Alcohol Addiction and The Effects on Health

Alcohol addiction and alcohol use disorder (AUD) affect many of our patients. While each patient has their own unique history and story, these patients share a common trait – alcohol has become a drug that has negatively impacted their daily functioning, leading to addiction and dependence on the drug. Our goal as a network of addiction and recovery centers is to help these patients recover from their alcohol addictions and provide them with the tools and resources needed to live a sober, drug-free life. Let’s look at what alcohol addiction is and how it affects one’s health. 

The NIAAA Definition of Alcohol Abuse and Addiction 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol addiction is “a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” AUD can vary in terms of severity. While some patients only have mild issues, others are severely impacted. For example, the “addiction” stage is generally referred to as the moderate to severe form of AUD. 

The Effects of Alcohol Addiction on the Brain 

Alcohol consumption has a major effect on the brain. Like other drugs, the initial use of alcohol may produce pleasurable feelings, while lessening or eliminating the unpleasant feelings. As a result, someone may feel the need to keep using alcohol to achieve these positive feelings, even though they are putting their health at risk. Included in this risk to one’s health are changes to one’s brain chemistry. These changes in the brain are generally categorized into three stages. Depending on the user, the stages can occur in as little as a few weeks, while for others, it could take several months. 

The Stages of the Alcohol Addiction Cycle 

The first stage of the addiction cycle is known as the binge/intoxication stage. During this stage, the user feels positive effects from alcohol consumption. This could mean decreased anxiety and stress, and an increased positive mood and feeling of wellbeing. In stage one, the brain becomes essentially trained to desire more and more alcohol consumption, as the rewards and benefits initially feel positive.  The issue with this is that by sending rewarding signals to the brain, the user will increase the amount and frequency that they drink. 

The second stage is referred to as the negative effects and withdrawal stage. When a user stops drinking, they may feel all sorts of negative effects, including anxiety, irritability, and pain. During this stage, the user will drink to avoid the negative feelings of withdrawal. The user begins to drink to simply feel like themself and feel “normal”. 

The third stage is referred to as the preoccupation and anticipation stage. During this phase, the user will frequently become preoccupied with alcohol, thinking about the next available time that they can consume it. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that becomes affected during this stage. As a result, one’s ability to prioritize tasks and make rational decisions becomes impacted and negatively affected. 

Reasons Why Alcohol Addiction is Dangerous 

Alcohol use disorder and addiction should be treated with a high level of importance and care. The negative effects of continued alcohol abuse can be severe, impacting the brain and damaging one’s liver. By consuming too much alcohol, a user can become extremely ill and overdose.   

At Victory, we treat many patients who suffer with alcohol use disorder and addiction. By discovering and uncovering the root causes of addiction, we can successfully treat our patients, allowing them to live healthy and productive lives. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to alcohol, Victory Recovery Partners would like to help. To learn more about our services, visit our website www.victoryrp.com