What is an alcoholic? How to treat alcoholism
Content
Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by teens in the United States. Approximately half of junior high and high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis; 14% report that they have been intoxicated at least once in the previous year. This means that in 2009 at least 10.4 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 drank more than a “few sips” of an alcoholic beverage.
- Chronic drinking can affect your heart and lungs, raising your risk of developing heart-related health issues.
- For some people who are particularly vulnerable, it can happen within months.
The severity of the disorder lies on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe dependence, also known as chronic alcoholism (although even a mild disorder can spiral out of control without early treatment). Cirrhosis of the liver
Our liver filters out harmful substances, cleans our blood, stores energy and aids in digestion. Too much alcohol can be toxic to liver cells, causing dehydration and permanent scarring—which ultimately affects the blood flow. With excessive alcohol consumption, this important organ can’t metabolize Vitamin D, which could develop into a deficiency.
Some Physical Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
Even though they continuously go through this cycle, they still refuse to seek treatment. This is part of their personality where they feel like they can handle their drinking on their own without getting help from others. Another common sign of high-functioning alcoholics is that they are able to separate their drinking from other parts of their life. Who they are when they’re at home, work, or with casual acquaintances is completely different from who they are when they’re in the routine of drinking.
For example, 15- to 16-year-olds who use religion to cope with stress tend to use drugs significantly less often and have fewer problems as a result of drinking than their peers who do not use religion to cope. Recent research describes potential health benefits of consuming alcohol, including decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Given that, it is fair to say that low intake, along the lines of 4-8 ounces of wine per day, is likely safe.
What causes alcohol-related disorders?
By age 15, at least half of adolescents report having had at least one drink; by 18, that number climbs to 70%. Almost 8% of teens who drink say they binge drink, or drink five or more alcoholic drinks in a row. Once people begin drinking excessively, sober house the problem can perpetuate itself. Heavy drinking can cause physiological changes that make more drinking the only way to avoid discomfort. Individuals with alcohol dependence may drink partly to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Like alcohol, these drugs suppress areas in the brain that control vital functions such as breathing. Ingesting alcohol and other drugs together intensifies their individual effects and could produce an overdose with even moderate amounts of alcohol. If you suspect a loved one is abusing alcohol, it’s important to look out for tell-tale signs. Some of the signs of alcoholism are obvious, while others are subtle.
Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?
For example, antidepressants, if someone with an alcohol addiction were self-medicating to treat their depression. Or a doctor could prescribe drugs to assist with other emotions common in recovery. As an addiction tends to get worse over time, it’s important to look for early warning signs. If identified and treated early, someone with an alcohol addiction may be able to avoid major consequences of the disease.
- For a man, this usually happens after having 5 or more drinks within a few hours.
- Chronic, long-term drinking can contribute to malnutrition by replacing foods needed for essential nutrients and by interfering with absorption, storage, or metabolism of the essential nutrients.
- Generally, symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include abdominal pain and tenderness, dry mouth and increased thirst, fatigue, jaundice (which is yellowing of the skin), loss of appetite, and nausea.
However, continued excessive drinking can shorten your lifespan. More information and support for people with alcoholic liver disease and their families can be found by joining support groups for alcoholism or liver disease. When cirrhosis progresses to end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be needed. Liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease is only considered in people who have completely avoided alcohol for 6 months. The symptoms of alcoholic liver disease may look like other health problems. Meanwhile, binge drinking focuses more on how quickly and how much you drink in one sitting.
If it’s time to seek help, contact us to learn about our treatment approach and facilities. We have a long history of providing successful substance abuse treatment at our Palmer Lake, Colorado facilities. A high-functioning alcoholic’s behavior may change significantly while drinking.
- Rather than acknowledge the problems you’ve experienced from alcohol, you become defensive when someone mentions your excessive drinking pattern.
- What tips the balance from drinking that produces impairment to drinking that puts one’s life in jeopardy varies among individuals.
- The long-term effects of alcohol use disorder can be devastating and even life-threatening.
April 26, 2021
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