Alcoholism

Understanding Alcoholism

Alcoholism, or alcohol misuse, is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. While these statistics are staggering, there is hope for those suffering from alcohol abuse, as well as those who are at greater risk for developing a dependence to alcohol. Through the proper education and prevention, interventions, and treatment, recovery is possible. If you or someone you love is currently struggling with a drinking problem it is important to know all the facts including warning signs, withdrawal symptoms, negative effects caused by alcohol, and most importantly, how to get the help you need.

The exact amount of alcohol needed to be considered heavy drinking varies based on many factors, such as gender, body mass, and the alcohol content in an individual’s drink. Research shows that men who consume more than two drinks per day and women who consume more than one, are considered heavy drinkers.

Alcohol is used to trigger feelings of pleasure by releasing chemicals into the brain. Addiction occurs when the desire for this feeling leads to extended alcohol use. Additionally, as an individual’s body adjusts to the effects of alcohol, it will require greater amounts to cause the same effects, leading to an increase in alcohol consumption. Overtime, this can create a dependence on the drug as the brain becomes accustomed to it. When this happens and access to alcohol is cut off, it can lead to severe symptoms of withdrawal.

The negative effects of alcoholism can vary across physical, psychological, and social levels, and range widely from weight gain and organ failure to domestic violence, fetal damage, and the inability to maintain a job. The difficulties of these problems often encourage more drinking, creating a downward spiral into addiction. Addiction is more common in men than women (2:1), and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has estimated that at least 15 million people in the United States suffer from an alcohol use disorder. Unfortunately, many of these individuals will never seek help or acknowledge they have a disorder.

What is Alcohol?

Produced by fermenting certain carbohydrates that can be found in grains, fruits, and other products like honey, alcohol is primarily ingested as a beverage. Alcohol’s primary ingredient is ethanol, which in the body, serves as a depressant that decreases brain functions and leads to impairment when consumed in high quantities. This state can be described as feeling “buzzed” or “drunk” and side effects can vary from person to person. Common responses are slurred speech, poor balance, impaired judgement and decreased motor skills. Individuals under the heavy influence of ethanol are more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors.

Alcohol distribution and consumption is a major industry across the world and has been common among many cultures throughout history. In the U.S. alone, 2018 alcohol sales exceeded $253 billion. Its popularity is aided by its legal status and aggressive marketing from the alcohol industry. Despite this, it is a dangerous drug that presents a risk of addiction and severe health conditions, such as heart disease and liver failure.

Types of Alcohol

Alcohol can come in many different forms based on how it is manufactured and what it is mixed with. However, all alcohol products can be grouped into three categories:

• Isopropyl – sterilization products such as rubbing alcohol

• Methyl – industrial solvents such as paint remover

• Ethyl – drinkable alcohol such as beer

Ethyl alcohol is the only type that humans can drink, although all types of alcohol are technically toxic. Drinkable alcohol comes in many different forms, some of which are wine, beer, spirits (such as rum or vodka), cider and liqueurs.

There are also a wide variety of alternate names that refer to alcoholic beverages. Terms to watch out for are:

• Juice

• Cold one

• Booze

• Sauce

• Brew

• The bottle

• Tipple

• Hard stuff

• Red-eye

• Vino

• Hooch

• Liquid courage

• Shotgun

• Shots

• Cocktail

• Keg

• Shotski

• Moonshine

• Toddy

Different types of drinks have different alcohol contents. Generally, alcohol percentages are:

• 2-6% for beer

• 6-20% for wine

• 15-60% for liqueur

• 40-50% for spirits

It is worth noting that since alcohol contents can vary between beverages, users should be extremely careful about how they calculate their consumption. For instance, 12 ounces of beer is not equivalent to 12 ounces of wine. By definition, if a woman consumed that amount of beer per day, she would not be considered a heavy drinker, whereas if she consumed that amount of wine, she would.

How Addictive is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a highly addictive substance, and the risk of alcoholism is greatly increased when individuals regularly drink large amounts within a short period of time. There are three stages to developing an alcohol addiction, and for some, an alcohol use disorder can start with their very first drink. Like any addiction, the stages will be a combination of physical and mental factors that progressively worsen overtime.

Endorphins Affect Brain Chemistry

Drinking alcohol triggers an endorphin rush within a person’s brain. These endorphins are pleasure chemicals and are the reason why people who drink feel happy and often boisterous. With repeated use, the release of endorphins causes the brain to rewire itself to crave alcohol and the euphoric feeling that is associated with it.

Tolerance Grows

When alcohol wears off, the feelings of happiness caused by these endorphins fade as well. To receive this feeling again, a person will often choose to drink more alcohol. Overtime this will lead to the development of a tolerance for alcohol. The stronger a person’s tolerance, the more they will need to drink in order to achieve the same feelings of pleasure. Tolerance is a key reason why people progressively use greater quantities of alcohol in search of similar sensations.

Dependence Develops

As tolerance builds and the brain and body grow used to alcohol and its associated feelings, both begin to adjust to the heightened levels of endorphins. When this happens, the individual’s mind and body lose the ability to function normally without alcohol, forming a dependence to the substance.

When a dependence to alcohol is solidified a person is truly addicted. At this stage, a person will likely experience many other negative side effects greatly impacting their life, such as legal trouble caused by risky behavior or financial problems. Despite negative consequences, the individual will unfortunately be unable to stop drinking without the help of professionals.

Withdrawal

If or when a person begins to experience symptoms of withdrawal, this is a sign that a dependence and/or addiction has developed. Withdrawal takes place when a person who has become accustomed to a drug, such as alcohol, begins to experience severe mental and physical reactions when the substance is taken away. This can include headaches, vomiting, sweating and strong anxiety.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing alcoholism is often a challenging task because physicians must strongly rely on patient reporting and history to determine if someone has a disorder. In order to make a proper diagnosis and create effective treatment plans, this requires the patient to be honest about their circumstances, something many individuals struggle with. Denial is a foundational component of alcoholism and chemical dependency, therefore, when a person has a difficult time recognizing a problem within themselves, it can be that much harder for a professional to address.Though patient history remains a key factor for diagnosis, physicians also look for different symptoms to help determine if an individual is suffering from addiction.

There are a range of symptoms and behavioral changes to look for, but the most important are:

• Decline in normal activities due to alcohol usage

• Increased physical tolerance to alcohol

• Mood swings

• Withdrawal symptoms

• Inability to avoid drinking, even when trying to stop

• Frequent drinking, often alone

• Neglected personal health

• Strong desire to drink

• Memory loss

Though these symptoms can be used to diagnose alcohol abuse, they are nearly impossible to diagnose without an accurate patient history. For this reason, it is important that individuals who fear they are suffering from an addiction be completely honest with their doctor about their experiences and symptoms.

Treating Alcoholism

If you are wondering what the first step for getting help with a drinking problem is, you are doing it. Whether it be for yourself or a loved one, research is key. It is important to always consult with addiction professionals, physicians and even mental health specialists when appropriate to aid in this process.

While treatment often begins with detoxification, other steps may be necessary depending on your situation. Sometimes family members are presented with reluctance and unwillingness from their loved one in need of help. In this scenario, an intervention may be a beneficial tool in helping that person realize the destruction caused by their disorder and the urgency for treatment.

Once a patient has agreed to come to a drug and alcohol treatment facility, they must first be evaluated by the medical and clinical team to determine an accurate course of treatment. This can include detoxification, a process in which harmful substances are removed from the body under medical supervision and residential treatment, where therapy, clinical interventions, and holistic modalities are incorporated in the treatment plan. Other components of care include family education, aftercare support, and if appropriate, co-occurring disorder treatment and legal and vocational assistance.

The primary goal for alcoholism treatment is to address the underlying causes of one’s addiction and teach the patient effective coping strategies so they may begin to live a life without the use of alcohol or other drugs. Through treatment, the patient can begin to heal and rebuild their life into one of hope and many possibilities for the future.

Alcohol Addiction Statistics

Alcohol’s role in a wide array of health-related incidents means that it has been a subject of study for a long time. In the United States, there is even an organization created by the government to research and monitor alcohol consumption, addiction, and related deaths. Founded in 1970, this organization is called the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

The NIAAA regularly published its data and is an excellent source for statistics on alcohol in the nation. From these, a few of the most notable statistics from the last five years include:

• 4% of adults reported drinking alcohol in their lifetime, meanwhile 56.0% report doing so in the last month

• 9% of adults reported engaging in binge drinking in the past month

• At least 88,000 people die per year from alcohol-related causes

• 31% of driving fatalities involved alcohol-impaired driving

• 1 million adults have an alcohol use disorder

• Only 6.7% receive treatment

While these statistics are troubling, perhaps the most frightening is that few people seek help for their addiction.

Get Help Today for Alcoholism

If you or a loved one is battling a fight against alcoholism, Brookdale is here to help. Our team of professionals are committed to providing the highest quality of treatment services in a compassionate, caring, and humanistic way. There is hope for recovery and it begins by contacting us today at 855-575-1292.

We understand that this can be a scary process, but you do not have to do it alone. We will be here to guide you toward your new life…recovered.