcohol in moderation—or not at all.
• However, only a medical professional can diagnose someone with an AUD and determine the severity of their AUD.
• A 2019 government survey found that 69.5% of adults reported drinking at some point within the past year, while 54.9% reported using alcohol within the past month.

For individuals with severe alcohol dependence, however, withdrawal symptoms can be more severe and may require medical attention. Even occasional binge drinking can be detrimental what is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism enough to affect one’s personal and professional life. Binge drinking a few nights a month can cause significant consequences, such as legal issues and declining health.

Defining Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

It’s sometimes difficult to identify a problem in its initial stages. But if you notice that alcohol consumption is interfering with your ability to fulfill responsibilities or socialize, it’s time to ask for help. If you have a concern that you have AUD, you can see a health professional for consultation.

• Whether you want to address your long-term relationship with alcohol or break a pattern of binge drinking, a recovery professional can offer guidance and support.
• One of the most common side effects of giving up alcohol is insomnia.This is because alcohol acts as a sedative, so when it’s no longer in your system, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• This inability to change their thinking is also why remission from alcoholism requires very targeted addiction treatment.
• As a result, you might experience a blackout, vomit, or even pass out.

However, the study did find that people who engaged in binge drinking more often were also more likely to be alcohol dependent. If you think you’re struggling with an alcohol use disorder and want professional help, call The Recovery Village. Our helpful representatives can discuss your situation with you, explain your treatment options, and get you started on the path to lifelong recovery.

Tools and Practice Support

This is because alcohol is a depressant, so when it’s no longer in your system, your body has more energy to work with. This condition is serious and may lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures. While not everyone who quits drinking will experience withdrawal, you are more likely to have symptoms if you have been drinking for a long time, if you drink heavily, and/or if you drink frequently. The brain also begins to repair some of the damage and shrinkage you may have experienced while drinking. One study showed that after 6 weeks of abstinence from alcohol, brain volume increases by an average of 2%. However, the nature and intensity of these effects can vary depending on how much and how frequently you drink.

• For example, any alcohol consumption by a pregnant person can be considered alcohol misuse, as well as drinking under the legal age of 21.
• It’s sometimes difficult to identify a problem in its initial stages.
• If you see a doctor for your alcohol use, they will not diagnose you as an alcoholic.
• Even doctors can struggle to determine if someone fits the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism or is simply struggling with alcohol abuse.
• It’s for this reason that you should strive to avoid alcohol abuse and seek to help people who are battling this issue.

While the CDC reports that 90% of people who abuse alcohol don’t fit the criteria for alcoholism, it’s still a serious concern in the United States. Ten percent of Americans who drink excessively are classified as alcoholics, according to Reuters. Alcohol abuse occurs when alcohol consumption results in repeated adverse consequences.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Use Disorder Treatments

Males, college students, and people going through serious life events or trauma are more likely to experience AUD. AUD refers to what is colloquially known as alcoholism, which is a term that the DSM-5 no longer uses. If you have been consuming alcohol heavily for an extended period, quitting on your own has the potential to be dangerous. Research has shown that the terminology used does, in fact, influence how people with a substance use disorder view themselves as well as how others view them. People who have a dependence on alcohol exhibit some or all of the following characteristics. Join our robust training programs led by nationally known healthcare leaders.