| Sumario: | Parker is disheveled, is in pain, and has a bandage on his forehead. He is being evaluated prior to being discharged from his overnight stay at the hospital. He was brought in for a concussion after a fall from a balcony while intoxicated. Although Parker claims he has a high tolerance when drinking, this isn't his first serious incident related to his alcohol use. He admits his drinking and his family's drinking have affected personal relationships. This training title highlights the major symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder, severe type. Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder include: cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using alcohol despite significant alcohol-related problems. Symptoms due to brain circuit changes extend beyond detoxification, especially in "severe use" instances. Behavioral changes may be seen with repeated relapses and intense alcohol craving. Individuals may drink alcohol in larger amounts and/or over a longer period of time than originally intended. Individuals may persistently desire to cut down or regulate alcohol use and have multiple unsuccessful efforts of decreasing or stopping alcohol use. Individuals may spend large amounts of time and energy in obtaining alcohol or recovering from periods of alcohol use. In very severe cases, individuals may spend almost all of their daily wake hours related to obtaining, using, or recovering from use of alcohol. Cravings are usually more intense when individuals are cued by being in environments or situations that are similar to previous times of alcohol use. Substance use causes social impairment such as failures to fulfill major roles at work, school, or home and individuals may continue to drink despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems related to alcohol use. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities may be given up or reduced due to alcohol use and individuals may withdraw form family activities and hobbies in order to use alcohol. Individuals may continue to use despite physical dangers. Physiological tolerance (requiring increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effects or having diminished effects with continued use of same amounts of alcohol) and withdrawal (physical symptoms developing as alcohol blood levels decrease and are metabolized and excreted) are often present.
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