Alcohol Use Disorder

Some people may drink occasionally, but can also unwind or enjoy social events without drinking. Others may regularly drink above recommended limits (one drink per day for women and older people, two drinks per day for men) or may feel like they need alcohol in order to relax, have a good time, or feel better.

Drinking can cause problems with your relationships at home and at work, lead to poor judgment and dangerous behavior, and sometimes cause legal issues. Driving and doing other activities while drunk may lead you to hurt or kill yourself or others. If you find yourself needing to drink or experiencing negative consequences as a result of alcohol, you may have a drinking problem.

Some Veterans turn to alcohol as a way to try to deal with problems in their daily lives and use it for recreation, to calm down, or to fall asleep. Maybe you feel that alcohol helps to reduce the stress in your life or helps you forget a problem, painful memory, or traumatic event from your military service. Retirement, the death of a spouse or good friend, leaving your home, losing your job, and being diagnosed with a disease all can trigger emotions that lead some people to misuse alcohol.

Some effects of alcohol are physical. Over time, unhealthy drinking can cause:

• Liver disease
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Stomach problems
• Harm to unborn children (in pregnant women)
• Complications with other illnesses

Drinking too much and too often may indicate that a person has an alcohol addiction. If you have alcohol use disorder, you may feel like you need to drink just to get by. People with this addiction often drink more than they intend to, crave alcohol, and have trouble stopping even if drinking causes problems for them. They may spend so much time drinking, making plans to drink, or recovering from drinking that it negatively affects their work, school, or relationships. They may not recognize or may deny, that drinking is causing problems. Some people with alcohol addiction may stop drinking for weeks or months. But without treatment or engaging in recovery activities, these people will often revert to a pattern of problematic drinking.

You might have an alcohol use disorder if you experience three or more of the following alcohol-related symptoms in a year:

• Not being able to quit drinking or control how much you drink
• Needing to drink more to feel the same effects as before
• Feeling sick to your stomach, sweaty, shaky, or anxious when you stop drinking
• Spending a lot of time drinking and recovering from drinking
• Giving up other activities so you can drink
• Trying to quit drinking or cut back, but not being able to
• Continuing to drink even though drinking causes you problems
• Trying to hide your drinking from others
• Having "blackouts," where you don’t remember what happened while drinking
• Having friends and family be concerned about your drinking

If you are having problems with alcohol, it doesn’t mean that you are weak or unable to change. Reducing the negative effects of your drinking by cutting down or quitting often takes more than will power or good intentions. There are many effective resources and treatments that can help you quit. Veterans of all ages, backgrounds, and eras have gotten treatment for alcohol problems and achieved long-term recovery.

“Until I went in and talked to someone, I had no idea just how many areas of my life were being affected by booze. I feel so much more in control of my life now – almost everything was very repairable.”

Your doctor may decide you need detoxification (detox) before you start treatment. Alcohol detox uses medicine to help you safely stop drinking and manage the symptoms of withdrawal.

Recovery is best achieved through a combination of professional care and participation in mutual support groups, followed by management of the problem over time. You and your doctor will work together to determine what combination of treatment strategies will work best for your situation. One of the most effective forms of treatment for problems with alcohol is therapy, either one-on-one with an addiction specialist or in a group. Some counseling sessions may also include your family. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce your desire to drink.

These treatments can help you develop the skills you need to stop or reduce drinking, manage cravings, build your support system, work to set reachable goals, and cope with or avoid triggers that might cause a recurrence of substance use. Treatment doesn’t just focus on alcohol; it also addresses ways to improve other parts of your life. Having satisfying relationships, work environments, and physical wellness can help you stay sober.

Your family and friends may be the first to notice the signs of alcohol misuse and the negative effects of your excessive drinking. You may want to turn to them when you are ready to talk about change. It can be helpful to share your experiences, and they may be able to provide support and help you find treatment that works for you.

You can also take this confidential and anonymous self-assessment. This set of questions isn't designed to tell you for sure whether you have an alcohol problem, but it can indicate whether it would be a good idea to see a professional for further assessment.

Every day, Veterans from all military service branches and eras connect with proven resources and effective treatments. Here’s how to take the next step: the one that’s right for you.

New to VA? Apply for health care benefits.

• Getting started is simple. Create a free account online to help ease your enrollment process. To prepare to apply for VA health care in person, by telephone, or by mail, explore VA’s “How to Apply” page.
• Not sure whether you are eligible for VA health care benefits? Read about eligibility for VA health care.
• Unsure of what kind of help you need? Call 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387) to find the right resources to meet your needs, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 1-800-877-8339.
• Veterans’ family members and caregivers can see whether they qualify for VA medical benefits as a spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or caregiver. Explore family and caregiver health benefits. 

Already enrolled in VA and interested in mental health support? Schedule a mental health appointment.

• If you’re already enrolled and using VA health care, the fastest way to schedule VA appointments is to call the VA facility where you want to receive care.
• With VA Appointments tools, you can schedule some VA health care appointments online, view details about upcoming appointments, and organize your health care calendar.
• If you’re not using VA medical services, contact your nearest VA medical center or Vet Center to talk about your needs.

What about other options at VA? VA offers a variety of tools and resources.  

• The Veteran Training online self-help portal for overcoming everyday challenges includes modules on managing anger, developing parenting and problem-solving skills, and more.
• Mental health apps for Veterans cover a variety of topics, ranging from PTSD to anger management to quitting smoking.
• VA TeleMental Health connects you with a VA mental health provider through a computer or mobile device in your home or at your nearest VA health facility. You can learn more about this option from your local VA medical center.
• Community-based Vet Centers provide confidential counseling, community engagement and referral services to eligible individuals and their families. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA healthcare or have a service connection to receive services. Find a Vet Center near you or call 1-877-927-8387, 24/7 to talk with a fellow Veteran about your experiences.
• VA residential rehabilitation treatment, sometimes referred to as inpatient residential or domiciliary care, provides comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation services to Veterans with mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, and substance use disorder. 

What about support outside of VA?

FindTreatment.gov and the National Resource Directory list programs outside of VA. Use these tools to find resources near you. 

Learn more about other concerns that may occur alongside problems with alcohol, such as relationship problems, depression, trouble sleeping, chronic pain, and posttraumatic stress.