Dr. Sarah Wakeman

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think these are such important questions. And one of the greatest tragedies to me around substance use disorder is often family members and the general public have been fed the wrong thing to do. And so I think it's a great thing to talk about. First, it's important to define sort of what is an alcohol use disorder, because that's sort of what we're getting at.

Yeah, I think these are such important questions. And one of the greatest tragedies to me around substance use disorder is often family members and the general public have been fed the wrong thing to do. And so I think it's a great thing to talk about. First, it's important to define sort of what is an alcohol use disorder, because that's sort of what we're getting at.

Yeah, I think these are such important questions. And one of the greatest tragedies to me around substance use disorder is often family members and the general public have been fed the wrong thing to do. And so I think it's a great thing to talk about. First, it's important to define sort of what is an alcohol use disorder, because that's sort of what we're getting at.

You know, there's there's heavy drinking where we're worried about the long term health effects. And then there is where alcohol has become a problem in your life. And really, the definition of an alcohol use disorder is losing control over your drinking, compulsive use of alcohol and using despite consequences.

You know, there's there's heavy drinking where we're worried about the long term health effects. And then there is where alcohol has become a problem in your life. And really, the definition of an alcohol use disorder is losing control over your drinking, compulsive use of alcohol and using despite consequences.

You know, there's there's heavy drinking where we're worried about the long term health effects. And then there is where alcohol has become a problem in your life. And really, the definition of an alcohol use disorder is losing control over your drinking, compulsive use of alcohol and using despite consequences.

So if you are continuing to drink despite the fact that your partner has shared that they're really worried about you or you've started to have problems at work because you're calling out sick or you're You're continuing to drink despite health problems related to it. So your doctor says, you know what, your liver tests are elevated.

So if you are continuing to drink despite the fact that your partner has shared that they're really worried about you or you've started to have problems at work because you're calling out sick or you're You're continuing to drink despite health problems related to it. So your doctor says, you know what, your liver tests are elevated.

So if you are continuing to drink despite the fact that your partner has shared that they're really worried about you or you've started to have problems at work because you're calling out sick or you're You're continuing to drink despite health problems related to it. So your doctor says, you know what, your liver tests are elevated.

You really need to cut back on drinking and you continue to drink. Those are all signs that alcohol started to play a different role in your life. About 15% of the population will have an alcohol use disorder in their life. So this is a very common health condition, more common than many other conditions we see. The great news is that it's entirely treatable. Most people will get well.

You really need to cut back on drinking and you continue to drink. Those are all signs that alcohol started to play a different role in your life. About 15% of the population will have an alcohol use disorder in their life. So this is a very common health condition, more common than many other conditions we see. The great news is that it's entirely treatable. Most people will get well.

You really need to cut back on drinking and you continue to drink. Those are all signs that alcohol started to play a different role in your life. About 15% of the population will have an alcohol use disorder in their life. So this is a very common health condition, more common than many other conditions we see. The great news is that it's entirely treatable. Most people will get well.

I think we often have in our minds that this is like a terrible stigmatizing recalcitrant condition that no one ever gets better from. That is not true. And that notion that this, you know, something to feel hopeless about, I think drives a lot of the stigma and shame. There is good treatment out there. People will get well, but they do need care and they need support.

I think we often have in our minds that this is like a terrible stigmatizing recalcitrant condition that no one ever gets better from. That is not true. And that notion that this, you know, something to feel hopeless about, I think drives a lot of the stigma and shame. There is good treatment out there. People will get well, but they do need care and they need support.

I think we often have in our minds that this is like a terrible stigmatizing recalcitrant condition that no one ever gets better from. That is not true. And that notion that this, you know, something to feel hopeless about, I think drives a lot of the stigma and shame. There is good treatment out there. People will get well, but they do need care and they need support.

I think the first thing you can do if you're a loved one is just share your worries, not in a way that blames the person, not in a way that's judgmental, but in a loving way, just like you would about anything else with someone's health, that this is what you've observed. This is why you're worried. Explore what the person thinks.

I think the first thing you can do if you're a loved one is just share your worries, not in a way that blames the person, not in a way that's judgmental, but in a loving way, just like you would about anything else with someone's health, that this is what you've observed. This is why you're worried. Explore what the person thinks.