Alcohol Abuse Signs, Symptoms & Effects Of Addiction

Learn about alcohol addiction

Alcohol abuse is a chronic disease in which an individual has a pattern of drinking to the point of excess, in spite of the negative effects that the drinking causes in the person’s work, medical, educational, or social life. Alcoholism is a destructive pattern of alcohol usage that includes a number of symptoms. These include tolerance to alcohol, or the need for more and more alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication. An alcoholic will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms in the event that alcohol use is dramatically decreased or stopped. In addition, someone who has alcoholism will use more alcohol for a longer than intended period of time and have trouble reducing alcohol usage. The long-term effects of alcohol use can be life-threatening and include damage to all vital organs. The difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is simple: alcoholics experience a tolerance to alcohol and withdrawal symptoms if alcohol use is stopped.

There are considered to be five stages of alcoholism. The first stage is described as availability of alcohol rather than actual alcohol consumption, while the second stage involves experimenting with or regular weekly usage of alcohol. The second stage and all above it may or may not involve binge drinking. The third stage is described as further increasing the frequency of alcohol use and/or using on a regular basis. Individuals in the third stage of alcoholism may buy or steal to obtain more booze. The fourth stage involves regular alcohol usage, preoccupation with getting drunk, and the development of problems in the individual’s daily live as a result of alcohol abuse. The fifth stage – and the most serious – involves an individual only feeling normal when he or she is using alcohol, as well as increased risk-taking and suicidal thoughts while drunk.

Binge drinking, which is a pattern of drinking in which a man consumes five drinks in a row or a woman drinks at least four drinks in a row, is actually associated with the same health risks and social problems as chronic alcoholism. The greater the amount drunk, the greater the risks become. Binge drinking, especially popular among teens and young adults, may actually lead to a quicker development of alcoholism.

Individuals who struggle with alcoholism are often unable to quit or cut back their drinking without help. Denying that you have a problem with drinking is generally considered to be a part of addiction. There are proper treatments available to help individuals who struggle with alcoholism that allow these individuals the ability to learn to live a happy, sober life.

Alcohol addiction statistics

Alcohol abuse affects approximately 10% of women and 20% of men in the United States, with most of these beginning in the mid-teenage years. Nearly 2,000 people under the age of 21 die each year in car crashes that involve drinking. Alcohol is noted as the case for nearly half of all violent deaths that involve teenagers. Between 10-15% of individuals who struggle with alcoholism die by suicide.

Causes and risk factors for alcohol addiction

There has been no single identifiable cause for an individual to develop alcoholism. Rather, alcoholism is thought to develop as the result of a number of causes working together. These causes include:

Genetic: Individuals who have a family history of alcoholism – especially if the alcoholic is a parent or sibling – are at a higher risk for developing alcoholism themselves. While this is not a definite prognostic indicator, it does greatly increase the likelihood that an individual will develop the disorder.

Brain Chemistry: Over a period of time, too much alcohol may change the normal balance of neurotransmitters and nerve tracks in the brain associated with experiencing pleasure, controlling judgment, and the ability to execute good behavior. In turn, this may involve craving more alcohol to change negative emotions into more positive emotions.

Environmental: Those who suffer from a childhood history of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are at higher risk for development of alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Children and teenagers who have their first drink of alcohol between the ages of 11 and 14 are at greater risk for developing a drinking problem than those who begin earlier.

Psychological: Low self-esteem and feeling out of place can increase the chances someone will develop alcoholism. Women in particular who suffer from antisocial behaviors and impulsivity are at a higher risk for developing a drinking problem.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction

The symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcoholism can vary among individuals and often occur along a continuum – from mild to severe. The most common symptoms seen in individuals who struggle with alcoholism include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Euphoria
• Increased violence
• Withdrawing from once-pleasurable activities
• Isolation from friends and loved ones
• Increased risk-taking behaviors
• Hiding alcohol in odd places around the house, car, and at work
• Drinking with the only purpose of getting drunk
• Blackouts from heavy drinking
• Annoyance at loved ones who suggest a drinking problem
• Difficulties maintaining responsibilities at work or school
• Spending time preoccupied with getting, using, and recovering from effects of alcohol
• Increasingly disheveled appearance
• Physical tolerance to alcohol
• Physical dependence upon alcohol
• Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is abruptly stopped or cut way back
• Damage to nearly every organ system in the body
• Bloodshot eyes
• Smelling like booze
• Poor nutrition
• Worsening of well-being
• Worsening of emotional state
• Worsening of mental illnesses
• Psychological dependence upon alcohol
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations

Effects of alcoholism

The long-term effects of alcohol use and abuse can be devastating and life-threatening. Individuals who struggle with alcoholism suffer damage to virtually every organ system in their body. Effects of alcoholism include:

• Poor coordination
• Thiamine deficiency
• Poor nutrition
• Domestic abuse
• Child abuse
• Mounting legal problems
• Job loss
• Increased likelihood of committing violent crimes
• Car accidents
• Gastritis
• Complications of diabetes
• Nystagmus
• Bone loss
• Weakened immune systems
• Increased risks for cancer
• Loss of friendships
• Social isolation
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular arrhythmias
• Impotence
• Irregular menses
• Cirrhosis
• Acute pancreatitis
• Stroke
• Increasing confusion
• Amnesia
• Suicide

Alcohol addiction and co-occurring disorders

Withdrawing from alcohol is a potentially dangerous and life-threatening condition for those who have been drinking heavily for a long period of time. It’s vital that alcoholics are slowly detoxed from alcohol in a safe, medically-monitored environment to prevent complications. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may begin within 2 hours of the last drink and may include:

• Mild anxiety
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Shakiness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Delirium tremens
• Confusion
• Tachycardia
• High fever
• Alcoholic hallucinations
• Death