Alcohol Use
The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the DSM-5-TR (the diagnostic standard used by counselors) define alcohol-related issues through the lens of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Rather than simply measuring the amount consumed, the definition focuses on a problematic pattern of use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. This is characterized by a loss of control over drinking, a preoccupation with alcohol, and continued use despite negative consequences in social, occupational, or physical health spheres. It is viewed as a chronic relapsing brain disease, categorized on a spectrum from mild to severe based on the number of diagnostic criteria a client meets.
