Diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

The doctor will ask about a person's symptoms and health history. The person will also be asked about their alcohol use and the impact it may be having on their life.

AUD is diagnosed when a person has 2 or more of the following problems in the past year:

• Drinking more or longer than intended
• Wanting to cut down or stop drinking but not being able to do so
• Spending a lot of time drinking, being sick, or recovering from drinking
• Wanting a drink so badly that it gets in the way of all other thoughts
• Drinking habits that cause problems with a person's home, family, job, or school
• Drinking despite the problems that it causes with family and friends
• Giving up or cutting back on activities to spend more time drinking
• Using alcohol in dangerous situations, such as when swimming
• Drinking despite knowing the physical and mental health problems it is worsening
• Needing to drink more to get the same effect
• Having withdrawal symptoms when alcohol wears off, such as problems sleeping, shakiness, and nausea

A physical exam will be done to look for signs of damage from AUD. This is often enough to make the diagnosis. There are no tests to diagnose AUD.