Which client is demonstrating effects associated with an alcohol use disorder?

The scenario involving the 22-year-old male student who requires more drinks to achieve the same effect exemplifies a key indicator of alcohol use disorder—tolerance. Tolerance occurs when an individual becomes accustomed to the effects of a substance, leading them to consume larger amounts to experience the same level of intoxication or effect that they initially had at lower doses. This can often be a precursor to more serious issues related to alcohol use, as it can signal increasing dependence on the substance.

While other options describe serious conditions related to alcohol use, they may not necessarily indicate a use disorder in the same way. For example, experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically suggests physical dependence, and Wernicke's encephalopathy is a severe complication resulting from thiamine deficiency often associated with heavy drinking, but it does not solely indicate the pattern of alcohol use disorder itself. Delirium tremens, a severe form of alcohol withdrawal characterized by confusion and autonomic instability, also points to significant alcohol dependence, but again, the requirement of larger quantities for the same effect, as seen in the student, directly reflects a riskier aspect of alcohol use disorder—tolerance—that can lead to further complications and health issues.