Overcome Alcohol Addiction | More About Alcoholism & Addiction

Overcome Alcohol Addiction Learn More About Alcoholism

From college dorms to cozy living rooms, alcohol abuse is common across the United States. One of the reasons that people indulge in “booze” so readily is because they don’t understand the full risks of consuming so much alcohol.

Considering this lack of information, as well the nation’s very pro-alcohol culture, it’s not surprising that so many people don’t even know exactly what an alcoholic is. Clearing up these issues is a great first step toward reducing alcohol abuse.

Common Questions About Alcoholism

Before getting into the risk factors and signs of alcoholism, let’s take a look at three of the most frequently asked questions about alcohol use. Click on any of the following questions to see the answer.

What's the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse?

Alcohol abuse is any type of drinking that has a negative impact on your health. More often than not, this term refers specifically to binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as any time an individual consumes a large amount of alcohol in a single sitting (roughly 3 to 5 drinks or more) and over a short time frame (2 to 3 hours). This type of drinking can evolve into a long-term habits.

Alcoholism describes chronic drinking driven by chemicals in the brain that threaten a person’s way of life. Those who abuse alcohol are not necessarily alcoholics. Frequent alcohol abuse (which is common in settings like college campuses) does not mean that someone is an alcoholic. However, ongoing alcohol abuse greatly increases one’s risk for addiction.

Is there such a thing as a functioning alcoholic?

Many people point toward the Hollywood image of a “functioning alcoholic” and use this as an excuse to avoid treatment. Unfortunately, these fictional depictions of advanced alcoholism are not based in reality.

Some may delay their decline into visible addiction longer than others, it is only a matter of time before the body’s dependence on alcohol makes it impossible for a person to function as they used to. In short, the “functioning alcoholic” does not exist. Some individuals simply have a higher tolerance for alcohol, but it can catch up to them before long.

Is it safe to detox at home from alcohol?

It is not safe to try to do alcohol detox at home, though you may have been told otherwise. That’s because the body has to make changes to get used to handling large amounts of alcohol. Once these changes are made, it can be extremely difficult for the body to reset itself without undergoing a life-threatening withdrawal process.

Going through withdrawal without access to medical care could end in tragedy. You or your loved one is always better off going through withdrawal under the guidance of experienced detox professionals.

Our Detox Program

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder

When an individual drinks, the alcohol they consume is absorbed into their bloodstream through the stomach. Once these chemicals reach the brain, the person enters a slowed, sedated state that people typically associate with being drunk. In particular, the chemicals in alcohol begin to affect the parts of the brain that deals with pleasure, judgment and self-control.

Eventually, the changes that the brain makes in the presence of alcohol become permanent. Now “rewired” to operate with a large quantity of alcohol, the individual must drink in order to feel normal and get through his or her day. Once a person reaches this point, any attempt at alcohol detox and withdrawal must be done while under medical supervision.

Risk Factors for Alcohol Addiction

Some people are more prone to developing a strong dependence on alcohol more quickly than others. For some, the escalation into a substance abuse problem could take years. For others, only a few months.

Here are a few of the reasons why a person may be more susceptible to alcohol addiction:

Exposure

Studies show that the younger a person is when they start to drink, the higher their chance of developing a serious substance use disorder by the time they reach their 20s or 30s.

Genetics

While you can’t inherit alcoholism from your parents, you can inherit an increased likelihood of becoming an alcoholic. That’s why people whose parents were heavy drinkers must be extra careful to watch their own habits.

Peer Pressure

People with friends who use drugs are more likely to be encouraged or frequently asked to try alcohol. This is especially true of high school- and college-aged students, many of whom are introduced to substance use through their groups of friends.

Mental Health

Those with mental health disorders such as depression are much more likely to abuse alcohol. A big part of this is lack of access to care. Those dealing with untreated mental health problems often turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

Are you wondering if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol? Like all addictions, alcoholism becomes harder to deal with the longer it goes untreated. Spotting it early on is easier if you know the signs of a full-blown or developing addiction.

Keep an eye out for these signs and get help before it’s too late:

Drinking throughout the day
Drinking in the morning
Drinking alone
Drinking before social engagements
Making excuses for drinking
Putting school or work at risk to drink
Giving up favorite hobbies to drink

Treatment to Overcome Alcohol Addiction

Some people turn down offers to go to alcohol rehabilitation because they aren’t sure what to expect. They are afraid that their experience will be painful or that they will be judged for their history with alcohol use.

These fears couldn’t be further from the truth. Today’s top substance abuse rehab facilities provide safe, medically guided treatment that is geared toward each patient’s personal needs.

Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect in treatment. Click on any of the following terms to learn more about that level of treatment:

Alcohol Detoxification

In order to start rehabilitation, a person has to get all of the foreign substances out of their body. Depending on the type of substance they used, this process may be dangerous as the body deals with the shock of alcohol detox. That’s why it’s so important to undergo this process while under medical supervision.

Alcohol Recovery Education

Much of rehab is spent learning recovery skills, practicing self-awareness and self-improvement, and figuring out why the patient relied on alcohol in the first place. This occurs in both group and one-on-one settings with trained medical professionals and other specialists. Once a person in treatment has a better understanding of their own addiction, they can start developing a plan to stay sober.

Practicing Long-Term Care

The journey toward sobriety doesn’t end after treatment. Former addicts must stay mentally and physically well to keep their lives drug-free. Outpatient treatment and other forms of long-term and aftercare opportunities help individuals stay sober for the long haul.

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