Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is a debilitating disease in which a person is unable to stop his or her alcohol consumption despite the effect the alcohol has on their work, interpersonal life, education, or health.

More About Alcohol Addiction

Learn More About Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol abuse tends to begin in a person’s mid-teens and early twenties. Alcoholism, the more severe of the two disorders, is a highly destructive pattern of alcohol usage that involves physical tolerance to alcohol and withdrawal symptoms if alcohol use is cut back tremendously or stopped altogether. Other symptoms of alcoholism may include drinking more alcohol for a longer period than intended as well as challenges with cutting back or stopping drinking. Alcohol affects teenagers, men, women, and older adults in far different manners.

People who abuse alcohol or have alcoholism are not simply drinking because they lack control— they can’t easily just “cut back” on their drinking. Many people who abuse alcohol or struggle with alcoholism are simultaneously struggling with mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder. With the right types of inpatient detox, rehab, medication, and therapies, however, most people who struggle with alcohol abuse or alcoholism are able to successfully overcome their addiction to alcohol and learn to lead a happy, healthy, sober life.

Statistics

Statistics on Alcohol Abuse & Addiction

Alcohol use and abuse still plays a major role in the United States. In the U.S. alcohol abuse and alcoholism affects about 10% of women and 20% of men, most of whom will begin using alcohol by their teen years. In the U.S. about 15 million people are affected by alcoholism or alcohol abuse. The mortality is astounding. Nearly 2,000 teens under the age of 21 will die in any given year as a result of alcohol use. In 2011, the number of alcohol-induced deaths (excluding homicide and accidents) was nearly 26,000 individuals. That very same year, nearly 16,000 people died as a result of alcohol-induced liver disease.

What Causes Alcohol Use?

Learn About the Causes and Risk Factors for Alcohol Abuse

Researchers tend to agree that addiction is not caused by a single factor, but rather it is the result of several factors working together, triggered by an event to produce addiction. Some of the most common factors related to alcoholism include:

Genetic: People who have first-degree relatives who struggle with addiction are at a much greater risk for developing an addiction themselves than others without a similar family history. However, not all who end up engaging in problematic drinking have a family history of the addiction.

Physical: The process of becoming addicted to and dependent upon alcohol occurs slowly. Over time, chronic alcohol consumption can change the normal balance of chemicals and nerve pathways in the brain associated with pleasurable sensations, judgment, and the ability to exert control over behavior.

Environmental: People who are raised in an environment in which addiction is the norm are more likely to develop a problem with addiction later in life. Additionally, people who begin drinking at an early age are at increased risk of developing addiction later in life.

Risk Factors:

Having a partner or close friend who drinks regularly can increase the risks for developing alcoholism
Depression and other mental health disorders can influence a person’s risk for alcoholism
Steady drinking over time on a regular basis can produce a physical dependence upon alcohol

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

The symptoms of alcoholism and alcohol abuse will vary tremendously from person to person based upon individual genetic makeup, amount of alcohol used, frequency of use, and presence of other drugs. Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol use and abuse include:

Behavioral symptoms:

Drinking alone
Inability to limit the amount that is drunk
Cravings for drinking
Forgetting conversations or commitments
Ritualistic drinking
Loss of pleasure in previously-enjoyed activities
Unusually passive
Drinking with the purpose of getting drunk
Hiding alcohol in odd places around the house
Becoming irritated when unable to obtain alcohol
Legal problems
Inability to fulfill work or social obligations
Preoccupation with obtaining alcohol, drinking alcohol, and recovering from the effects of alcohol
Violence and aggression
Risk-taking behaviors
Heightened libido

Physical symptoms:

Smell of alcohol on breath or skin
Physical withdrawal symptoms
Flushed skin
Bloodshot eyes
Deterioration in physical appearance
Poor hygiene
Impaired coordination
Damage to all organ systems
Decreased immune system, increased infections

Cognitive symptoms:

Decreased attention span
Memory loss
Challenges with cogitation

Psychosocial symptoms:

Low self-esteem
Depression
Anxiety
Hallucinations
Delusions
Psychosis
Agitation
Irritability
Pleasure while drinking
Emotional labiality

Effects of Alcohol

The Effects of Alcohol Addiction

The effects of alcoholism will vary based upon the amount used, the length of the addiction, presence of other drugs or alcohol, and the frequency of use. The most common effects of chronic alcohol use and alcoholism include:

Poor coordination
Loss of employment
Consequences of risky behaviors
Car accidents
Legal problems
Increased violent crimes
Domestic abuse
Child abuse
Divorce
Incarceration
Hypertension
Cardiac arrhythmias
Cardiomegaly
Nystagmus
Increased risks for cancer
Weakened immune system
Impotence
Irregular menses
Thymine deficiencies
Dementia and confusion
Bone loss
Stroke
Amnesia
Cirrhosis of the liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Acute pancreatitis
Suicide
Coma
Death

Withdrawal & Overdose

Learn What Happens During Alcohol Withdrawal & Overdose

Withdrawing from alcohol can be very dangerous and should always be done under the careful watch of trained medical personnel to prevent complications. While the symptoms of withdrawal are more annoying than dangerous, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can quickly become life threatening. Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal begin within 12 to 24 hours after the last drink and may include:

Mild anxiety
Irritability
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Insomnia
Sweating
Shaking
Confusion
Hallucinations
Seizures
Delirium tremens (DT’s) – life-threatening condition characterized by confusion, tachycardia, and high fever that can lead to death in approximately 1% to 5% of individuals who suffer from them

Symptoms of alcohol overdose, or alcohol poisoning, can quickly lead to serious and deadly consequences if not promptly treated by emergency medical personal. The most common symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: