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The Effects of Alcoholism on the Brain

Have you ever stopped to think about the effects alcoholism can have on the human brain? Alcohol misuse can result in both short term and long term negative effects in the brain of…

Published August 9, 2018 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~659 words

Have you ever stopped to think about the effects of alcoholism, or what we now refer to as alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction, can have on the human brain? Alcohol misuse can result in both short-term and long-term negative effects on the user’s brain because repeated use changes an individual’s brain chemistry. When this happens, a person has developed a dependency or addiction. Fortunately, the disease of addiction is treatable. For many, the first step is learning to recognize the symptoms of brain impairment. In this way, individuals can better understand what’s going on in the body and how the continued misuse of this substance can damage such a vital, complex organ over time.

At Pines Recovery Life Detox, our experienced and compassionate team of addiction treatment specialists can guide individuals through the signs, symptoms, and effects of the disease of addiction. Then, we can help individuals find the treatment necessary to heal and make a lasting recovery.

Short-Term Effects of Alcoholism

Whether someone has been misusing alcohol for a long-time or has only recently begun to misuse the substance, the short-term effects of alcohol addiction can appear. A known effect of brain impairment is the gaps in memory that may begin to occur; this results from disruptions in neurotransmitters. These are recognizable characteristics that friends or family can easily notice. Additional effects can include decreased coordination, slower reflexes, slurred speech, and a lack of concentration. Again, these qualities may seem obvious to someone observing from the outside, but the person misusing the substance may not be aware of anything wrong.

Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism

After long-term misuse of alcohol, the damage done becomes more serious. Because alcohol releases dopamine that makes you feel good at that moment, as soon as it wears off, there can be intense cravings to revive that feeling again. This perpetuates the misuse, which eventually disrupts the person’s lifestyle. Prolonged use eventually leads to reduced grey and white matter in the brain.

Though the effects of alcoholism and general alcohol misuse can continue to become more serious when unaddressed, with proper rehabilitation, the brain structure functions can be restored. However, years of alcohol misuse may not allow for a full recovery. Still, with a healthy diet, removal of alcohol, and proper medical treatment, it is possible to lead a normal life. At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we treat both the physical and mental aspects of alcohol addiction. By approaching alcohol use disorder in this way, individuals cannot just heal from the physical effects of withdrawal but also identify the issues surrounding or springing from addiction that keeps them at high risk. Some of our therapies include:

These therapies are available across all our treatment programs.

Discover How Pines Recovery Life Detox Can Help

The brain is not the only thing affected by alcoholism or alcohol use disorder. One’s overall health is severely compromised when heavy alcohol use occurs and gets worse over time. Binge drinking causes just as much damage as well. Relationships and other social aspects of one’s life can be significantly and negatively affected. To mitigate the damage, someone with an alcohol use disorder needs to get professional help as soon as possible. Our detox facility at Pines Recovery Life Detox is state-of-the-art, offering a comfortable, supportive environment where individuals can not only work through withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision but enter into an addiction treatment program to begin recovery. We offer a broad spectrum of care, including:

So reach out to us today at , or contact us online to start the recovery process and begin living a better life.

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