These findings accentuate alcohol abuse as a modifiable risk factor with the potential to shrink the burden of cardiovascular disease. If you are struggling with alcohol use and addiction, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. Your doctor can provide medical advice, plan treatment, and refer you to addiction treatment facilities. Many people remain addicted to alcohol because they don’t want to face the withdrawal symptoms of drinking cessation. This can make it harder for a person to resist the urge to drink, even when they know it’s harmful.
Mental Health
You can choose from different types of therapy such as alcohol counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, or couples or family therapy. At this point, AUD symptoms start to interfere with your personal and work life. For instance, you might miss important family events or meetings with co-workers because you've been drinking. Physical symptoms such as weight gain (or loss) usually show up in this mid-stage, too. For instance, you may start drinking so much that you black out (lose consciousness).
Drugs
In 2020, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that is alcohol addictive half of Americans aged 12 and overused alcohol in the past month. In just 2 minutes, you can speak with an admissions specialist, verify your insurance, and explore treatment options that work for you. Alcohol is eliminated by the body through several pathways, primarily involving the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The hospitals do not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or sex. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Easing of mental health symptoms
Knowing why alcohol is addictive, the types of drinkers, and how it affects the body can help people recognize when they may have an issue and take steps to address it. This question has no definitive answer since both can be addictive depending on the person. Some people may have difficulty controlling their alcohol consumption, while others may emotionally rely on certain types of food.
- These physical factors are essential for creating effective treatment strategies.
- Your chances of recovery are better if you address addiction sooner.
- The 2 criteria to make the diagnosis center around the patient experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking alcohol and tolerance or requiring an increasing amount of alcohol to achieve the same effect.
- The more a person drinks, the likelier they are to become dependent on alcohol to manage stress and emotions.
- You may need to seek treatment at an inpatient facility if your addiction to alcohol is severe.
Alcohol is classified legally as a regulated substance, medically as a depressant, and socially as a recreational drug with both cultural and addictive implications. Recovery from alcohol addiction is tough, but you don’t need to go through it alone. Professional treatment offers expert guidance and crucial support for overcoming physical and mental challenges. The social perception of alcohol often downplays its potential risks. While drunkenness might be frowned upon, the consumption of alcohol is largely normalized and even expected in certain settings.
Can People With Alcohol Use Disorder Recover?
Prolonged alcohol use can result in a dangerous cycle of addiction. When this happens, you may find yourself needing to continue using alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms, a phenomenon known as dependence. Over time, you may develop tolerance, requiring more of the substance to achieve the same effect. As with other addictive behaviors, alcoholism is a learned behavior that is influenced Drug rehabilitation by a person's thoughts and beliefs.
- Experiencing high levels of stress, trauma, or adverse life events can increase the likelihood of alcohol addiction.
- Treatment for AUD can differ from person to person but sometimes starts with detoxification (detox).
- Heavy drinkers habitually consume alcohol in quantities that exceed recommended limits, posing risks to physical and mental health.
- A way alcohol abuse becomes addiction is when drinking is more important than any other part of your life.