There are also other support groups that don’t follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery. Research has shown that long-term alcohol misuse can have a lasting impact on the brain, although some areas may recover with abstinence. The most serious effect is Korsakoff’s syndrome, characterized in part by an inability to remember recent events or to learn new information.

Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. 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 detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals.

Signs of Alcoholism

However, alcoholism refers to alcohol addiction or dependence, where the individual has a physical or psychological compulsion to drink alcohol. Alcohol abuse refers to a pattern of behavior where a person drinks excessively in spite of the negative consequences. AUD is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder that can lead to significant health problems, including liver damage, depression, high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain types of cancers.

If you do have any symptoms, then alcohol may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A healthcare professional can look at the number, pattern, and severity of symptoms to see whether AUD is present and help you decide the best course of action.

The Stages of Alcoholism: Recognizing the Signs

If you think you might have an AUD, see your health care provider for an evaluation. Your provider can help make a treatment plan, prescribe medicines, and if needed, give you treatment referrals. Treatment of AUD focuses on relieving symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in the short term and then suppressing alcohol cravings in the long term. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a mental health specialist. Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

The number of adults seeking treatment from a specialized alcohol facility has remained consistent in recent years – around 1.2%. The CAGE is a brief questionnaire that you can take to help determine if you have a problem with alcohol. Any negative consequences in just one area of your life, regardless of how much or how often you drink, are cause for concern and an indication that you need the help of a professional.

Read the Full Series on Alcohol and Your Health

The disorder can also be broken down further into mild, moderate, and severe subtypes. Alcohol use disorder is a progressive disease that includes a beginning, middle, and end stage, which can result in life-threatening health conditions. It’s not often talked about, but left untreated, alcohol use disorder can be 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House a fatal disease. In fact, it contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S., making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. If your loved one needs help with alcohol addiction, contact us today. We are here to help you better understand your loved one and support them.

• For others, they may start in early adulthood (21-30) or later in life due to possible experiences or situations they may have encountered.
• Bradford Health Services is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.
• Absenteeism is estimated to be 4 to 8 times greater among alcoholics and alcohol abusers.
• For example, some people try to cover their alcohol abuse by drinking in private and isolating themselves from others.
• The problem starts, though, when you begin abusing the substance.

Alcohol can affect babies before their mothers even know they are pregnant. Start making positive changes with the help of a licensed therapist from Calmerry. Rather than taking part in a hobby, some adolescents try alcohol. It allows them to unwind from challenges that may arise at school, or with family and friends. Drinking can offer teens a sense of happiness, so they continue feeding the habit. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

In reality, most people who binge drink are not dependent on alcohol. Still, binge drinking, especially when recurring, is an alarming drinking behavior that may be an indication of alcoholism. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Submit your number and receive a free call today from a treatment provider. Participating in a recovery program with the help of a rehab specialist will give you the greatest chance for long-term sobriety. Treatment providers guide you through every step of the recovery process and help you set achievable sobriety goals.

Several evidence-based treatment approaches are available for AUD. 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. Severity is based on the number of criteria a person meets based on their symptoms—mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). Fortunately, there are many treatment programs available to assist with finding the right approaches that could work for you or your loved one. The first step to recovery is recognizing a problem, and the second is reaching out for help.

Symptoms of Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder

While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease. In some cases, the individual may experience delirium tremens — the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. This can cause agitation, fever, hallucinations, confusion and seizures. For this reason, people who drink heavily and are looking to end their addiction should seek medical assistance. If you find yourself regularly thinking about your next drink, or if you’ve tried to cut back on drinking and never quite succeeded, you may have an alcohol addiction.