How do I know if I have a drinking problem?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The pattern questions matter more than any count: drinking more than you meant, failed cutbacks, craving, and consequences that do not stop you. Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition diagnosed on DSM-5 criteria - meeting two to three in a year is mild, four to five moderate, six or more severe. The everyday tells: rules you set and break, comments from people close to you, morning regret, and the question itself resurfacing. AUD is treatable at every severity.
What to do
- Answer the criteria honestly. Control lost, cutbacks failed, consequences ignored - count how many fit the past year.
- Do not wait for rock bottom. Mild AUD is still AUD, and earlier treatment works better.
- Talk to a doctor. Medication that reduces craving exists, alongside therapy and mutual-help groups.
- Never quit heavy daily drinking cold alone. Severe withdrawal can be dangerous - medical supervision first. In crisis: 988 in the US, or your local crisis line.
Related questions
- How do I know if I have depression?
- What is the difference between sadness and depression?
- Can an online doctor prescribe Xanax?
- What is burnout vs depression?