What Are the Signs of Alcohol Abuse?

Maybe you like to drink at the end of a long day to unwind, to deal with stress, or to help you loosen up in social situations. Many people feel similarly, but when does the use of alcohol become something more along the lines of alcohol abuse?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are more than 15 million adults in the U.S. who struggle with AUD. 

Some of us are dealing with unprecedented levels of stress right now because of the Covid-19 outbreak around the country and the world, causing not only massive health problems but economic worries as well. That could be contributing to more alcohol use than we would normally have in our lives. 

What many people often don’t realize is that alcohol abuse doesn’t always have to look like the worst-case scenario either. 

The following are some of the signs of alcohol abuse and things you should know. 

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is a broad term that, in general, describes patterns of problematic alcohol use. If you have an alcohol use disorder, it can vary from mild to severe, and it often includes issues controlling when and how much you drink. 

A person with an alcohol use disorder might keep drinking even when it causes problems, or they might develop a tolerance, meaning they need to drink more to get the effects they desire. 

Sometimes a person with alcohol use disorder will also have withdrawal symptoms if they go without alcohol for a period of time. 

What people often don’t realize is that not all people with an alcohol abuse problem show full-scale alcoholism symptoms, at least not early on. While symptoms can vary in severity, even mild symptoms can cause problems in your daily life. 

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Some of the symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcohol poisoning include loss of control and risk-taking. Making drinking a priority is also a sign that you could be dealing with alcohol abuse, as is giving up your activities and responsibilities to drink or because you’re recovering from the effects of drinking. 

If you continue to drink in spite of negative consequences, that’s also a sign of abuse. 

People who drink alone, feel guilt about their drinking or hide or lie about it may be dealing with a problem too. 

Risk Factors

There are different risk factors that are environmental, social, psychological, and genetic that may play a role in how alcohol affects your body and behavior. 

For example, the earlier someone starts drinking and especially binge drinking, the more likely it is that they may develop a problem. If you have a family history of alcohol use disorder, it can also increase the risk as can a history of mental health problems or depression or a history of trauma. 

Effects on Physical Health

Even if you don’t feel that drinking is impacting your life in other ways, it can undoubtedly have a serious effect on your physical health. 

Liver disease is one of the most common effects of heavy drinking over time. When you drink heavily, it can cause inflammation of the liver which is known as alcoholic hepatitis, as well as scarring of the tissue of the liver known as cirrhosis. Even in the relative short-term, too much alcohol can cause hepatic steatosis, which means increased fat in the liver. 

When you drink heavily, it can cause the stomach lining to become inflamed, and it can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins and nutrients. Some people who drink heavily may experience damage to the pancreas.

Other potential health issues include heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes complications. 

What Is a High-Functioning Alcoholic?

Finally, there is the concept of a high functioning alcoholic that’s important to be aware of. A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who doesn’t appear to have issues as the result of drinking, yet they meet many of the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. 

Signs of a high functioning alcoholic might include having internal limits with the limits you set for yourself in terms of drinking, or problems remembering what you did while you were drinking. 

If you notice signs in yourself that concern you, it’s a good idea to speak with a health care professional. Alcohol use disorders can become more severe over time, and getting help early can stem the potential long-term effects. 

It’s important to be honest with yourself so that you can tackle issues head-on rather than avoiding them.