• ALCOHOL USE DISORDER involves compulsive need to drink excessive levels of alcohol. Drinking plays an important part in the day to day life and causes real damage on individual's health and personal and social wellbeing.

• The alcohol dependent people appearing intoxicated regularly, have inability to say "no" to alcohol, and easily become irritable, secretive and insincere.

• They suffer from withdrawal symptoms once when they stop drink alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, shaking, high levels of anxiety, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, and can lead to seizures and hallucinations.

• ​A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment as manifested by at least one of the following, occurring within a 12-month period.

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• 1. Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.

• 2. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use.

• 3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects.

• 4. Craving, or a strong desire, or urge to use alcohol.

• 5. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in failure to fulfil major role obligations at work. school, or home.

• 6. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol.

• 7. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use.

• 8. Recurrent alcohol use in situations in which it is physically hazardous

• 9. Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol.

• 10. Tolerance or a need for increased amount of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect

• 11. Alcohol is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawing symptoms​

 

Risks of developing alcohol use disorder:

• 1. Environmental - cultural attitudes toward drinking and intoxication, the availability of alcohol.

• 2. Genetic - alcohol use disorder runs in families, with 40-60% of the variance of risk explained by genetic influences.

• 3. Psychological - exaggerated positive expectations of the effect of alcohol, alcohol use as a way of coping with stress, anxiety or trauma-related experiences.