Alcohol Use

Alcohol Misuse and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol misuse is when someone drinks in a way that can hurt themselves or others. This includes things like binge drinking (drinking a lot in a short time) and heavy drinking. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition where a person finds it hard to stop or control drinking alcohol, even when it causes problems in their life, like with friends, work, or health.

If they choose to drink, adults should drink in moderation, meaning no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink for women.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says that drinking can become excessive, which includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, alcohol misuse, and alcohol use disorder.

There are many ways to help people with alcohol use disorders. This includes medical care, counseling, support groups, and programs to help people either in a hospital or at home. Find treatment near at treatmentatlas.org. Find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting by downloading the “Meeting Guide” app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Binge Drinking

This means drinking enough alcohol to reach a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher. For most adults, this is about five drinks for men or four drinks for women in about two hours.

Heavy Drinking

For men, this means having five or more drinks in one day or 15 or more in a week.
For women, it means having four or more drinks in one day or eight or more in a week.

Know the Signs

Signs of risky drinking and when to consider getting help:

Drinking more or longer than you planned.
Trying to cut back on drinking but not being able to.
Needing to drink more than before to feel the same effects.
Drinking even when it makes you feel sad, anxious, or makes other health problems worse.
Friends or family mention your drinking habits.
Spending a lot of time drinking or thinking about alcohol.
Drinking gets in the way of daily activities, family, or work.
Getting into trouble with the law because of drinking.
Feeling sick when you don’t drink, like shaking or having headaches.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

If you think someone has drunk too much alcohol, call 911 for help. While you wait, do these things:

Be ready to tell medical workers what kind of alcohol or drugs were taken and how much.
Don’t leave the person alone.
If they are throwing up, have them lean forward or roll them on their side if they are unconscious.