Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

The abuse of alcoholic beverages can be extremely insidious. Often, people don’t want to admit they have a problem, even though it seems as clear as the nose on your face to another family member or friend. Also, because alcohol is legal, the complication of availability presents itself every time a guy drives by a liquor store or a bar.

Alcohol is legal, and it also plays a massive part in many cultural milestones. Society reinforces its consumption through important events, television, and advertising.

Alcohol’s presence is ubiquitous throughout the country, making it extremely easy to obtain. Furthermore, because it is so widely available, it is harder for someone to quit. With street drugs like heroin, a user has to actively seek out the drug and take higher risks to acquire it. Alcohol, on the other hand, can be obtained right down the street at a convenience store or shopping center. Alternatively, it is also cheaper than addictive drugs like cocaine.

Compared to other drugs, alcohol is incredibly addictive, and the chances of relapse are high. Worse yet, the withdrawal symptoms from alcohol are more severe than other addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and nicotine.

Alcohol withdrawals can start as early as a few hours after the last drink. Usually, withdrawal symptoms will peak between 24 and 48 hours after cessation.

Withdrawal symptoms can include:

Delirium tremens is rare but potentially fatal. Signs can include disorientation, high blood pressure, seizure, coma, and death.

Prolonged side-effects of withdrawal occur in some cases. These can include memory problems, delayed reflexes, depression, and anxiety and can last for many years.

In excess, alcohol can cause severe side effects called alcohol poisoning. Signs may include:

Left untreated, alcohol poisoning can cause asphyxiation and death. A person may choke on their vomit, or become so dehydrated they may experience a seizure. Acute alcohol poisoning can also cause permanent brain damage. Six people die of alcohol poisoning every day. If alcohol poisoning is suspected, call 911.

Chronic alcohol abuse puts undue stress on the liver. The liver acts as a filter, cleaning the blood of toxins or waste, and alcohol is a blood toxin. Alcohol addiction can cause three types of liver disease:

Excess fat cells accumulate in the liver, causing it to swell. Some patients experience upper abdominal pain with fatty liver, and it is the first stage in alcohol-related liver damage. The liver can heal itself from this condition if the person quits drinking.

Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation and swelling of the liver which causes damage to the organ. Sometimes, acute cases can occur with a binge-drinking episode. With chronic alcoholic hepatitis, the damage can be reversed if the person quits drinking.

This is the most severe form of alcoholic-related liver damage. With cirrhosis, healthy, living liver tissue is replaced with nonfunctioning scar tissue. After about ten years of heavy drinking, up to 20 percent of alcoholics will develop cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis is a potentially fatal disease, but with treatment and cessation of alcohol, sometimes the damage can be reversed.

Although alcohol is a highly addictive and deadly substance, with treatment and support, many can go on to make a full recovery. Since the damage to the liver can be severe and in some tragic cases irreversible, it is incredibly important that people suffering from alcohol addiction get the help they need. With an ongoing maintenance plan and scheduled therapy sessions, people can go on to live a life free from alcohol abuse and its dangerous, painful health consequences.