Alcoholism affects an estimated 29.5 million people in the United States aged 12 and older, or about 10.6% of this population. Drinking alcohol is a widely accepted social activity, and it may even produce some health benefits when consumed in moderation. However, drinking high amounts of alcohol regularly can lead to alcoholism, reducing your quality of life and increasing your risk for serious complications, including liver disease, mental illness, and cancer.
Fortunately, alcoholism can be effectively and successfully treated as long as you decide to seek professional help. Here’s more about the causes and symptoms of alcoholism and treatments that can help you or your loved one recover from this life-threatening condition.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is the clinical term for alcohol addiction or alcoholism. It is a chronic brain disorder characterized by the inability to control your drinking despite negative consequences. Alcohol use disorder could refer to a physical dependence on alcohol, a psychological addiction to alcohol, or both.
If you are physically dependent on alcohol, you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop drinking. Or, you may continue to drink alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Nausea, diarrhea, and excessive sweating are some of the many common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
If you are psychologically dependent on alcohol, you may exhibit a range of compulsive behaviors related to alcohol use. For instance, you may not be able to stop drinking despite making plans to stop after two drinks. You may continue to drink despite knowing it is causing problems at work or home or contributing to a serious health problem like cancer.
Any amount of drinking is harmful if it is negatively impacting your health, relationships, or overall quality of life.
Causes and Risk Factors
Alcoholism can be caused by any one or a combination of factors. For instance, you may be more likely to develop alcoholism if someone in your family had it or if you were exposed to alcohol at an early age. You may also be at risk for alcoholism if you frequently drink to handle stress or to manage symptoms of a mental illness such as depression.
Common causes and risk factors of alcoholism include:
- Family history of alcohol use
- Family history of substance misuse
- History of trauma
- History of physical or sexual assault
- Mental illness
- Poor stress management
- Low self-esteem
- Peer pressure
- Exposure to alcohol at an early age
- Homelessness
- Poverty
- Parental neglect
- Easy access to alcohol
Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism
Signs of alcoholism may be subtle or obvious. Sometimes it can be difficult to spot signs of alcohol misuse, especially when alcoholism develops gradually over time. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are one of the most common signs of alcoholism or alcohol dependence. Symptoms usually begin within six to 24 hours after the last drink and include:
- Tremors, especially in the hands
- Excess sweating
- Anxiety
- Rapid heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Dehydration
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Other common signs of alcoholism include:
- Increasing the amount of alcohol you drink over time (for example, you used to stop at three drinks but now stop after having 10 drinks)
- Difficulty staying sober, despite making plans to stop drinking
- Devoting lots of time to drinking or to recovering from the effects of drinking
- Thinking constantly about drinking alcohol or about when and where to get alcohol
- Having strong physical or psychological cravings for alcohol
- Continuing to drink even though it is causing problems with relatives, friends, and relationships
- Giving up important activities or interests to drink alcohol instead
- Missing work or school to drink alcohol or to recover from its effects
- Engaging in risky behaviors while drinking, such as driving while intoxicated or having unprotected sex
- Continuing to drink even though alcohol is causing or worsening a physical or mental health condition
- Needing higher amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired effect of euphoria or intoxication
- Drinking alone
- Withdrawing from friends, relatives, and social activities
- Experiencing memory loss or blackouts after episodes of drinking
- Having poor hygiene or smelling like alcohol
Treatments for Alcoholism
Alcoholism can be effectively treated using medications, behavioral therapy, support groups, or a combination of all these treatments.
This condition is not generally treated using a one-size-fits-all approach, given its many different root causes. Many alcohol recovery centers develop individualized and customized treatment plans for every one of their patients. For example, if you started drinking to cope with trauma or PTSD, you may receive specialized therapy that helps you recover from the traumatic experience.
Medications for alcoholism can reduce your desire to drink or prevent you from wanting to drink because they can cause unpleasant symptoms when mixed with alcohol. Disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone are FDA-approved medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Other medications may also be prescribed to treat symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Behavioral therapy, or talk therapy, involves working individually or in groups with therapists who can help you change harmful behaviors and thought processes that contribute to alcoholism. Therapy can help you identify your triggers and discover ways to handle those triggers so you can stay sober and avoid relapse.
Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous connect you with like-minded peers who also have the desire to stop drinking and achieve long-term abstinence. These meetings can make you feel less isolated and give you added layers of support and encouragement as you make your way through recovery.
Meet with your doctor if you or your loved one needs help recovering from alcoholism or alcohol misuse. Your doctor can discuss your available treatment options and refer you to a specialist or alcohol recovery center that can help.
Resource Links
- “Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States” via National Institutes of Health
- “Alcohol and the Human Body” via National Institutes of Health
- “Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder” via National Institutes of Health
- “Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings” via National Library of Medicine
- “High-Risk Substance Use Among Youth” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- “Prevention—Risk and Protective Factors” via New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
- “Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help” via National Institutes of Health