What is Alcohol Addiction?

Alcoholism is a leading addiction in the United States. It occurs when a person constantly consumes alcohol or develops a physical dependence on it. In this scenario, an individual reaches a point where he or she believes it is impossible to function without alcohol [1].

Alcohol is found in a variety of beverages, including beer, wine, and hard liquor. The amount of alcohol in a beverage is listed on a product label; it is listed as alcohol content by volume (ABV) and varies based on the beverage.

Oftentimes, beer has an ABV between 2% and 12%; brand-name beers usually have a BAV between 4% and 6%, and a person may need to consume at least three servings before he or she feels intoxicated. Comparatively, the BAV of craft beers may extend up to 12%. With craft beers, an individual may require fewer servings before he or she feels intoxicated.

Wine addiction is problematic, too. A 5-oz. serving of wine, for example, has virtually the same amount of alcohol as a 12-oz. beer. Wine is often viewed as a “classy” alternative to beer as well. And in some instances, people drink excess amount of wine without realizing the potential risks associated with their actions.

Wine addiction is commonly associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. If an individual wants to drown out negative feelings, for instance, he or she may consume excess amounts of wine, leading to a wine addiction.

Alcoholic beverages like tequila, gin, rum, and vodka can lead to addiction, too. These beverages have a higher ABV than beer or wine. Plus, they can be mixed with juices, water, and other drinks or consumed “neat,” i.e. directly from a glass or bottle.

An alcohol addiction may lead a person to start and/or conclude his or her day with an alcohol beverage. Over time, a person dealing with addiction may start to consume alcohol more frequently throughout the day. As an alcohol addiction worsens, the physical, psychological, and emotional damage can impact both an addiction and his or her loved ones.

Binge Drinking: What You Need to Know

For men, binge drinking refers to the consumption of five or more alcoholic beverages in a period of four hours or less. For women, binge drinking involves the consumption of four or more alcoholic beverages in a period of four hours or less.

A binge drinker may continuously drink without realizing the impact of his or her actions. If a person binges on alcohol regularly, he or she is prone to addiction.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcoholism?

A person can often diagnose an alcohol addiction on his or her own. Also, there are various symptoms associated with alcohol addiction, and these symptoms include: [2]

• Inability to See the Problem: An alcohol addiction is oblivious to his or her alcohol abuse – despite the fact that his or her addiction is causing severe harm.
• Tolerance: An individual builds up his or her tolerance to alcoholic beverages over time. As a result, this individual is better equipped than ever before to combat the side effects of alcohol use.
• Physical Issues: Sweating, fatigue, and shaking are among the side effects that an alcoholic experiences after the effects of alcohol subside.
• Inability to Stop: An alcohol addict may be unable to stop consuming alcohol – even if he or she feels the urge to stop drinking.
• Alcohol Is Top of Mind: An alcoholic constantly thinks about consuming alcohol and looks for reasons to drink.

Alcohol addiction is a major challenge. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction symptoms, treatment is available. By starting an alcohol abuse treatment, an individual can find the best ways to alleviate his or her addiction symptoms.

The Challenges Associated with Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol addiction sometimes feels like a losing battle, and getting treatment to address an alcohol addiction may prove to be a difficult. Yet people who understand the challenges associated with alcohol addiction may be able to help themselves or others get the support they need to overcome their addiction.

One of the primary reasons why alcohol addiction is tough to treat involves the prevalence of alcohol across the United States. The U.S. beverage industry was worth $182.6 billion in 2018, according to the American Beverage Association. Alcoholic beverages are key parts of the beverage industry and help drive this sector’s revenue. At the same time, the push for medical marijuana and legalization of marijuana in different states may fuel rising demand for alcohol.

The beverage industry lobbies hard, too. For example, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America once spent $260,000 lobbying Congress and other federal agencies, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States spent $1.3 million lobbying Congress, and The Beer Institute spent $250,000 lobbying Congress. These efforts show the commitment of alcohol companies to spend significant amounts of money to lobby federal regulators. Conversely, this spending may make it tough for people to look past the sheer volume of alcoholic beverages available and understand the underlying problems associated with alcohol addiction.

Eliminating alcohol from a person’s life is difficult as well. Alcohol is persistent, and once a person develops an alcohol addiction, overcoming this addiction is frequently an uphill battle. And if a person makes a single mistake during his or her addiction treatment and recovery, a relapse may occur, and the consequences may be dire.

What Are the Dangers Associated with Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. If a person has been a heavy alcohol user for several weeks, months, or years, withdrawal symptoms can escalate quickly.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may begin as soon as two hours after a person’s last drink. They vary from moderate to severe, and in some instances, may result in death. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may linger for several weeks as well.

Moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms include anxiety and shakiness. Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include delirium tremens (DTs) and seizures. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may occur without notice and must be addressed immediately [3].

If you or someone you know experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms, consulting with a doctor is paramount. And if a person suffers fever, hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, or other severe signs of alcohol addiction during alcohol detox, call 911. At this point, an individual can explore alcohol rehab with medical supervision and begin alcohol detox.

Alcohol detox in a supervised setting minimizes risk, particularly for people who have experienced alcohol withdrawal episodes in the past or are dealing with serious health conditions.

Outpatient detox may be used to treat alcohol addicts dealing with a low risk of severe withdrawal. It enables an alcohol addict to receive ongoing monitoring to provide the necessary care to help an individual manage his or her addiction symptoms.

Medically managed inpatient detox is also available. This is generally used to treat individuals dealing with moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. A medically managed inpatient detox program may involve the use of sedative medications to help an individual control his or her withdrawal symptoms. It requires an individual to receive 24-hour medical supervision and removes any stimuli that otherwise may trigger an individual’s addictive behaviors.

Additional treatment may be required following an alcohol detox program. Individuals often leave a detox program with a long-term plan in place to manage their addictive behaviors. That way, individuals can limit the risk of a relapse and take the necessary steps to enjoy an addiction-free life.

How Does Alcohol Detox Disrupt the Body?

Prolonged, heavy drinking disrupts the brain’s neurotransmitters, chemicals that transmit vital messages. For instance, GABA is neurotransmitter that helps the body feel calm and relaxed. Chronic alcohol consumption means the brain needs more alcohol than ever before to produce the effects an addict wants to achieve. Thus, when a person goes through alcohol detox, the body attempts to return to its normal activities. And in this instance, the body attempts to restore the natural production of GABA.

The severity of alcohol detox and withdrawal symptoms varies based on the person. If an individual has been dealing with prolonged and excessive alcohol abuse, the impact of alcohol detox and withdrawal symptoms can be severe.

The initial symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually being within about six to 12 hour of a person’s last drink [3]. They may even start while alcohol in a person’s blood is still measurable. Common symptoms at this point include insomnia, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and anxiety.

Within 12 to 24 hours of a person’s last drink, withdrawal symptoms become more severe. Withdrawal symptoms at this time may include auditory, tactile, and visual hallucinations.

Full alcohol withdrawal may require anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. On average, the effects of alcohol withdrawal disappear within about five to seven days of a person’s last drink.