11 Criteria that professionals use to help diagnose a substance use disorder.

Many people are drinking more because of COVID 19. The pandemic has led to an 27% increase in alcohol sales—and over 400% increase in online sales.

Reliable statistics on consumption are hard to find. But, it is safe to assume sales and consumption are related. So, consumption is up, too.

With all this increase in sales and consumption, you may wonder, “have I acquired an alcohol use disorder?”

No article can give you a definitive diagnosis. But in today’s blog, you will learn 11 warning signs that might mean you have an Alcohol Use Disorder.

And information about warning signs can help you decide to see a doctor or mental health professional.

Pulling back the curtain on how professionals diagnose.

When a professional considers giving a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder, they consider 11 criteria—or symptoms. I’ll share these criteria below so you can ask yourself questions very similar to the ones a professional will ask.

The more signs that are present the more severe the diagnosis.

Before we drill down into the 11 criteria, I need to share some fun facts.

Fun facts: When making a diagnosis, professionals do not use these words

1)      Addiction (this word is used, but there is no “addiction diagnosis”).

2)      Misuse (this suggests a moral judgment instead of a medical diagnosis)

3)      Abuse (this term was previously used, but was given up in favor of “use” disorder)

4)      Dependance (this term was also previously used, but is no longer used to diagnose a disorder)

Also, we diagnose each substance individually. So, we might say, “John Doe has a Mild Cocaine Use Disorder and a Moderate Alcohol Use Disorder.”

The 11 warning signs are divided into four categories a) impaired control, b) social impairment, c) risky use, d) pharmacological criteria.

If you are concerned that your drinking may have increased to an unsafe level—or that you may have a substance use disorder—talk your physician or to a mental health professional.

Don’t worry. No one can take away your free will or force you to do anything you are not ready for. But, you lose nothing by having an open dialogue about your drinking.

Also, check out this sharable youtube video on the same subject:

1. You drink more than you intended—or you drink longer than expected

2. Cutting back or controlling your drinking isn’t working

3. You are spending a great deal of time on your drinking—either to get the alcohol, drink the alcohol or recover from getting drunk

4. You’ve got cravings or strong desire to drink

5. Drinking is keeping you from your obligations at work, school, or home.

6. You’ve got interpersonal problems that are caused or made worse by drinking—but you keep drinking anyway

7. You give up or reduce activities in social life, work life, or recreational life because of your drinking

8. You drink even in situations that might be physically dangerous

9. You keep drinking even though you have a physical or psychological problem caused by—or maybe made worse by drinking

10. Your tolerance goes up.

11. You have withdrawal or take some other substance to avoid withdrawal.