Teen alcohol use disorder

If a teen has alcohol use disorder, it means that they drink alcohol even though it's causing harm to themselves or others.

Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe. The more symptoms of this disorder your teen has, the more severe it may be. Teens who have it may find it hard to control their use of alcohol.

Teens who have this disorder may argue with others about how much they're drinking. Their schoolwork or job may be affected because of drinking. They may drink when it's dangerous or illegal, such as when they drive. Or they may engage in unsafe sex. This can lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Their drinking may increase their risk of getting hurt or being in a car crash.

Teens may also have a strong need, or craving, to drink and feel like they must drink just to get by. It may get harder for your teen to say "no" to drinking. Your teen may start to find alcohol more fun than anything else. Or your teen may want to stop drinking but can't. Your teen's body may get used to alcohol. This is called physical dependence.

Teens may think that a drink or two is okay, even if it's illegal. Or they may think that it's okay if they're only drinking on the weekends. They may even think that binge drinking is okay. But teens who drink are more likely to develop alcohol use disorder than people who start drinking later in life.

Over time, drinking too much alcohol may cause health problems. These problems may include high blood pressure, liver problems, and problems with digestion.

Maybe you've wondered about your alcohol habits, or how to tell if your drinking is becoming a problem.

Here are some of the symptoms of alcohol use disorder. You may have it if you have two or more of the following symptoms:

• You drink larger amounts of alcohol than you ever meant to. Or you've been drinking for a longer time than you ever meant to.
• You can't cut down or control your use. Or you constantly wish you could cut down.
• You spend a lot of time getting or drinking alcohol or recovering from the effects.
• You have strong cravings for alcohol.
• You can no longer do your main jobs at school, at work, or at home.
• You keep drinking alcohol, even though your use hurts your relationships.
• You have stopped doing important activities because of your alcohol use.
• You drink alcohol in situations where doing so is dangerous.
• You keep drinking alcohol even though you know it's causing health problems.
• You need more and more alcohol to get the same effect, or you get less effect from the same amount over time. This is called tolerance.
• You have uncomfortable symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol or use less. This is called withdrawal.

Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe. The more symptoms you have, the more severe the disorder may be.

You might not realize that your drinking is a problem. You might not drink large amounts when you drink. Or you might go for days or weeks between drinking episodes. But even if you don't drink very often, your drinking could still be harmful and put you at risk.

If you think you need help:

• Talk to your parents. That may sound odd, but they love you and were also teens once. They can help you.
• Talk to your family doctor, a school counselor, an adult relative, a faith leader, or a friend's parent.
• Contact the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) help line at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or online at www.samhsa.gov to learn about treatment programs in your area. Talking to someone about your feelings about alcohol may help.

Some teens are able to stop drinking with help from a school alcohol education program or a counselor. Treatment also can include group therapy. Teens who have moderate to severe alcohol use disorder may need medical treatment. They may need to stay in a hospital or treatment center.

Treatment focuses on more than alcohol. It also helps you cope with the anger, frustration, sadness, and disappointment that often happen when a person tries to stop drinking.

Treatment also looks at other parts of your life, like your relationships with friends and family, school and work, medical problems, and living situation. It helps you find and manage problems. Treatment helps you take control of your life so you don't need to drink alcohol. Family counseling often is part of treatment.