Alcoholism Prevention Programs for Children

Alcohol Use Disorder

Four symptoms are particularly important when arriving at a psychiatric diagnosis of AUD: craving (an uncontrolled need or compulsion to drink); loss of control (failure to stop drinking on any single occasion); physical dependence (seen when drinking stops for a while and the individual experiences withdrawal effects, such as sweating and anxiety); and tolerance (the need to have greater amounts of alcohol in order to produce the same effects experienced in the past). Alcohol abuse is also a substance use disorder but differs from alcohol dependence, particularly with respect to craving. Because alcohol abuse is more likely to be situational, it frequently is linked to a social context (work, school, home, driving). It also often involves the individual with the criminal justice system because of drunk driving, physical aggression, or social disorder.

Definitions of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse also are linked to the quantity of alcohol consumed, as indicated by the number of standard drinks consumed. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer (or wine cooler), one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. Legally, alcohol use disorder is defined by blood alcohol level (BAL), with most states adhering to the federal guideline of .08% BAL as the legal definition of drunk driving.

Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Alcohol

In addition to direct consumption, there are two major ways in which children are exposed to alcohol: [Page 74]directly, in the prenatal environment, and indirectly, by being reared by parents with AUD.