Alcohol Addiction and Treatment
Published on March 03, 2017 Updated on June 21, 2022
Alcohol use disorder can harm your mind and body and create long-term consequences in many aspects of your life, including your relationships and career. Long-term alcohol use or misuse can lead to alcohol addiction or dependence. In this article, you’ll learn more about the risks of drinking and how to get help for yourself or a loved one.
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the clinical term used to describe a chronic health disease marked by not being able to stop drinking despite negative outcomes to your health, work, and relationships.1 Alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, and the outdated term “alcoholism” are all common terms often used to refer to alcohol use disorder. 1
Risk Factors for Alcohol Use Disorder
AUD risk factors include: 1,2
Genetics.
Past trauma
Drinking at an early age
Underlying mental health disorders.
Binge drinking or heavy drinking.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Only a doctor or qualified addiction specialist can diagnose you with an alcohol use disorder. But there are some signs and symptoms that might mean alcohol use is becoming a problem. These can include:14
Using alcohol in higher amounts or more often than intended.
Continuing to drink alcohol despite the negative impact it has on your life.
Alcohol cravings.
Drinking even though it harms your ability to fulfill your work, home, or school responsibilities, causes problems with your interpersonal relationships, or despite causing or worsening health problems.
[self-assessment]
What Is the Difference Between Binge Drinking and Heavy Drinking?
Binge drinking is defined as having a certain number of standard drinks in about 2 hours:10
For women, 4 or more drinks.
For men, 5 or more drinks.
Heavy drinking means having:10
For women, 3 or more drinks in one day or more than 7 drinks in one week.
For men, 4 or more drinks in one day or more than 14 drinks in one week.
A standard drink is 1.5 ounces of liquor, 5 ounces of wine, 8 ounces of malt liquor, or 12 ounces of beer.6
[caption id="attachment_12594" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism[/caption]
What Happens When You Drink Alcohol?
Drinking alcohol in moderation may make you feel relaxed but drinking too much alcohol at once may also harm your health.3
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
Some common short-term effects of alcohol include:4,6
Injuries such as falls and car crashes.
Memory problems.
Slurred speech.
Slow reflexes.
Poor vision.
Drinking too much alcohol in a short time period can lead to an alcohol overdose.5 Alcohol overdose happens when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream, that it affects areas in the brain that control basic life support functions such as breathing, heart rate and body temperature.5 This can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.5 Your risk of overdose depends on many factors such as age, gender, medicines you’re taking, how much food you’ve eaten, and the rate and type of alcohol you had.5
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
Heavy drinking can also damage your health over time. Some of the health effects of long-term alcohol use include:3,4,6
Alcoholic hepatitis and other liver diseases.
Heart problems such as cardiomyopathy (stretched, sagging heart muscle), high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Cancers of the throat, liver, breast cancer, and colon.
Weakened immune system, which increases your risk of infections and autoimmune disorders.
Effects of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).11 FASDs can cause lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual problems for your baby.11 Drinking during pregnancy also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs).13 Because of these risks, the U.S. Surgeon General advises against drinking any alcohol if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.12
Alcohol Withdrawal
Long-term alcohol use can lead to alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence is when the brain gets used to alcohol over time and as a result, the brain and body need alcohol to function.8 If you’re physically dependent on alcohol and suddenly cut back on or quit drinking, you may have withdrawal symptoms.8
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include: 8,9
Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Anxiety.
Confusion.
Fast heart rate.
Sweating.
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there).
Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on how long you’ve been drinking, how much you drink, and other factors.8 Without treatment, alcohol withdrawal can lead to seizures and even death.8 It’s important to talk to a doctor if you’re ready to quit drinking, as they can help you find treatment that will fit your needs while keeping you as safe as possible from harmful withdrawal symptoms.8
[vob-aktify-cta title="Does your insurance cover alcohol detox?" subtitle="Check your coverage online or text us your questions for more information"]
How to Safely Detox from Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal can be uncomfortable and may have some serious health risks, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Medical detox can help ease your withdrawal symptoms and keep you safe.9 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) advises inpatient detox or some other form of 24-hour medical care to ensure your safety while you detox from alcohol.9
Other Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction
While detox can help you safely rid your body of alcohol, it doesn’t address the underlying causes that led to addiction in the first place.9 To do this, many people continue treatment after detox. Some common treatment settings include:1,15
Inpatient rehabilitation, where you live at a treatment center during treatment. Inpatient treatment varies in intensity and length, depending on your recovery goals and needs.
Outpatient treatment, where you go to set appointments during the week but still live at home.
No matter which treatment setting you choose, your treatment will likely include some combination of behavioral therapy, peer support groups, and prescription treatment medicines.
How to Find Alcohol Rehab or Detox Near Me
If you or someone you love is dealing with the discomfort of alcohol withdrawal, treatment can help. American Addiction Centers (AAC) has treatment centers across the country that offer medical detox and withdrawal management. Call our 24/7 alcohol detox hotline at [phone] or text our team for more information about our treatment centers. For more information about treatment in your local area, browse our directory to find a detox center near you.
[samhsa-data type="adtx" heading="Alcohol Detox Centers by State" theme="dark"/]
[accordion title="Detox at American Addiction Centers"]
Detox Centers:
Laguna Treatment Hospital
Adcare - Rhode Island
Adcare - Boston
Sunrise House
Desert Hope
Greenhouse
Oxford Treatment Center
Recovery First
River Oaks
Immediate Service Areas:
Aliso Viejo, CA
Kingstown, RI
Worcester, MA
Lafayette, NJ
Las Vegas, NV
Grand Prairie, TX
Etta, MS
Hollywood, FL
Riverview, FL
[/accordion][accordion title="Detox centers by state"]
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
[/accordion][accordion title ="Detox Insurance Coverage"]
Aetna
Ambetter
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bright Health
Humana
Kaiser Permanente
Medicaid
Medicare
State-Funded
Tricare
Without Insurance
[/accordion][accordion title ="Detox"]
Inpatient detox
Outpatient detox
Medical detox
[/accordion][accordion title ="Treatment after Detox"]
Rehab Services:
Rehab
Same-day rehab
State-funded rehab
Free rehab
Choosing rehab
Aftercare Services:
Aftercare
Sober Living
Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
[/accordion]
[sources]
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021, April). Understanding alcohol use disorder.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d). What is alcohol misuse?
Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Counsel of California. (2021). Short and long term effects.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol’s effects on the body.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021, May). Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 11). Alcohol use and your health.
Harvard College. (2019, April 22). Alcohol withdrawal.
Newman, R., Stobart Gallagher, M. & Gomez, A. (2021). Alcohol Withdrawal. StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). TIP 45: Detoxification and substance abuse treatment.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Drinking levels defined.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 24). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FADs): Alcohol Use in Pregnancy.
Tan, C. H., Denny, C. H., Cheal, N. E., Sniezek, J. E., & Kanny, D. (2015). Alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age – United States, 2011-2013. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 64(37), 1042–1046.
Bailey, B. A., & Sokol, R. J. (2011). Prenatal alcohol exposure and miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome. Alcohol research & health, 34(1), 86–91.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019, October). Treatment options: Types of treatment.
[/sources] ...
Read more