The term “functioning alcoholic” is not a medical term.
“Functioning” is subjective and limiting when describing a person living with alcohol use disorder.
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Do People With Alcohol Use Disorder Drink Every Day?
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The way people with alcohol use disorder present in their day-to-day lives varies significantly.
People with alcohol use disorder are dependent onalcohol, but that does not mean that they drink every day.
Someone can live with alcohol use disorder without anyone else noticing.
These signs don’t always affect a person’s ability to carry out their day-to-day responsibilities.
As such, they may justify their drinking as a normal part of lifeeven though it isn’t.
The refusal to abstain can become more apparent in certain situations.
It may also cause an individual to refuse to travel to areas where alcohol access may be limited.
These issues can be insidious and increase as a person becomes more dependent on alcohol.
Over time, these minor signs can snowball into more significant issues.
Relationships and Social Life
Alcohol use disorder also negatively affects a person’s relationships and social life.
An excellent first step is to stop enabling their drinking.
For many people, enabling can be second nature.
How to Get Help for Alcohol Use Disorder
Recovering from AUD is possible.
The incredibly important first step is to recognize your need for help and move past denial.
Self-Help Groups and Counseling
Support groups and counseling services can help treat AUD.
The most well-known support group is Alcoholics Anonymous, but there are many other12-step programs.
Treatment and support for alcohol use are available.
Consider speaking to your primary care provider about your concerns or attending a support group as a first step.
American Psychiatric Association.Alcohol use disorder.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking levels defined.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholics.Alcohol’s effects on health.
Patel AK, Balasanova AA.Treatment of alcohol use disorder.JAMA.
2021;325(6):596-596. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.2012
