Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms

When determining if a patient is alcohol dependent, doctors look for indicators that demonstrate the person can’t control their drinking and has a strong internal need to consume alcohol. Return to drinking after a period of abstinence is a possibility for those with alcohol use disorder. This disorder makes changes in the brain that can make drinking very hard to give up. If you have alcohol use disorder, you might feel very discouraged if you return to drinking. If you’re considering quitting alcohol, there are many benefits to consulting your healthcare professional about how to do so safely. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder, you might be tempted to quit “cold turkey,” or immediately.

Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety

Certain personality traits and mental health conditions can also make someone more prone to alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction is 50% heritable, meaning genetics can play a role in the development of alcohol addiction.8 However, other factors, like social environment, mental health, and family history, also contribute to alcohol addiction. An increase in tolerance marks the second stage—people drink larger doses of alcohol to experience the same effects. This leads to decreased pleasurable effects and alcohol dependence, as the person needs alcohol to feel normal. Cognitive effects of alcohol use may include memory loss, problems with learning, dementia, and severely hindered mental functioning in most severe cases.10 Seeking alcohol addiction treatment is the first step in preventing or reducing the negative effects of alcohol on the brain.

Development of an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Cirrhosis of the liver is one such effect that can be brought about by excessive ethanol consumption over time. The liver will stop functioning correctly if it has been constantly exposed to large amounts of alcohol, leading to permanent damage that results in scar tissue alcoholism symptoms being formed. People who drink large amounts of ethanol daily often find that they need more sleep than usual which can be attributed to the depressive effects caused by chronic exposure to this substance.

Is it better to spread out or binge alcohol consumption?

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is a complex condition influenced by a variety of genetic and biological factors. Many people with alcohol problems don’t recognize that their drinking has become problematic; others are not ready to get help with their drinking. It is important for each individual to consider the pros and cons of drinking and to decide whether cutting down (harm reduction) or quitting altogether (abstinence) is necessary. Although medical detox from alcohol dependency will help you navigate the withdrawal process safely, ongoing treatment and support may be necessary to maintain sobriety after detox.

National Recovery Month

Considering the importance of prior literature on behavioral addiction, the primary aim of this study was to review the major approaches expressed in this physiological dependence on alcohol field. Naltrexone is promising for high-intensity drinkers, although success depends on drinking triggers, genetic profiles, and motivation for treatment. However, large-scale clinical trials focusing exclusively on naltrexone for HID patients remain limited. High-intensity drinkers are more likely than others to report blackouts, landing them in the hospital.

• Treatment for AUD may include a combination of medical and psychological strategies designed to help patients regain control over their drinking habits and resume healthy, productive lives.
• They do not get drunk, drive under the influence or become dependent on alcohol.
• There are 3 case reports suggesting that valproate may be effective for the treatment of sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, but a double-blind, placebo-controlled study failed to replicate the results (Rickels et al., 1999).
• It’s crucial to recognise the difference between physical dependency and psychological addiction.

Side effects are common, but often downplayed by patients, given its rapid onset of therapeutic action and unique reinforcing properties. Common complaints reported with varying frequency by patients treated with alprazolam include sedation, fatigue, ataxia, amnesia, slurred speech, poor concentration, hypersensitivity, and irritability. Behavioral addictions such as gambling, overeating, television compulsion, and internet addiction are similar to drug addiction except that the individual is not addicted to a substance, but he/she is addicted to the behavior or the feeling experienced by acting out the behavior. Goodman’s17 and Griffiths’18 criteria for behavioral addictions are presented below Tables 1 and 2. Similar to substance abuse prevention, programs aimed at addicted individuals and specialized training can educate adolescents about the warning signs of online addiction, in order to assist the early detection of this disorder. For prevention of behavioral addiction (such as internet addiction) authorities, cultural institutions and parents should monitor the use of internet and teach to the adolescent and children, the useful and appropriate methods of internet use.

• All types of alcoholic drinks, including wine, beer and spirits, can increase the risk of cancer.
• Alcohol affects health in a variety of ways; virtually every system of the human body can be damaged by its harmful consumption.
• Alcohol, a prevalent substance in social and cultural settings worldwide, possesses significant sway over both physical and psychological health.
• As the body cannot store alcohol, it is treated as a potential poison and eliminated via the liver, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol.
• A professional may have to help loved ones — kindly, but realistically — talk to the drinker about the painful impact that drinking has on them.

Frequently, alcohol misuse does not occur in isolation but alongside other mental health disorders, a situation known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Common co-occurring conditions include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Treatment for alcohol dependence in such cases must address both the addiction and the mental health condition to ensure a holistic recovery. This dual approach helps prevent relapse and promotes a more stable, long-term recovery.