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Alcohol use ranges from occasional social drinking to patterns of abuse, dependence, and addiction. And, unfortunately, about 29.5 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had alcohol use disorder in 2022 — that’s roughly 10.5% of the population in that age group. If you’re considering quitting alcohol because it’s become problematic in your life, or because you have health concerns, this article is for you. This guide covers common drinking habits, reasons for quitting, evidence-based prescription medications (such as naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram) that can help, and practical strategies for change. It’s designed to offer accurate, science-backed information so you can make informed decisions with your healthcare provider.
Understanding Drinking Habits: From Casual Use to Addiction
When considering your alcohol use, it’s helpful to understand certain terms. The United States National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides the following definitions:
• Moderate use is considered up to one drink per day for women or up to two for men. (But remember, drinking less is always better for your health than drinking more.)
• Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% (0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter) or higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for a man, or four or more drinks for a woman, in about two hours.
• Heavy drinking is considered to be consuming five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week for men or consuming four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week for women.
• Alcohol misuse (abuse) refers to drinking in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to the person who drinks or to those around them. Alcohol misuse includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is another important term to understand. According to the NIAA, AUD is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) as “a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress,” and is diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms in the past 12 months.
Examples of symptoms of AUD include:
• Taking alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
• A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use
• Spending a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects
• Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol
For more information on AUD, including all the symptoms, see here.
Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
Alcohol use can have serious health consequences. According to the NIAA, alcohol can damage everything from your pancreas to your heart, and even your brain:
“Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can alter mood and behavior, making it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. Drinking alcohol can also increase the risk of stroke.”
Recent research has even shown a link between alcohol use and various cancers, even with just one drink a day.
For more information on alcohol’s effects on the body, see here.
Why You Might Choose to Quit Drinking – Physical Benefits
The good news is that quitting alcohol can have immediate and long-lasting health benefits, supported by clinical and epidemiological research. Whether you drink heavily or more moderately, evidence shows that reducing or stopping alcohol intake can improve physical, mental, and social well-being.
For example, after stopping drinking for one month, people reported:
• Improved sleep
• More energy
• Weight loss
• Money savings
• Having changed their diet to include more healthy options
• Having increased their exercise program
• A reduction in tobacco use
• Better overall physical health at one and six months
So, not only does quitting drinking improve various aspects of health, but people often use it as a springboard to change other aspects of their lives as well, creating a healthier lifestyle overall.
If you choose to quit drinking, you can also look forward to other specific physical benefits, such as those shown in this 2018 study, which include improved insulin resistance, lower blood pressure, and fewer cancer-related growths, leading to overall improved health.
This review found that reduced drinking or total abstinence resulted in:
“. . . reducing alcohol-associated injuries, recovery of ventricular heart function in alcoholic cardiomyopathy, blood pressure lowering, normalization of biochemical parameter, body weight reduction, histological improvement in pre-cirrhotic alcohol-related liver disease and slowed progression of an already existing alcohol-attributable liver fibrosis.”
Why You Might Choose to Stop Drinking – Mental, Emotional, and Cognitive Gains
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and it can exacerbate certain mental symptoms and experiences. So, you may also choose to quit drinking because of the mood, anxiety, and other mental benefits you can experience. This review of 63 studies showed that reducing drinking or quitting drinking can result in:
• An improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms
• An improvement in self-confidence
• An improvement in your mental quality of life
• Lower psychosocial stress levels
• Better social functioning
• Reduced psychiatric episodes
• Reduced time spent in psychiatric inpatient stays
Additionally, cognitive impairment is an identified issue in those who drink too much. Those who abuse alcohol experience negative effects across the 12 following cognitive domains: intelligence quotient, verbal fluency/language, speed of processing, working memory, attention, problem solving/executive functions, inhibition/impulsivity, verbal learning, verbal memory, visual learning, visual memory, and visuospatial abilities. This meta-analysis, looking at 62 studies, found that generally, dysfunction lessens after one year of sobriety.
So, your body and your mind will both thank you for quitting alcohol.
Medications That Can Help: Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Disulfiram
If you choose to quit drinking, you don’t have to do it alone; there are medications that can help. You can talk to your doctor about options like:
1. Naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol) – Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist. This medication reduces the pleasure you feel from drinking alcohol, thus reducing your desire for alcohol. It has been shown to reduce relapse to any kind of drinking.
2. Acamprosate (Campral) – Acamprosate is thought to reduce symptoms of protracted abstinence by counteracting the imbalance between the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems associated with chronic alcohol exposure and alcohol withdrawal. Acamprosate has been shown to be an effective treatment for alcohol dependence, improving continuous abstinence rates, with no abuse potential. It is known to decrease the negative symptoms associated with quitting alcohol (like craving).
3. Disulfiram (Antabuse) – Disulfiram acts as a deterrent to drinking as it disrupts the metabolism of alcohol, resulting in nausea/vomiting, flushing, and heart palpitations when taking the medication with alcohol. Large amounts of alcohol taken with disulfiram can result in even more severe reactions. It is often taken under the supervision of a family member or treatment program for the best efficacy. Disulfiram has been shown to prevent the relapse to alcohol use.
Combination Therapy
In some cases, your doctor may decide to prescribe multiple medications (e.g., naltrexone with acamprosate) for the best results.
For more information about the treatment of alcohol abuse with medication, see here.
Tips for Quitting Drinking
If you’re trying to quit drinking, there are many ways to support that decision alongside medication. Try these alcohol quitting tips offered by the NIAA:
1. Set a goal (or goals) for your drinking. For example, you might try cutting down on one drink per week until you get to a certain number or complete abstinence. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound to make them more effective.
2. Find alternatives to drinking. If alcohol has taken up a lot of time in your life, find healthy ways to spend that time, such as renewing friendships or cultivating a hobby. If you have counted on alcohol to make you more comfortable in social situations or handle other emotions, then seek new ways to handle those situations. A therapist can help you learn to handle emotions in a healthy way.
3. Avoid drinking triggers. Many find that certain people, situations, places, or even times of day create a craving for drinking. Make sure to acknowledge your triggers and avoid them, if possible, or find a new way to deal with them.
4. Plan to handle urges. Even if you do your very best, urges to drink will still likely hit you. When this happens, remind yourself of why you are changing your drinking habits. (Write this reason down and keep the paper with you.) You can also talk things through with a loved one you trust. Additionally, finding a healthy option, such as exercise, to distract you, can help. No matter what, know that urges don’t last forever. Accept their presence and know that they will soon pass.
5. Learn when and how to say no. You will be offered a drink at times; think ahead about how you will say “no thanks.” The more this becomes a habit, the easier it will be.
6. Build a support network. Sticking to your new drinking plan is much easier when people around you support your goals. Plus, you will have people to talk to when cravings hit. These supports can include a peer support group or professional support from a counselor or therapist. Remember, you don’t have to go it alone.
For resources and additional information on quitting drinking, see here.
The Bottom Line: Why Quitting Alcohol Is Worth It
Quitting alcohol is not always easy, but the benefits are undeniable. From improved sleep, mood, and energy in the first few weeks to a lower risk of liver disease, heart problems, and cancer in the long run, the evidence is clear: your body and mind both thrive without alcohol. For many people, combining professional support with prescription medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram can make the process more successful. The key is to work with a healthcare provider, set realistic goals, and lean on support networks so you don’t feel alone in the process.
Quitting alcohol is ultimately about reclaiming your health and building a life that isn’t dictated by drinking. It’s a change that pays off, not just today, but for years to come.
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