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If you think a loved one may be addicted to alcohol, learn the warning signs and symptoms to know when you should seek help.
For most people who drink, alcohol is a harmless part of the evening — a beer after work, a glass of wine with dinner, or a drink or two with friends. TheCenters for Disease Control and Protection(CDC) recommend that women have no more than one drink per day and that men have no more than two. However, for some people, alcosignshol use doesn’t stop at just a couple of drinks, and it can spiral out of control intoaddiction. They can go from having a casual drink here or there into becoming an alcoholic.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that more than 51 percent of Americans aged 12 or older ( 139.8 million people) had consumed alcohol in the last month during their 2018 survey. Twenty-four percent (67.1 million people)binge drankin the past month, meaning that they consumed five or more drinks on at least one occasion. A little over 6 percent (16.6 million people)drank heavilyor binge drank on at least five occasions in the last month.
Article at a Glance:
Behavioral signs of alcohol addiction include developing a tolerance, failing to fulfill responsibilities and having withdrawal symptoms.
Anxiety, insomnia, sweating, nausea and high heart rate are allsigns of alcoholism.
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Other signs of an alcohol problem are secretive behavior, loss of interest in hobbies, loss of motivation and difficulty paying attention.
There are both immediate and long-term effects of alcohol abuse on the body and brain.
The first stage of quitting alcohol is detoxing under medical supervision
When Does Alcohol Use Become Alcoholism?
People who drink heavily or binge drink may find that their alcohol use has come tocause problems in their lives. These problems are a warning sign of alcohol use disorder oralcoholism, whichSAMHSAreports affects at least 14.8 million people over the age of 12 in the United States.
If someone you know meets at least two of the following criteria, they may have an alcohol use disorder and need help. Treating alcohol use disorder requires managing a few different things, including detox, treating the underlying addiction and also offering aftercare and support for continued sober living.
Related Topic:Am I an alcoholic?
The first stage of someone quitting alcohol is detox and it’s important to make sure that people who drink heavily don’t detox alone. The seizures that can occur during withdrawal can be severe enough to be fatal without medical supervision.
Risks of Alcohol Abuse or Alcoholism
Consuming enough alcohol to become intoxicated can cause a number of immediate effects from impaired judgment and slower reaction times to memory loss or “blackout.” A study inElectroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiologyfound that the impairments in reaction times caused by alcohol consumption last a full 16 hours, long after the study participants had sobered up. Driving while hungover presents a very real danger. Hangovers also cause problems like missed class or work, low quality work or schoolwork, and lost productivity.
Long after the acute effects of intoxication have faded, excessive alcohol consumption can continue to cause health risks.
Getting Help for Your Loved One
If your loved one is suffering from alcoholism,there is help. The Recovery Village can help. Our highly credentialed staff members offer afull range of progressive treatmentoptions based on each patient’s individual needs, includingteletherapy. We’re ready to help your loved one begin the journey to recovery —contact usto learn more about personalized, comprehensive treatment plans.
