Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use.
A great deal of time is spent obtaining alcohol, using alcohol, or recovering from its effects.
Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol, is present.
Recurrent alcohol use results in failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.
Alcohol use continues despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by alcohol.
Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use.
Recurrent alcohol use occurs in situations in which it is physically hazardous.
Alcohol use continues despite knowledge of a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem likely caused or worsened by alcohol.
Tolerance is present, defined by needing markedly increased amounts for intoxication or diminished effect with continued use of the same amount.
Withdrawal is present, defined by the characteristic withdrawal syndrome or using alcohol to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Severity is mild with 2 to 3 symptoms, moderate with 4 to 5 symptoms, and severe with 6 or more symptoms.

Alcohol use disorder is the pattern that emerges when drinking stops being just a habit and starts causing loss of control, relationship strain, role failure, risky behavior, craving, tolerance, or withdrawal. The diagnosis becomes more convincing when use keeps going despite obvious consequences.
Severity count: Severity is count-based in DSM, so it helps to explicitly ask through the full checklist rather than relying on a general impression.
Withdrawal matters: A safe assessment has to include withdrawal risk, medical complications, and whether the person may need a higher level of care.
Medication role: Medication is usually about reducing craving, helping maintain abstinence, or making relapse less likely, not treating intoxication itself.
Clinical focus: Common screening and severity tool for unhealthy alcohol use.

Common screening and severity tool for unhealthy alcohol use.

Used when monitoring alcohol withdrawal severity.

Helps quantify drinking patterns over time.

Diagnosis-specific FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for alcohol-use disorder focus on relapse prevention or deterrence.

Check drugs.com/sfx for common side effects. Direct side-effect links for the medications in this section are below when available.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is being explored in addiction treatment research.
TMS is under study for craving reduction and relapse prevention.
ECT is not a standard treatment for alcohol use disorder itself.

Seek urgent help if there are thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or feeling unable to stay safe.³
Seek urgent help if there are thoughts of harming someone else, escalating violent urges, or loss of behavioral control.³
Take hopelessness seriously, especially if the person feels trapped, cannot imagine staying safe, or is withdrawing from support.⁴
Use emergency services if there is immediate danger, severe agitation, psychosis, intoxication, or inability to care for basic needs. In the United States, call or text 988 for crisis support and call 911 for immediate danger. Use emergency services in your region if you are outside the U.S.³

Simple Psych

Alcohol Use Disorder