Is Alcoholism a Chronic Disease?

Get Help. Talk To Someone Now!

Call toll free to:

Find treatment near you
Discover online or in person rehabs
Get 24 hour information on addiction

What is chronic alcohol abuse?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol use is common, with 228.4 million people, ages 12 and older, reporting they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. But what exactly defines chronic alcohol use? To understand, we need to first define problematic drinking.

Chronic alcohol abuse falls into the following categories:

Alcohol misuse: drinking in a way that can cause harm
Binge drinking: drinking in a pattern that results in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter. Typically, that involves four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men, over two hours.
Heavy alcohol use (or heavy drinking): SAMHSA defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on five or more days over the past 30 days.
High intensity drinking: twice (or more) the thresholds for binge drinking. For example, 10 or more drinks for men or eight or more for females.
Alcohol use disorder: drinking in a pattern in which the person struggles to moderate drinking, experiences problems because of their drinking, exhibits increased risk-taking behaviors, poor health due to drinking and legal and/or relational challenges due to drinking.

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder

According to experts, binge drinking and heavy alcohol use may increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder. Other risk factors include:

Drinking at an early age (before the age of 15)
Genetics and family history of alcohol misuse
Having a mental health condition such as depression, ADHD or trauma (PTSD).

Sad looking woman in grey sweatshirt

Side effects of chronic alcohol abuse

The Centers for Disease Control reports that excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States each year.

There are other physical and mental health side effects associated with chronic alcohol abuse, including:

Cancer- Oral, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, liver, colon, rectum and breast.
Liver disease
Heart disease, depression, stomach bleeding, stroke and difficulty managing chronic conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep disorders and pain
Higher risk of drowning, injuries from violence, motor vehicle incidents and falls.

Key statistics about alcohol use disorder

According to data collected by the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

14.5 million Americans aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month.
- 9 million males
- 5.5 million females

Alcohol use disorder affects members of the American Indian or Alaska Native communities at higher rates than all other races, with the prevalence of AUD at approximately 14.9%. The Hispanic or Latino community followed with approximately 8.6%, Whites at approximately 8.4%, Black or African Americans at approximately 7.4% and the Asian community at approximately 4.6%

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is a chronic condition that affects approximately 10.3% of adults aged 18 and older in the United States. It is classified as a chronic illness because it impairs a person’s ability to control or stop drinking, even in the face of social, work, and health consequences.

It is also considered a brain disorder, as it alters areas of the brain involved in reward, stress regulation and self-control. These changes can persist long after a person stops drinking, which helps to explain why recovery often requires treatment and support.

If you or someone you love is experiencing a substance use disorder, help is available. Call 800-948-8417 Sponsored today to learn about your treatment options.