Alcohol Use Disorder: Recognising the Signs and Seeking Help

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It ranges from mild to severe and is one of the most common substance use disorders worldwide.

Recognising AUD

The DSM-5 identifies 11 criteria for AUD, grouped into four categories: - **Impaired Control:** Drinking more or for longer than intended, wanting to cut down but unable to, spending significant time obtaining or recovering from alcohol - **Social Impairment:** Failure to fulfil work, school, or home obligations; continuing to drink despite interpersonal problems - **Risky Use:** Drinking in hazardous situations, continuing despite physical or psychological problems - **Pharmacological Criteria:** Tolerance (needing more to feel the same effect) and withdrawal (symptoms when not drinking)

Mild AUD involves 2–3 criteria, moderate involves 4–5, and severe involves 6 or more.

Health Consequences

• Liver Disease: Fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis

• Cardiovascular: High blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, stroke

• Brain: Memory loss, cognitive impairment, increased dementia risk

• Cancer: Increased risk of mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer

• Mental Health: Depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk

Treatment Options

• Detoxification: Medically supervised withdrawal management

• Inpatient Rehabilitation: Structured 30–90 day programmes

• Outpatient Treatment: Flexible programmes like day programmes or evening IOP

• Medication-Assisted Treatment: Naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram

• Counselling and Therapy: CBT, motivational enhancement therapy, 12-step facilitation

• Support Groups: AA, SMART Recovery, LifeRing

At Glintcare

We offer a comprehensive alcohol use disorder treatment programme including detox, rehabilitation, and aftercare. Recovery is not about quitting — it is about reclaiming your life.