Alcohol is a major cause of disease in Australia.
Low to moderate alcohol consumption is common, but if you drink a lot of alcohol, you may be dependent on it. Alcohol dependence is also known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder.
If you are alcohol dependent, you may:
- have strong urges to drink alcohol
- you use alcohol as a coping mechanism for mental health, stress and trauma issues
- struggle to stop drinking alcohol or control how much you drink
- need to drink greater amounts to feel the effects of alcohol
- be physically dependent on alcohol
- If you are physically dependent on alcohol, you might have withdrawal symptoms after stopping drinking. These can include nausea, sweats, shakiness or anxiety.
Other signs that you might be drinking too much are:
- drinking alone
- hiding alcohol from members of your household
- relationship problems due to drinking
- lying about how much you drink
- drinking early in the day
If this sounds like you, then you are not alone. The good news is, there is a proven and relatively simple treatment available that can help you deal with cravings and reduce your dependence on alcohol. The treatment is a commonly prescribed medicine, is easy to take and has minimal side effects.