23 Essential Facts About Alcohol Addiction

It can be difficult to know what to believe about alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you’re considering recovery, having accurate information can help you better understand what you’re facing and make informed decisions about treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 30 million adults in the U.S. have alcohol use disorder (AUD)¹
• , 2.6 million deaths were attributable to alcohol consumption in 2019.²
• AUD is treatable, and many people can reach long-term remission³
• Recovery is possible with the right treatment and support

1. Alcohol Use Disorder Is a Chronic Medical Condition

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition that can affect your health over time. Some people also call this alcoholism. AUD is treatable, and many people can reach long-term remission.³

2. Alcohol Use Disorder Can Affect Anyone

Anyone can develop AUD, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and more. Since alcohol is socially accepted in many places, it can feel hard to tell when your drinking has started to affect your health or daily life.

3. Alcohol Use Disorder Affects Nearly 30 Million People

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) tracks alcohol facts and statistics in the U.S. According to them, in 2021, approximately 28 million adults had AUD.¹

4. Your Genetics, Environment, and Other Factors Can Lead to Alcohol Use Disorder

Many factors can raise your risk of AUD.³ AUD can run in families, which may relate to genetics and your environment. For example, childhood trauma can increase the risk of substance use concerns. Mental health conditions, like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, can also play a role.⁴

5. Long-Term Heavy Drinking Can Affect Your Health

Over time, heavy drinking can contribute to serious health problems. According to the WHO, 2.6 million deaths per year are attributable to alcohol consumption.² Alcohol can affect many parts of your body, including your brain, heart, and liver.⁵

Some health concerns linked with alcohol include:⁵

• Stroke.
• High blood pressure.
• Liver disease.
• A weakened immune system.
• Pancreatitis.
• Some cancers.

Alcohol use can also increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental health concerns.⁴

6. Alcohol Use Disorder Can Get Worse Over Time

AUD is progressive, meaning that symptoms can get worse over time.⁶ With treatment and support, many people find ways to reduce harm and improve their health.

7. Alcohol Withdrawal Can Be Physically Dangerous

When you stop drinking after heavy or long-term use, you may develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms (physical and mental symptoms that can happen when alcohol leaves your body). Symptoms can include:⁷

• High blood pressure.
• Sleep problems.
• Headache.
• Digestive issues.
• Hallucinations.
• Seizures.
• Delirium tremens ("DTs", a severe type of withdrawal that can include confusion and shaking).

Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. If you might be at risk, medical detox (24/7 care and monitoring while alcohol leaves your body) can help you withdraw more safely.⁷

If you think you might be having a medical emergency, or if you or someone you know is showing signs of overdose, call 911 right away.

8. There Are Many Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder

There are many ways to heal from AUD. Rehab can include medical care, talk therapy (therapy where you talk with a trained professional), support groups, and other services. Programs vary in what they offer. Some programs create a care plan tailored to you.

9. Alcohol Use Disorder Often Co-Occurs With Other Mental Health Conditions

AUD commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions.⁴ People with AUD may also experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other substance use disorders.⁴ If you're healing from multiple conditions at once, specialized treatment may help.⁴

10. Alcohol Use Disorder Has a High Relapse Rate

Relapse (returning to drinking after a period of not drinking) can be part of recovery, and some people experience chronic relapse patterns. In one study, at least 60% of people with AUD relapsed within the first six months of their recovery.⁸ Certain risk factors, like depression, can make relapse more likely.⁹ Support can also lower relapse risk.⁹ Your support system might include a therapist, support groups, family, and trusted friends. Creating an aftercare plan during rehab can help you know what to do if relapse happens.

11. Alcohol Use Disorder Can Affect Relationships

AUD can affect your closest relationships in every stage of use and recovery. AUD can also affect families, and family support can play a role in recovery.¹⁰ Because family dynamics matter, many rehabs offer family therapy as part of treatment.

12. Alcohol Can Affect Your Brain

Alcohol can affect brain function, including memory, movement, and judgment.¹¹ These effects may be more severe for teenagers and for people who drink heavily over a long period of time.¹²

13. Early Treatment Can Help

Getting help earlier can support recovery and may reduce harm from alcohol use over time.

14. Social Support Can Help You Recover

Social support can help during recovery from AUD. Research suggests that social support is linked with better treatment outcomes.¹³ Your support network might include family, friends, coworkers, your care team, and members of a support group.

If you want to explore peer support, Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is one option. Different people connect with different groups, so it may help to try more than one support setting.

15. Alcohol Use Disorder Is a Diagnosable Medical Condition

Even with stigma, healthcare professionals recognize AUD as a serious medical condition.  If you've received an AUD diagnosis, professional treatment options can help.

16. Heavy Drinking Can Weaken Your Immune System

Heavy drinking can affect immune function.¹⁵ Over time, alcohol use may raise the risk of pneumonia, respiratory problems, liver disease, and certain cancers.¹⁵ People with AUD may also have a higher risk of complications after surgery and may heal more slowly.

17. Alcohol Use Disorder Can Affect Communities in Different Ways

Anyone can develop AUD. Some research suggests AUD rates and access to treatment can vary across groups, including by education level, socioeconomic status, and race or ethnicity.^16,17

18. Binge Drinking May Increase Your Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder

Research suggests a link between binge drinking and AUD, especially among adolescents.¹⁸ Researchers continue to study how these concerns relate over time. If binge drinking has become a pattern for you, treatment and support options may help.

19. Relapse Is Not Failure

Relapse can be part of recovery from AUD, and it doesn't mean you've failed. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) compares addiction to other chronic conditions, like asthma and high blood pressure:¹⁹

20. Underage Drinking Can Raise Your Risk Later in Life

Drinking in your teens is linked with a higher risk of AUD in adulthood. The NIAAA reports that people who drank alcohol before age 15 were 3.5 times more likely to have AUD later in life.²⁰ Underage drinking may also interfere with brain development.²⁰ For teenagers with AUD, family therapy often plays an important role in treatment.

21. Integrated Treatment Can Help

If you have a mental health diagnosis in addition to AUD, it's often called a dual diagnosis. Recovery can feel more complex when you manage more than one condition. Research suggests integrated treatment, which treats mental health and substance use at the same time, can help.²¹ Many residential rehabs offer this approach.

22. Long-Term Alcohol Use Can Affect Your Brain

Long-term alcohol use can contribute to brain changes, especially in advanced stages of alcoholism.²² This can happen in different ways:

• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: This condition involves brain changes linked with severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. It can cause confusion and memory problems.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Alcohol use can raise the risk of falls and other accidents, which can lead to TBI (an injury that affects how the brain works). Research suggests many people treated for TBI were intoxicated at the time of injury.²³
• Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD): ARBD describes brain and nerve damage linked with long-term heavy drinking. Some people improve with treatment and support.²⁴

23. Different People Need Different Types of Treatment

There are many factors to consider when you're planning recovery. For example, you might think about whether you need detox before rehab, whether you want ongoing medical support, or whether you'd like a faith-based program that follows the 12 Steps. There's no single right way to approach treatment. Finding a center that matches your needs can help.

Start Your Recovery Journey

If you’re ready to find addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to help. Browse top medical detox centers in the US, inpatient addiction treatment facilities, aftercare options, and more to start on the path to recovery. You can search for rehab by insurance carrier, location, amenities, and more for free. Don’t wait. Get help today.