Is it time to rethink your relationship with alcohol?

Alcohol is everywhere — it’s part of good times and bad — but if you've ever asked yourself, "Is my drinking normal?" you're in the right place.

How you feel about your drinking may be complicated. Some people find that they're starting to experience consequences that affect their family and friends, work, or even their physical or mental health. If you're wondering if you should rethink your relationship with alcohol, this may be a sign that it's time to talk to a healthcare provider about alcohol dependence.

Take a questionnaire about drinking habits

Man sitting at a bar counter looking pensively at a glass of whiskey

Alcohol dependence is not a personal failing; it’s a chronic brain disease that may make it hard to control your drinking.

Watch personal stories about alcohol dependence

PERSONAL STORIES

These people changed their relationship with alcohol.

Learn more by watching their stories.

A Veteran's journey with alcohol dependence and recovery.

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Robʼs story

When I left active duty and came back to civilian life ... almost every function that I did socially, alcohol was involved ... Feeling like I was different, alcohol was a way that I thought I could fit in.”

Bethʼs story

My relationship with alcohol was always messy ... Drinking affected my relationships in numerous ways. It completely changed my mood, my emotional state ... As a mom, I didn’t really know where to go, who to turn to.”

A mom's journey with alcohol dependence and recovery.

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These videos are sponsored by Alkermes and the participants have been compensated. The stories are personal and do not represent all people living with alcohol dependence. The opinions expressed in these videos are those of the participants alone and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider.

QUESTIONNAIRE

What are your drinking habits?

Taking stock of your alcohol use can be a first step to assessing your drinking habits.

The following questionnaire related to alcohol dependence is based on the questions developed by the National Institutes of Health, as part of the criteria for alcohol dependence. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can print your responses to this questionnaire or use the discussion guide to help start the conversation.

Answering "yes" to three or more questions in this questionnaire could be an indication of alcohol dependence. (source)

Begin the questionnaire

This questionnaire is not a medical diagnosis but can be used as a first step to help you think about your drinking patterns and whether there might be a cause for concern. Share these results with your healthcare provider and, together, you and your healthcare provider can determine potential next steps and, if appropriate, discuss all your treatment options. Remember, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider before making any decisions or taking action related to your health.

What is alcohol dependence?

Alcohol dependence is a chronic disease. A person with alcohol dependence craves alcoholic drinks and has a hard time controlling their drinking. Someone with this disease also needs to drink greater amounts to get the same effect and has withdrawal symptoms after stopping alcohol use. Alcohol dependence affects physical and mental health, and can cause problems with family, friends, and work.

Alcohol dependence is diagnosed using criteria outlined in the handbook used by healthcare providers to diagnose brain disorders. More recently, healthcare providers have started using the term alcohol use disorder (AUD). While there is a lot of overlap between alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder, there are also some important differences. You can learn more about the symptoms and criteria for each condition here. Please also talk to your healthcare provider.

Side-view of a woman looking out of a window

Fact: In 2023, about 28.1 million adults had alcohol use disorder in the US.

Source: NIAAA

Fact: In 2022, alcohol was the substance most reported (45%) in drug-related emergency department visits.

Fact: In 2020, less than 10% of adults living with alcohol use disorder received treatment that year.

Source: NIAAA

Fact: Too much heavy drinking is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Source: CDC

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Image collage; Man looking out of a window, a gathering of people and man sitting on his couch.

Help along the way.

If you are rethinking your relationship with alcohol, talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. If you are diagnosed with alcohol dependence, treatment could include one or a combination of the following:

Alcohol Counseling:

Therapy that involves working with a counselor to identify and help change behaviors that cause problems with drinking.

Psychosocial Treatments (interventions):

There are many different types of interventions, such as talk therapy, education about disease and treatment pathways, vocational training, and case management to support care coordination.

Support Groups:

Meetings that may range from just a few people in a rehab facility to small groups in a community center, or groups assembled virtually as part of a larger organization.

Medication:

Prescribed by a healthcare provider, there are medications approved to treat alcohol dependence. Some medications are taken as an oral tablet while others are given via injection by a healthcare provider.

Is treatment right for you? Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more.

Learn about a medication option

Ready for help?

You’ve already taken an important first step by evaluating your relationship with alcohol. If you’re ready to take the next step, there are a variety of resources available to help you on your recovery pathway.
Explore what support is right for you.

Addiction Counselor

An addiction counselor will work with you to determine the best treatment plan and help you start your recovery pathway.

Find an addiction counselor

Support Group

You are not alone in your recovery journey. Support groups allow you to connect with a community of people who can help you on your path to recovery.

Find a support group

Addiction Program

There are a wide variety of addiction program options, from inpatient settings to outpatient programs.

Find an addiction program

Healthcare Provider

Your healthcare provider can diagnose alcohol dependence and help you make decisions about your treatment plan, including your medication options.

Find a healthcare provider

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER DISCUSSION GUIDE

Talk with your healthcare provider.

Do you have questions about your alcohol use? If you think you may need help, or just want more information, talk to your healthcare provider. This discussion guide offers some ideas on how to start the conversation.

Download now

References: 1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Use Disorder. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-use-disorder 2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Surgeon General Issues Landmark Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health. Updated November 17, 2016. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/news-noteworthy/surgeon-general-issues-landmark-report-alcohol-drugs-and-health 3. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Definition of Alcohol Dependence. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/alcohol-dependence 4. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison Between DSM-IV and DSM-5. Updated April 2021. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-use-disorder-comparison-between-dsm 5. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help 6. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NH. Psychosocial Treatments. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments 7. Alcohol.org. Alcohol Support Groups & Recovery Programs. Updated October 25, 2022. https://www.alcohol.org/aftercare/support-groups/ 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost From Excessive Alcohol Use — United States, 2011-2015. Updated October 2, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6939a6.htm 9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN): Findings from Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2023. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep23-07-03-001.pdf 10. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Treatment in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics. Updated 2023. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-treatment-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics