Content
Treatment includes detoxification, behavioral therapies, medications, and support groups. With the right treatment, people with alcoholism can achieve and maintain sobriety. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender, or social status. It is characterized by a strong desire to consume alcohol, even when it causes negative consequences. The symptoms of alcoholism can vary from mild to severe, and they can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and mental health. The chronic relapsing nature of alcoholism can be attributed to several factors.
- It is a complex condition influenced by various biological, psychological, and social factors, which contribute to its chronicity.
- Psychological factors, including stress, trauma, and mental health disorders, can also influence the chronicity of alcoholism.
What happens if someone with alcoholism doesn’t get treatment?
Over time, the brain adapts to the presence of alcohol, and the individual becomes physically and psychologically dependent on it. This dependence can lead to withdrawal symptoms when the person tries to quit drinking, which can be severe and even life-threatening in some cases. In short, chronic diseases are conditions that are hard to cure with only medication, and these conditions may last for a long time. However, with proper medication and lifestyle, it can be managed and even treated.
Alcohol Addiction
The economic cost of alcoholism is estimated to be in the billions of dollars each year, making it a significant public health issue. These medications, such as naltrexone and acamprosate, can help reduce cravings and prevent relapse. Other medications, such as disulfiram, cause unpleasant side effects when alcohol is consumed, which can help deter people from drinking.
Developing Alcohol Dependence
The sobering truth is that alcoholism should be treated as a chronic medical disease. Recognizing the problem and getting proper help can lead to recovery and a healthier, happier life without relying on alcohol. Some people may use alcohol as a way to cope with the symptoms of a physical or mental health problem.
- Understanding this cycle is crucial for individuals in alcohol recovery to navigate their journey towards sobriety.
- Therapy teaches alcoholics to control emotions, cope with stress, make healthy decisions and avoid relapse.
- They are not just a means to an end but a continuous source of inspiration and accountability for many.
- Recognizing this transition is crucial, as it represents a critical window for intervention before the condition progresses to the chronic phase of addiction.
It can be hard to identify the lines between casual and occasional drinking and unhealthy alcohol use including alcohol use disorder. Medical professionals can address co-occurring disorders through early diagnosis; effective substance abuse treatment supports both mental and physical health, which improves overall recovery. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that affects not only the individual but also their loved ones and society as a whole.
Who’s most at risk for a chronic condition?
The exact cause of alcoholism is not known, but it is thought to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Treatment for alcoholism typically involves a combination of counseling, therapy, and medication. While the goal of treatment is to reduce or stop drinking, relapse is common and ongoing support and management is often needed to maintain abstinence. First, it has clear and identifiable causes, including both genetic and environmental factors. For instance, several studies have revealed that a person’s family history, as well as their mental health, stress levels, and social milieu, affect their chance of developing alcoholism.
In 2010 alone, excessive alcohol consumption cost the US $249 billion, equal to $2.05 per drink. Excessive drinking leads to over 140,000 deaths in the US each year, cutting lives short by an average of 26 years. You will also lose your tolerance to alcohol very quickly when you stop drinking, so a relapse can put you at greater risk of alcohol poisoning. As it can have a relaxing effect, people with anxiety may develop a routine of having a drink when they need to calm down. This can easily spiral into an addiction if the underlying problem is not addressed.
Drinking alcohol from a young age while your brain is still developing can also make you more likely to develop an addiction, due to the physical changes that this substance can make to your brain. Studies have found a link between family members with addiction, suggesting that genetics may play a role in the development of alcohol use disorder. Before discussing the reasons why alcoholism is considered a chronic disease, it’s important to understand exactly what a chronic disease is. Alcoholism is more commonly known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcohol addiction.
It can also cause people to experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue alcohol use. Alcohol use disorder results in excessive alcohol use and an inability to control alcohol consumption, leading to physical and mental health concerns. Treatment typically includes a combination of medications, behavioral therapies, and support groups to help individuals overcome their addiction and achieve long-term recovery. It is crucial to recognize the profound impact of alcoholism on individuals, their loved ones, and society as a whole and work towards comprehensive strategies to address and mitigate its effects. Withdrawal and relapse are significant challenges in the treatment of alcoholism. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening, while relapse can lead to further drinking and feelings of guilt and shame.
- Chronic diseases are those that last for a long time and often do not have a cure.
- Medications can make detoxification safe while avoiding the worst symptoms of withdrawal.
- While drinking alcohol may feel harmless at this stage, repeated alcohol consumption helps build tolerance to its effects.
- It can also lead to permanent brain damage, resulting in dementia, memory loss, and impaired motor functioning.
- About 60 percent of Americans have at least one, and 40 percent have two or more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It’s understandable if you think that “chronic disease” and “alcoholism” are unrelated topics. Drinking alcohol decreases brain activity, distorts vision and hearing, and affects your alertness, judgement, coordination, memory and reaction times. Older adults experience greater levels of impairment than younger people from equivalent amounts of alcohol because of changes in the way alcohol is processed as you age. Alcohol can also reduce or neutralize the effectiveness of both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Some drugs also intensify the sedative effects of alcohol and may make you feel unusually drowsy or uncoordinated after only one or two drinks, putting you at increased risk of falls or injury. If you’re on medication and think you might drink alcohol, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.
As a result, they endure job loss, multiple drug addiction treatment DUIs, and experience financial hardships. Some alcoholics admit that their drinking is out of control but cannot stop or have many failed attempts to quit. These examples have in common the presence of denial and an unwillingness to surrender to the fact that alcoholism is a chronic disease that needs professional help to overcome. Denial often occurs because alcohol is the cure for how bad alcoholics feel, and they typically defend it no matter what. Long-term management and support are essential components of recovery from alcoholism.
Over time, heavy drinking can damage the brain cells and lead to problems with memory, attention, and decision-making. Chronic alcohol use can also increase the risk of developing neurological disorders, such as dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. If you have an alcohol addiction and want to quit suddenly, it may cause issues like anxiety, mood swings, high blood pressure, etc. That’s why slow detoxification with the help of certified individuals or rehab is the best way to treat alcohol addiction.