Someone who has an alcohol use disorder (AUD) is someone who has a physical and mental dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism is a brain disease and is a serious psychological illness that sees the inability to stop drinking despite actual or potential negative consequences.

What are the common characteristics of someone with an alcohol use disorder?

There are many definitions of “alcoholism” or “AUD” and most of them have these characteristics in common:

Physical compulsion

Without alcohol, withdrawal symptoms appear, giving you the inability to stop or cut down on drinking. This leaves many heavily reliant on alcohol to function every day and is why detoxing from alcohol is so important.

Mental obsession

This includes lack of control, abnormal cravings and feeling irritable in the absence of alcohol. 

Negative impact

Drinking can cause or contribute to problems with jobs, relationships, and finances.

Lying, downplaying or hiding

This can include being dishonest with not only yourself but others about how much you drink and how often.

Alcohol use disorder: What is it?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) was previously known to mean “alcoholic”. However, many healthcare settings have stopped using this word due to the negative connotations it has, shaming those who have an alcohol problem. Alcohol use disorder replaced this and is simply defined as “problem drinking that has become severe”. 

But, how does one decide how “severe” your drinking is? There are different levels of alcoholism – see below. Remember the guidelines below are to help educate yourself about AUD and know when it’s time to seek help from our team at Open Minds.

What are the levels of alcoholism?

The NIAAA says there are five different subtypes of an alcoholic. These subtypes are based on age and drinking behaviours.

• Young adults – 32% of alcoholics, these are defined as young adults who binge drink.

• Young antisocial – 21% of alcoholics, their average age is 26, they have an antisocial personality disorder, and they likely started drinking in their teens.

• Functional – 19% of alcoholics are middle aged, educated, working and consume five or more drinks every couple of days.

• Intermediate familial – 19% of alcoholics started drinking in their teens, and they have family members with drinking problems.

• Chronic Severe – 9% of alcoholics, mostly men with high rates of depression, divorce, financial problems and other drug use. Alcohol has completely taken over their lives.

However, according to the Health Department of the United Kingdom there are nine different types of drinkers which are all based on motivations rather than age and behaviours. These are:

• Border dependent: Has a combination of motives described below.
• Bored drinker: Drinks to make up for the absence of people.
• Community drinker: Alcohol forges a sense of security, meaning, and social networking.
• Conformist drinker: The pub is their second home, and they feel a strong sense of community here.
• Depressed drinker: Alcohol is a comfort and self-medication.
• De-stressed drinker: Alcohol is used to relax.
• Hedonistic drinker: Drinking releases inhibitions.
• Macho drinker: Drinking asserts their masculinity and status; it provides false confidence.
• Re-bonding drinker: Alcohol is a shared connector for this busy person.

Alcohol Use Disorder Checklist

This checklist is based on 11 points from the NIAAA which help to identify how mildly or severely affected someone is by AUD.

1. Drank more or longer than you’d planned?
2. Wanted to stop drinking but couldn’t?
3. Spent a lot of time drinking and/or being sick afterwards?
4. Craved drink?
5. Found drinking to interfere with home, family, friends, work, or school?
6. Continued to drink despite problems?
7. Foregone doing something you love in favor of drinking?
8. Found yourself in dangerous situations while or after drinking?
9. Had blackouts or other medical problems caused or worsened by drinking?
10. Increased alcohol intake because you’ve built up a “tolerance”?
11. Experienced withdrawal symptoms when you didn’t drink?

Getting Help

If you have looked at the above and identify with any of the definitions in this article then we encourage you to speak with one of our trained professionals for information on your next steps. This includes learning more about addiction treatment, recovery and how to live a healthy and sober lifestyle. We are here to chat Mon-Fri 9 – 4pm. Call us on 01978 312 120 or email us as info@openmindsrehab.com