Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder involves use of alcohol in quantities sufficient to produce intoxication over long periods and use continuing despite significant alcohol-related problems, resulting in a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms. Indicators of alcohol use problems include consumption of more alcohol than intended, inability to cut down on use, alcohol craving, excessive involvement in obtaining and using alcohol, continued use despite negative psychosocial and medical consequences, and physiological tolerance to the effects of alcohol and alcohol withdrawal. Complications of alcohol use disorders include social problems, such as legal and marital problems, and medical problems including metabolic and hepatic disease and cancers. Approximately half of people with an alcohol use disorder will experience an alcohol withdrawal syndrome, typically manifesting within several hours or days of reduction or cessation of heavy and prolonged alcohol consumption and typically lasting 4–5 days.