David Freedman tackles the challenging subject of what can now be called “alcohol use disorder.” This diagnosis spans the two categories of problem drinking commonly known as alcoholism and alcohol abuse. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 13 percent of adults suffer from “alcohol use disorder,” although the number could be much higher given the data was self-reported.
Freedman shares information from psychiatrist, Robert Doyle, who specializes in substance abuse. He says,there are two fairly reliable ways to discern whether you may have a biological disposition for alcohol trouble:
- Look for alcohol trouble in your family history
- If you handle your alcohol better than most people around you, you may need to pay extra attention to how much you’re drinking.
It’s the person who keeps it together and doesn’t pass out who’s at the greatest risk for malignant alcohol use” – Robert Doyle, MD
Source: elemental+, August 8, 2019. Link. Younger people, especially those under 25, whose brains are still developing are more likely to keep coming back to the trough for larger and more frequent doses of alcohol. Older adults, in contrast, tend to derive less benefit and more pain in the short term from heavy alcohol use, and are sometimes pushed by that less-favorable pain-to-pleasure ratio to go easier.
Also see: High-functioning alcoholics are not long-term winners, Animal Health Digest, January 9, 2018. Link.
INSIGHTS: Revisiting this topic was prompted by a recent phone call at 2:00 a.m. from a longtime colleague and industry friend. The guidance from Dr. Doyle about journaling consumption is good advice.