Alcohol Addiction

A legal substance that isn’t always safe

Addiction Treatment Alcohol Addiction

Negative Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant. Not only does it cause headaches and high blood pressure, but people who drink to excess have difficulty sleeping, experience a lack of focus, and impaired judgment. The latter leads to many getting behind the wheel when they have no business to, which puts their lives, not to mention the lives of other drivers, at severe risk.

One of the many reasons alcohol addiction needs to be taken seriously is because while it can start innocently enough, it can develop into a compulsive and unstoppable habit with real, life-altering consequences. It may feel like the cure-all for masking emotional and physical pain, but prolonged use can become alcohol addiction without your permission, severely impacting brain chemistry.

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What Is Alcohol Addiction?

So, what exactly separates the social drinker from someone struggling with addiction? It’s the dependence on the substance — in this case, alcohol — for everyday survival.

Alcohol addiction goes far beyond having a glass of champagne at a wedding or a couple of beers at a ballgame. It’s drinking to excess and developing a dependence to where you need a drink to function. Indulging to this degree causes more than just physical issues. Relationships suffer, work is no longer a priority, and you continue to use despite the consequences. It’s an utter loss of control.

Alcohol by the Numbers

Alcohol abuse is considered the second-leading cause of dementia, connected with 10% of diagnosed cases.
Some struggling with alcohol addiction may not even realize how much is too much. According to The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, “a drink” is .6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol — the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of regular beer, five ounces of table wine, 1.5 ounces — or a single shot — of brandy, cognac, gin, rum, tequila, or whiskey.
A binge drinker is defined as someone who downs several drinks in one sitting — four for women, five for men. Heavy drinking is classified as someone who regularly consumes a certain number of alcohol beverages over the course of a week (8 for women, 15 for men).

In 2018, 45% of people ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month; 6.6% reported that they engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month.
In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 9,967 deaths (31% of overall driving fatalities).
According to the Centers for Disease Control, six people die every day from alcohol poisoning, the effect of drinking too much alcohol too quickly. About 76% of the people who die are men who also tend to be non-Hispanic white Americans. Research has found that alcoholism is a factor in 30% of alcohol poisoning deaths.
Alcohol addiction is rampant and causes a staggering 88,000 deaths (62,000 men and 26,000 women) every year.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction?

The symptoms of alcohol addiction include:

Personality changes when he or she is drinking
The constant need to socialize in places where alcohol is served
Trouble with the law
Lack of interest in work or a diminished performance on the job
Drinking for pleasure always means drinking until inebriated
Canceling events with friends and family
Unchecked risk taking such as driving under the influence or unprotected sex
Weight gain
Broken capillaries on the face and nose

Reach Out for Help

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, we’re here for you. Instead of a quick fix, our compassionate team of experts at The Meadows is waiting to help you begin your journey toward long-term recovery that focuses on the whole person by addressing any underlying mental health conditions or trauma that may be perpetuating the addiction.

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