Medical and clinical professionals diagnose someone with alcohol use disorder (AUD), also known as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, when that person can no longer control or stop their alcohol use, despite knowing it can cause negative consequences. There are 11 criteria by which someone can be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder. The person must exhibit at least two of the following signs within a 12-month period: Consuming alcohol in increasing amounts or for a longer than originally intended, Wanting to cut down on alcohol use but not being able to, Spending increasing amounts of time trying to get, use or recover from alcohol use, Craving alcohol, Being unable to fulfill major obligations at home, work, or school because of alcohol use, Using alcohol even when they know that it will cause social or interpersonal problems, No longer participating in events or activities they enjoyed due to alcohol use, Consuming alcohol even when they know it could create a physically dangerous situation, such as driving a car, Continuing to use alcohol even with the onset of a psychological or physical problem, which may potentially be credited to the alcohol use, Building up a tolerance to alcohol, Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking, It’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder, like all substance use disorders, is not a moral failing—it’s a serious, but treatable, disease.