Alcohol use disorder is a chronic illness marked by a psychological and physical dependence on alcohol. People who struggle with alcohol may drink excessively and uncontrollably, typically continuing to drink despite serious negative consequences. Alcohol use disorder typically emerges slowly over time, beginning with regular drinking and progressing to a point where the affected individual feels they can no longer function without alcohol.

Four common symptoms mark the difference between problematic and normal alcohol use:

• Craving
• Loss of control
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal

Alcohol is the most common substance of use in the United States, nearly twice as many people have an alcohol use disorder than all other substance use disorders combined — according to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 14.8 million people over the age of 12 had an alcohol use disorder³.

Although current academic scholarship suggests that anyone can experience a substance use disorder, there are some primary factors that help increase our understanding of the cause of addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, both biological and environmental risk factors contribute to the development and progression of substance use disorders⁴.

Genetics: Current academic scholarship posits that genes can account for 40-60% of the risk for the development of addiction.

Environment: There are many contextual factors that can contribute to the development of addiction. For example, individuals can be at increased risk to develop problematic drinking patterns if friends and family are heavy drinkers, many of the activities you participate in involve drinking, or if you started drinking at an early age. Additionally, our environment can include those rules, roles, and cultural narratives that are constructed within our lives.

If you are worried about yourself or a loved one, consider the following signs and reach out to a medical professional for further help.

Some questions to consider:

• Have you ever felt or been told that you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

Common signs of problematic alcohol use:

• Drinking frequently — every day, or multiple times per day
• Drinking alone or at inappropriate times (e.g. in the morning or at work)
• Often drinking to the point of intoxication or “blacking out”
• Spending too much money on alcohol
• Allowing their alcohol use to interfere with important things like work, school or family
• Experiencing significant mood swings
• Continuing to drink despite negative consequences (e.g. losing a job or getting in legal trouble)

Whether you’re worried about yourself or someone else, you should consult your healthcare provider or contact the recovery experts at Cumberland Heights. We can help determine whether you have a drinking problem and, if so, recommend the best course of action for recovery.

Within psychology treatment contexts, “Evidenced Based” treatment refers to treatment that has been examined across several populations and has been intensely researched. There are many resources available to what guidelines need to be met to determine if a treatment is evidence-based^{5, 6}.

The following evidenced based practices are utilized across our health system.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Systems Theory (e.g. Family Therapy)
• Twelve-Step Facilitation
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Recovery from a substance use disorder can be defined as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their full potential⁷. The recovery process takes time and often is not linear (i.e. sometimes an individual could experience a relapse or series of personal setbacks). However, we have found many of those in long-term recovery take an active role in support communities, follow continuing care recommendations and reach out for help.

Here at Cumberland Heights, our multidisciplinary team of behavioral health professionals are dedicated to supporting individuals and families find their path to recovery and live a life free from addiction.

Today in the U.S., approximately 22 million people live in recovery from substance use disorders⁸. Their stories continue to inspire our work, patients and communities. Recovery is possible.