Alcoholism Fast Facts: What is it, Side Effects, Treatment Options & How to Help
Alcoholism fast facts: what it is, side effects, treatment options and how to help
Alcohol problems sit on a scale, and most people do not know where they are on it until something breaks. This page covers what alcoholism does to the body, what withdrawal looks like and what treatment involves.
Published May 11, 2020
Nobody decides to become dependent on alcohol. For some people it moves slowly, over years of drinking that looks ordinary from the outside. For others it happens fast. Somewhere in there the drinking stops being a choice and starts costing you work, sleep, money and the people around you. Where you sit on that scale matters, because it changes what treatment has to do.
If someone you love drinks like this, the hardest part is often working out how serious it has already become. This page covers dependence, the symptoms of withdrawal that come with stopping, and the treatment options.
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a form of substance use. It is classified as an alcohol use disorder and ranges from mild to moderate to severe. Alcoholism impacts a person’s ability to manage their drinking habits and alcohol intake. Those who suffer from alcoholism continue to compulsively misuse alcohol despite experiencing emotional distress and negative consequences.
An alcohol use disorder is a chronic disease that is also characterized by relapsing. As of 2015, more than 15 million American adults had an alcohol use problem. Alcohol use disorders and problems with alcohol include binge drinking, alcohol misuse and alcohol dependence.
Binge drinking
Binge drinking involves consuming large amounts of alcohol in a single session. The official classification of binge drinking is five or more drinks for men in one session and four or more drinks for women in one session. Binge drinking can also be defined as drinking with the goal to get drunk. For young people with alcohol use problems, binge drinking is the most common issue.
Alcohol misuse
Alcohol misuse goes a step further than binge drinking. Instead of unsafe alcohol consumption in one session, drinking impacts daily life. A person living with alcohol misuse continues drinking despite negative consequences or personal difficulties. Alcohol can cause someone to miss important daily activities, such as work or school, or run into legal troubles like drunk driving or public intoxication. The ratio of time spent drunk to time spent sober starts to lean more towards drunk.
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol dependence is classified by a craving for alcohol and a loss of control over drinking habits. Through alcohol misuse, a person can increase their tolerance for alcohol, requiring more alcohol to achieve the same effect. When someone stops drinking for an extended period of time, days or even hours, they may experience the symptoms of withdrawal. This disease is progressive, and the need to drink will likely only get stronger over time if left untreated.
As an alcoholic, you will violate your standards quicker than you can lower them.
Robin Williams, Weapons of Self Destruction
People who experience alcohol dependence may find that they drink larger quantities or for a longer period of time than planned. They may also find it difficult to cut down on their drinking or moderate their alcohol consumption. Alcohol dependence is a more severe form of alcohol misuse and typically requires outside help to treat.
What are the effects of alcoholism?
Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) greatly affect the body and the brain. The effects of alcohol will differ by individual, but there are some common side effects for people who find it hard to control their drinking. In most cases, one drink is considered 12 fluid ounces of beer, eight to nine fluid ounces of malt liquor, five fluid ounces of wine, or one and one-half ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Blood alcohol content is one way to determine how alcohol impacts your body, but people with an alcohol use disorder may have built up their tolerance over time. Lower blood alcohol content (BAC) percentages result in temporary side effects while higher BAC percentages can result in serious and life-threatening effects. Prolonged alcohol misuse can cause many health problems, including damage to a person’s internal organs.
Common effects of alcoholism
- Memory loss
- Impaired coordination
- Loss of balance
- Emotional response issues
- Weakened heart
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Increased risk of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Cardiomyopathy
- Stroke
- Sudden cardiac death
- Liver disease and liver failure
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
- Increased risk of pancreatic cancer
Depending on how much alcohol was consumed and how long a person has been drinking, the side effects of alcohol misuse can be long-term or short-term. Short-term effects include slurred speech, impaired vision, and mood shifts. Long-term effects include cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, and nerve damage.
Withdrawal symptoms
When a person stops drinking, they are likely to experience alcohol withdrawal as toxins leave their body. Alcohol withdrawal carries real risk. Without proper medical care it can cause permanent damage or death. Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Shaking hands
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Confusion
- High blood pressure
- Fever
What is an alcoholic?
Alcoholics are now more commonly referred to as people with an alcohol use disorder. The signs and symptoms of alcoholism are different for every person, so alcohol use disorders are diagnosed on an individual level. In simple terms, alcoholics are those who misuse alcohol compulsively.
What defines an alcoholic?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders outlined criteria to diagnose alcohol use disorders. Individuals who meet at least two of the criteria within a 12-month period may suffer from alcohol misuse or an alcohol use disorder. Criteria includes:
- Using alcohol in higher amounts or for longer periods of time than intended
- Inability to decrease alcohol use despite a desire to cut down
- Substantial time spend obtaining and using alcohol and recovering from the effects
- Cravings for alcohol
- Inability to fulfill major obligations due to alcohol use
- Continued alcohol misuse despite social or interpersonal problems related to alcohol use
- Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities due to alcohol use
- Using alcohol in physically dangerous situations, including driving
- Alcohol misuse despite physical or psychological problems related to alcohol use
- A tolerance for alcohol
- Stopping the use of alcohol results in withdrawal symptoms
Treating an alcohol use disorder
The decision to stop drinking is not an easy one, but it is the decision that protects a person’s health. Recovering from an alcohol use disorder usually begins with withdrawal, which can be dangerous. In a medically supervised program, doctors and nurses watch the withdrawal symptoms and treat them at each stage.
Once a person is through alcohol withdrawal, care has to continue if a relapse is going to be prevented. Alcohol use disorders are chronic, so the work does not end when the acute symptoms do. Support groups, counseling and medication all help hold the ground someone has gained.
At-home detox
Detoxing at home is not recommended by the medical community. The symptoms of withdrawal, including delirium tremens, can be very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. When a person detoxes from alcohol at home, they do not know how their body will react to the process. At-home detoxing also places unnecessary stress and responsibility on the person recovering.
Treatment facilities
Treatment programs are available to help people with an alcohol use disorder through the detox and withdrawal processes. Medical detox involves medical supervision and medication to keep someone safe as they detox. These programs ease the discomfort of withdrawal and provide emergency medical care if something goes wrong. With 24-hour care, the person recovering does not have to manage their own health during an already difficult time.
Support groups
Ongoing care after detox or rehabilitation is necessary to prevent relapses. Recovering from an alcohol use disorder is a lifelong process that can be difficult from time to time. A person’s commitment to staying sober can be strengthened by support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous. Both 12-step and non-12-step groups offer support and comfort. Individual counseling and group therapy can also provide support and care after alcohol detox.
How to help an alcoholic
Alcoholism reaches everyone in the drinker’s life. Friends and family never want to watch someone they love struggle, and it is hard to know what to do about it. People with an alcohol use disorder often do not ask for help, and some do not yet see a problem. Recognizing the warning signs lets you step in early and with care.
Warning signs of alcohol misuse
- Lack of control over alcohol consumption
- Increased alcohol consumption
- Cravings or desire to drink
- Placing alcohol above responsibilities
- Increased spending on alcohol
- Changes in behavior, especially after drinking
If you or someone you love needs help, get in touch with one of our intake professionals today.
Related content
