It’s not always easy to tell if your alcohol intake has crossed the line from moderate to problem drinking. If you’re using alcohol to cope with difficulties or avoid feelings, you could be crossing into dangerous territory. 

Types of Drinking

According to the CDC there are different types of drinking patterns:

  • Low-Risk Drinking
  • Moderate Drinking
  • Binge Drinking
  • Heavy Drinking
  • Excessive Drinking

You may have a drinking problem if you:

  • Feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking.
  • Lie to others or hide your drinking habits.
  • Need to drink in order to relax or feel better.
  • “Black out” or forget what you did while you were drinking.
  • Regularly drink more than you intended to.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

  • Inability to stop drinking even if you want to
  • Difficulty controlling the amount you drink
  • Challenges in your personal or professional relationships due to drinking
  • Hoarding, stashing, or excessively seeking out alcohol
  • Risky behaviors due to drinking, including driving, swimming, or unsafe sex
  • Combining alcohol with other addictive substances
  • Drinking to manage emotional stress or trauma
  • Repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking
  • Experiencing repeated legal problems on account of your drinking.

Alcohol Use Disorder

If heavy drinking continues, then over time, the number and severity of symptoms can grow and add up to “alcohol use disorder.”

Check out What are the symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder?, a self assessment tool put out by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Self-Assessments

What should I do if I think that I might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?

If you think you might have an AUD, see your health care provider for an evaluation. Your provider can help make a treatment plan, prescribe medicines, and if needed, give you treatment referrals.