Alcohol use disorder is a chronic brain disease in which a person cannot control their drinking, and experiences strong cravings for alcohol along with tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as “a state in which a person cannot stop drinking despite alcohol causing harm to their health, social functioning, and occupational functioning.” Alcohol use disorder is not a matter of weak willpower — it is a disease that requires treatment. If you are worried about yourself or someone close to you, please take your time reading through this article.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
The word “dependence” in alcohol use disorder carries two distinct meanings:
- Behavioral dependence: Repeated problem behaviors related to alcohol
- Physical dependence: The body has adapted to alcohol after prolonged drinking, resulting in tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
What Causes It?
Alcohol use disorder does not have a single cause. Multiple factors work together:
- Genetic factors: If a parent has alcohol use disorder, children are approximately 3 to 4 times more likely to develop the same problem than the general population. Some research suggests that siblings of people with addiction are about 7 times more likely.
- Psychological and social factors: Long-term anxiety or depression, an unstable upbringing, and chronic stress can all turn drinking into a habit. The isolation and psychological pressure experienced by people in unfamiliar environments — such as refugees and migrants — can also be a risk factor. Reading Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms, Treatment, and Mental Health Counseling for Foreigners may also be helpful.
- Social and cultural factors: A social atmosphere that encourages drinking, and workplace drinking culture, can also have an influence.
- Physical factors: Having fewer alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, or the body gradually adapting to alcohol through continuous drinking, can contribute to the disorder.
What Are the Symptoms?
If any of the following apply to you, it is recommended that you seek a consultation with a specialist.
- Tolerance: The same amount of alcohol no longer makes you feel as intoxicated as before, so you gradually drink more and more.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Suddenly stopping drinking causes anxiety, insomnia, cold sweats, shaking hands, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, or temporary hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there). These symptoms disappear when you drink again.
- Loss of control: Once you start drinking, you cannot stop until your body is severely harmed.
- Drinking more and longer than intended: You end up drinking far more, and for far longer, than you originally planned.
- Repeated failed attempts to stop: You have tried many times to cut down or quit drinking, but have not succeeded.
- Decline in daily functioning: Drinking prevents you from properly fulfilling your responsibilities at work, school, or home.
- Continuing to drink despite health problems: You continue to drink even knowing that alcohol has caused or worsened a health condition.
What Effects Does It Have on the Body and Mind?
Prolonged heavy drinking can have serious effects on both the body and the mind.
Physical effects
- Alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis (the liver hardens and scars)
- Esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the food pipe), ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen), hepatic encephalopathy (brain problems caused by liver failure)
- Gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease, weakened immune system
Mental and social effects
- Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders
- Reduced memory and concentration
- Conflict with family members, friends, and colleagues
- Social isolation
Alcohol use disorder and depression or anxiety can influence each other in a cycle. You may also find it helpful to read Sleep Disorders: Causes, Prevention, Self-Assessment, and Hospital Information.
A Simple Self-Check (AUDIT-K)
The following is a brief checklist based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-K), developed by the WHO and also used in Korea. It is not a formal diagnosis, but it can help you reflect on your own drinking habits or those of someone close to you.
| No. | Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | How often do you drink alcohol? |
| 2 | How much do you drink on a typical occasion? |
| 3 | How often do you drink more than one bottle of soju (or 5 cans of beer) in a single session? |
| 4 | In the past year, have you found it difficult to stop drinking once you had started? |
| 5 | In the past year, has drinking prevented you from doing something you were supposed to do? |
| 6 | In the past year, have you needed a drink the morning after heavy drinking to steady your nerves? |
| 7 | In the past year, have you felt guilty or regretful after drinking? |
| 8 | In the past year, have there been times you could not remember what happened while or after drinking? |
| 9 | Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking? |
| 10 | Has a family member, friend, or doctor expressed concern about your drinking or suggested you cut down? |
The following score ranges are provided for reference only. For an accurate interpretation, it is best to discuss the results with a specialist.
- Low-risk drinking: Men 9 points or below / Women 5 points or below
- Hazardous drinking: Men 10 to 19 points / Women 6 to 9 points
- Possible alcohol dependence: Men 20 points or above / Women 10 points or above
Treatment and Recovery
Alcohol use disorder can be treated and recovered from. If relapse occurs during the recovery process, that is not a treatment failure — it is a characteristic of chronic disease. The most important thing is not to give up.
The first step of treatment: Detoxification (separating from alcohol)
- The first step is to stop drinking and clear alcohol from the body. If withdrawal symptoms are severe, inpatient treatment is the safer choice.
Medication
- Disulfiram: Causes unpleasant reactions such as nausea, headache, and dizziness when alcohol is consumed, which discourages drinking.
- Naltrexone: Reduces the pleasant feeling that comes from drinking, lowering the temptation to drink.
When inpatient treatment is needed
- When withdrawal symptoms are severe
- When outpatient treatment alone is not producing improvement
- When there is a risk of dangerous behavior toward oneself or others
- When other mental health problems are also present
Psychological and social treatment
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, group psychotherapy, family education
- AA (Alcoholics Anonymous): A self-help group in which people with shared experiences encourage one another and help each other maintain sobriety. More than 200 groups across Korea currently meet every day. You can find the nearest meeting location and schedule on the AA Korea official website (aainkorea.org).
If you are in a mental health crisis, please also refer to Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Guide for Refugees and Migrants.
Where You Can Get Help
If you are worried, please do not struggle alone. You can reach out to the organizations below.
| Organization | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Crisis Counseling Hotline | 1577-0199 (365 days, 24 hours) | General mental health counseling including alcohol problems |
| Addiction Management Center (중독관리통합지원센터) | Operates by region (60+ locations nationwide as of 2026) | Specialized counseling and treatment referrals for alcohol and drug addiction |
| Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center | 129 | Information on nearby support services |
| Suicide Prevention Hotline | 109 (24 hours) | Immediate counseling in severe psychological crisis |
You can search for the nearest Addiction Management Center on the Ministry of Health and Welfare Addiction Management Center information page. Not only can the person with an alcohol problem seek counseling, but worried family members can also receive support.
Figures, deadlines, and contact details may change. Before using any service, please confirm the latest information by calling 1345 (Immigration Contact Center) or the phone numbers listed above.
Reference Links
- Asan Medical Center: Health Information on Alcohol Dependence
- Seoul National University Hospital: Alcohol Use Disorder Information
- National Center for Mental Health Official Website
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: Addiction Management Center Operations and Status
- Dobong-gu Alcohol Self-Assessment (AUDIT-K)