Alcohol Addiction Facts

Alcohol Addiction

A boy studies a glass of alcohol and wonders about the alcohol addiction facts. Here at Recovery Ways our Master level clinicians are dedicated to providing all our patients with the highest quality of care. We have individualized plans for each of our patients so that they get the alcohol addiction treatment that is best for them. We can help make overcoming the addiction and staying sober easier.

In the United States, alcohol is a legal substance if the consumer is 21 or older. However, there are many underage people who abuse alcohol. Even if people are of age to consume alcohol, they can still become addicted and abuse it. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States. Even if a user isn’t addicted, alcohol is still unhealthy and causes many untimely deaths on the highway. According to the World Health Organization, more than two million people lose their lives to alcohol abuse a year. Alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine to the bloodstream where it goes to the brain and starts its effects. Drinking is more harmful for teenagers because their brains are not fully developed, leading to coordination problems, motor skill issues, and memory problems. Drinking at a young age also increases their chance of becoming dependent on alcohol.

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Alcohol is a depressant which means that it slows down vital functions – sluggish reaction time, unsteady movement, slurred speech, disturbed perceptions, and impaired judgement. It does this by enhancing GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of relaxation and calm, but after prolonged consumption it suppresses GABA making more alcohol needed for the same effect. The amount of alcohol consumed determines its effects. One drink (5 oz wine, 12 oz beer, 8 oz malt liquor, or 1.5 oz hard liquor/distilled spirits) can act more like a stimulant. When someone drinks more than the body can process they start to feel the depressant effects. Alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning severity depends on how much is consumed. Alcohol addiction symptoms my include the user not feeling physical pain, vomiting, becoming unconscious, have slow or irregular breathing, experience hypothermia, fall into a coma or even die from a severe toxic overdose.

There are two distinct types of alcoholic beverages: fermented and distilled. Fermenting is a process where yeast acts on certain ingredients in fruits or grains to create ethyl alcohol (ethanol). These beverages typically contain anywhere between 2% and 20% alcohol. Distilled beverages such as whiskey, vodka, and tequila contain 40% -50% alcohol and sometimes even more. People who drink often can build a tolerance to alcohol, causing a lot of users to “binge drink”. Especially in celebratory situations and on college campuses. Binge drinking is consuming large amounts of alcohol on one occasion (usually more than 5 drinks for men and more than 4 drinks for women in a two-hour period), such as birthday parties, bachelorette parties, frat parties, or any other celebration.

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There are alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. When someone is dependent on alcohol they will experience physical alcohol addiction withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, tremors, and nausea. It can also cause criminal records, damaged relationships, and a lost job. Those who abuse alcohol do not have cravings for alcohol like alcoholics do. However, there is a fine line between the two. The main points of dependence include withdrawal symptoms and cravings between drinks. Alcohol dependence can lead to severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms which start within 12 hours of the last drink. The delirium tremens (DTs) start three to four days later when the user is agitated, hallucinating, shaking, and possibly losing touch with reality.

Alcohol is commonly mixed with other drugs and can be very dangerous depending on the drugs it is used with. If it is mixed with other depressants such as benzodiazepines or some pain killers, breathing and heart rate can be slowed to dangerous levels. If it is mixed with stimulants the user may not realize how much alcohol they’ve consumed and can lead to heart attack or stroke.

If pregnant women consume alcohol it passes through the placenta and enters the unborn child. This can severely damage the fetus, especially during the first few months of pregnancy. This is commonly known as fetal alcohol syndrome. There are many birth defects that alcohol consumption can lead to including facial abnormalities, growth deficiencies, and damage to the nervous system and brain.

Common Names for Alcohol

  • Beer
  • Wine (Wine Coolers)
  • Liquor
  • Distilled Spirits
  • Whiskey
  • Vodka
  • Tequila
  • Gin
  • Rum
  • Booze
  • Liquid Courage

Contact Recovery Ways for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

If you are in need of alcohol addiction treatment our admission coordinators can help. Our specialists can review your insurance, offer preferred levels of care, and walk you through the entire admission process. If you’re ready to make a change and live a live free of alcohol abuse, help is a phone call away.

You can contact us here or call 888.986.7848 and speak with an admission coordinator immediately.

Symptoms and Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Since alcohol is legal and often expected at certain gatherings or celebrations it is sometimes difficult to notice when someone you love, or yourself, has become addicted to or dependent on it. Alcoholism is classified by cravings and the inability to stop drinking even if it has caused personal and social harm. If consuming alcohol has interfered with work, school, or other activities then the consumption of alcohol has become a problem and treatment may be necessary. Other signs of spotting alcoholism may be consumption may start early in the day, the individual will stay intoxicated for long periods of time, or consistently drink alone and give up activities and relationships that used to be important. They cannot control how much or when they drink and rely on alcohol to relieve stress or solve problems. They may have tried to stop drinking but cannot. They will also exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shaking, and feel anxious or sick.

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If so, our admissions coordinators are here to help place you or a loved one in the most effective and comfortable rehab environment available.

High-functioning alcoholics are in their own classification because they keep their alcoholism from interfering with their professional and personal lives. They usually will not admit to or notice a problem until faced with severe alcohol-related consequences. This is dangerous because they can continue using alcohol for years without ever recognizing a problem. High-functioning alcoholics may not exhibit the normal pattern of addiction, show traditional signs of alcoholism and keep their substance abuse well hidden.

Short Term Symptoms

The short term addiction symptoms of alcohol abuse can range in severity and duration. Some high-functioning alcoholics may exhibit none of these symptoms. Below is a list of commonly observed short-term symptoms and warning signs of an alcohol addiction.

  • Reduced anxiety or stress
  • Increased confidence
  • Impaired judgement
  • Distorted hearing and vision
  • Drowsiness, unconsciousness, and/or coma
  • Blackouts (memory lapses)
  • Slurred speech, breathing difficulties
  • Upset stomach, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Anemic (loss of red blood cells)

Long Term Symptoms

As the addict has been abusing alcohol for a much longer time period, long-term symptoms of alcoholism are traditionally more severe and can range from extremely risky behavior to the failure of proper organ function. These symptoms are much more serious and will most definitely require inpatient detox and residential treatment. Long-term symptoms of alcohol addiction can include:

  • Risky behavior leading to injuries
  • Broken relationships
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Liver disease (cirrhosis), liver failure
  • Cancer of the mouth and throat
  • Nerve damage, brain damage
  • Ulcers, gastritis (inflamed stomach walls), malnutrition, vitamin B deficiency
  • High blood pressure, stroke, heart related diseases
  • Sexual problems
  • Pancreatitis, diabetes

Contact us for Alcohol Addiction Rehab

If you or a loved one is in need of alcohol addiction treatment we can help. Our admission coordinators can review your benefits, provide expert advice on treatment options, and walk you through the entire admission process. If you’re ready to make a change and live a live free of alcohol addiction, we are here.

Contact us here or call 888.986.7848 for more informa       tion on admission.