NIAAA Explains How Drinking Becomes Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is not what happens to everyone when they have a drink or two on the weekends. To clarify the distinction, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) explains that not everyone who drinks too much every once in a blue moon has an alcohol use disorder. Although drinking to the point of intoxication is not healthy, it is far from a definitive sign of AUD in a person. In truth, many bounce back from a bad weekend by learning their lesson and moving on.
In contrast, other people struggle to stop at just one or even many more drinks. According to NIAAA experts, men should limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day. Given their weight, women should drink even less, limiting their daily intake to one drink. One standard drink size is equal to the following:
A Standard Drink Size for a Person of Legal Drinking Age
- A 12-ounce glass of beer
- A 5-ounce glass of wine
- 1.5 ounces of hard liquor
If a person drinks in moderation without negative consequences, then drinking is not an issue. If a person feels compelled to control their drinking, and their alcohol intake leads to adverse consequences, it is an issue. Once alcohol use disorder becomes a reality, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) knows from experience that treatment is necessary.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Negative Consequences
Alcohol use disorder in the form of alcohol abuse and binge drinking is deadly. In the twenty-first century, deaths involving alcohol use in the United States have doubled. Surprisingly, the most significant increase in fatalities has been for women. Moreover, these increases only became worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, the isolation and stress of the pandemic opened the door for alcohol abuse in so many people.
As Dr. George Koob, director of the NIAAA, explains, “Quite a few studies indicate that people tried to cope with the stress of the pandemic by drinking. And there were stressors all over the place. Isolation. Loss of jobs. Worry about getting sick. And, for women, in particular, increases in responsibilities at home.”
Given these pressures, drinking to excess became an easy and legal escape. After all, you can buy liquor in the supermarket when you go shopping for your family. In most states nationwide, alcohol is accessible in so many different contexts. As opposed to drugs, drinking is available for almost any adult all the time. Once alcohol use disorder sets in, the question of obtaining a drink is not the problem. Instead, the issue becomes how to stop drinking.
Integrated Treatment and Alcohol Use Disorder
As a provider of integrated healthcare services, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) knows how to provide safe treatment options for alcohol use disorder. From individual therapy to group counseling, our residential and outpatient treatment programs help people recover. The AUD treatment program focuses on helping people learn their triggers for drinking and how to manage them moving forward.
Moreover, TTC offers Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) to treat alcohol use disorder. Nationwide, MAT services are now available for treating AUD and opioid use disorders. By reducing cravings and dealing with withdrawal symptoms, these medications help people find a path to sustainable recovery.
As Dr. Nancy Diazgranados, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) physician who treats people with alcohol use disorder at the NIH Clinical Center, explains, “And there are very good, safe medications. They take away the cravings, or the desire or need for that next drink. That makes it easier to quit because you’re not thinking about that next drink all day… (Most importantly) Seek help, whether it’s from your health care provider, or a pastor, or a friend. There’s always someone willing to help you through treatment.”
Indeed, there is always someone available at Tarzana Treatment Centers to open the door to help. Please contact us today to learn more about Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment options.