By: Sara Y. Arce, LMHC, CAP Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) affect 17 million american's; 11.2 million men, 5.7 million women and 855,000 adolescents ages 12–17. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2012) Some of the characteristics of an AUD include drinking more than one intended to, difficulty stopping or reducing the use, continued drinking despite negative consequences and symptoms of withdrawal or cravings...[ read more ]