Author: Alex Thompson
Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms
Drinking also adds calories that can contribute to weight gain. And drinking raises the risk of problems in the digestive system. Unlike cocaine or heroin, alcohol is widely available and accepted in many cultures. It’s often at the center of social situations and closely linked to celebrations and enjoyment.
- Therapy is useful to help teach someone how to manage the stress of recovery and the skills needed to prevent a relapse.
- For example, any amount of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
- Although the exact cause of alcohol use disorder is unknown, there are certain factors that may increase your risk for developing this disease.
- Those who drink regularly may develop physical dependence, increased tolerance, and adverse side effects.
An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours.
Physical alcohol addiction occurs when the body becomes dependent on it and requires more alcoholic substances to experience its effects. Alcohol tolerance, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms are all signs of physical addiction. An increase in tolerance marks the second stage—people drink larger doses of alcohol to experience the same effects. This leads to decreased pleasurable effects and alcohol dependence, as the person needs alcohol to feel normal. Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment.
The Role of Brain Chemistry in Alcohol Dependency
These changes increase the pleasurable feelings you get when you drink alcohol. This makes you want to drink more often, even if it causes harm. People with alcohol use disorder will continue to drink even when drinking causes negative consequences, like losing a job or destroying relationships with people they love.
If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. Your health care provider or mental health provider will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs.
Alcohol can damage the organs, disrupt communication between brain cells, and weaken your immune system. It affects mental health, increases the risk for certain cancers, and can cause addiction. It also increases the risk of injury and death due to impaired judgment.
How Does Addiction Develop in the Brain?
They may binge drink once or drink for a period of time before getting sober again. It’s important that the person get back on track and resume treatment. Several evidence-based treatment approaches are available for AUD.
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. And the same goes for driving or if you need to be alert and able to react to changing situations. Heavy drinking also has been linked to intentional injuries, such as suicide, as well as accidental injury and death.
Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. During pregnancy, drinking may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems. Heavy drinking also may result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another. Treatment can be outpatient and/or inpatient and be provided by specialty programs, therapists, and health care providers. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior.
Deciding about drinking
Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your health care provider or mental health provider. You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. Someone with an alcohol addiction who has remained sober for months or years may find themselves drinking again.
But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. For example, any amount of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a mental health specialist. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties that has been widely used in many cultures for centuries.
You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.
Residential treatment programs
It can cause changes to the brain and neurochemistry, so a person with an alcohol addiction may not be able to control their actions. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects people of all walks of life. Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to alcohol addiction. Psychological, genetic, and behavioral factors can all contribute to having the disease.