Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to both dependence and addiction, which can have devastating effects on a person’s health, relationships, and well-being. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition where a person struggles to control their drinking, develops physical dependence, and continues to drink despite serious negative consequences. However, treatment options for AUD are readily available. These programs combine mental health therapies, prescription medications, and group counseling.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control one’s alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences. Considered a brain disorder, the term “alcohol use disorder” encompasses the conditions known as alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism.1
However, alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction are different. Alcohol dependence entails an increase in physical tolerance, where the user needs to drink more to achieve the desired “high,” and withdrawal, where the user experiences uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms after they stop drinking. Alcohol addiction, on the other hand, entails continued drinking despite negative consequences. It should be noted that alcohol dependence can lead to alcohol addiction.
Lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse and abuse perpetuate AUD and make people in recovery from AUD vulnerable to relapse. Fortunately, evidence-based treatments that combine behavioral therapies, group support, and prescription medications can help those with AUD achieve lasting recovery. 1
There are some common risk factors for developing AUD. These include alcohol misuse, such as binge drinking and heavy drinking. Other factors also increase the risk of developing AUD, including genetics and family history of problem drinking, drinking at an early age, and the existence of certain mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. 1
Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder
AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe. The signs of AUD include:2
- An inability to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Spending a lot of time getting alcohol, drinking alcohol, or recovering from alcohol use
- Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
- Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
- Failing to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home due to repeated alcohol use
- Continuing to drink despite it causing physical, social, work, or relationship problems
- Passing on social outings, work activities, or hobbies to use alcohol
- Using alcohol in situations where it’s not safe, such as when driving or while swimming
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol so that you need more to feel its effects
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and shaking, when not drinking, or drinking to avoid these symptoms
Factors That Influence Addiction Risk
In summary, experts have pinpointed several factors that make some individuals more prone to developing an alcohol addiction throughout their lifetime. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Economic factors
- Life history
- Environmental factors
- Childhood stress and trauma
- Social factors such as sex and race
- Genetic predispositions
- Mental health disorders
- Peer pressure
Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Because alcohol is a chemical carcinogen, alcohol abuse can have many short- and long-term health effects. The effects of alcohol abuse include: 3
- Injury (falls, drownings, motor vehicle crashes)
- Blackouts
- Impaired judgment and decision-making
- Alcohol poisoning
- Weakened immune system
- High blood pressure
- Risk of heart disease and heart complications
- Risk of liver disease
- And more
Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms
Alcohol abuse like binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol overdose. When alcohol poisoning occurs, critical bodily functions like breathing, heart rate, and temperature regulation can be severely affected. The common signs of alcohol poisoning include:4
- Confusion and slowed responses
- Lack of coordination
- Difficulty staying conscious
- Vomiting
- Slowed breathing or irregular breathing
- Low heart rate
- Problems with bladder or bowel control
- Cold, clammy, or bluish-colored skin (cyanosis), especially around the lips and fingernails
- Low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Seizures
If you think that someone has alcohol poisoning, seek medical care right away. Never assume the person will sleep off alcohol poisoning. Call 911 or your local emergency number, and be prepared to give information about the kind and amount of alcohol the person drank.5
Other Effects of Alcohol Addiction
In addition to being considered a brain disorder, AUD has also been labeled by medical experts as a chronic disease with significant medical, social, and psychological implications for the patient.6
This means that, in addition to alcohol dependence and addiction heightening the risk of specific physical ailments, it can also worsen the symptoms of existing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, create learning difficulties at school or work, cause memory problems, and corrode relationships with family and friends.3
AUD can also heighten the risk of possible legal problems related to drinking, such as repeated arrests for driving while intoxicated.7 AUD has also been linked to acts of violence like homicide, suicide, and sexual assault, and heightens the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy.3
Alcohol Withdrawal & Detox
Quitting alcohol can result in uncomfortable, even intense withdrawal symptoms for those who have developed a dependence or addiction to alcohol. These symptoms result from alcohol-induced imbalances in the brain chemistry, causing excessive neuronal activity when alcohol is withheld.8 As a result, people attempting to quit drinking can experience great difficulty in staying sober.
A medically supervised detox program can help those experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms to safely manage these symptoms with prescription medications, making recovery easier and safer. This approach is known as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). An effective alcohol rehab program following detox is also recommended for continued medical support.
Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:8
- Tremors
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Delirium Tremens
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
How is Alcohol Use Disorder Treated?
Effective alcohol addiction treatment can take place in a variety of settings, starting with alcohol detox and going all the way to outpatient (OP) and aftercare. The various settings for treatment of alcohol addiction include:
- Detox is the process of ridding alcohol from the body while managing any withdrawal symptoms that might occur. The time it takes to detox from alcohol can vary, but most medically supervised detox programs last three to seven days. Medically supervised alcohol detox programs provide a safe, supportive environment for those who want to stop drinking. Medically supervised detox programs are prepared to prescribe medications approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to manage severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Inpatient treatment requires the patient to temporarily reside in a rehab facility to receive comprehensive, individualized therapy and support. Also known as residential treatment, inpatient treatment helps patients manage their alcohol addiction over the long term and develop life skills to enable them to live healthier and more productive lives.
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) represent a “step down” from inpatient treatment by offering comprehensive addiction treatment without the residential stay. During PHP, you attend a program for several hours a day, for three to five days per week. PHP programs enable patients to manage their long-term withdrawal symptoms while honing life and coping skills. PHP typically lasts up to 30 days.
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP) typically includes multiple therapy sessions per week, including individual counseling and group therapy, designed to address various aspects of recovery from AUD. IOP programs are appropriate for patients who require more support than standard outpatient programs but less intensive treatment than what is offered under inpatient or PHP treatment.
- Outpatient (OP) programs offer patients flexible treatment options, which allows them to live in their own homes and attend to everyday work, school, or family duties while still receiving treatment. Treatment can be fulfilled via regular office, virtual, or telehealth visits for counseling, medication support, or both. OP is a viable standalone treatment option for those with mild or moderate substance use disorders.9
- Aftercare is the stage of addiction treatment that follows more intensive care, including inpatient and outpatient treatment. It is provided in a variety of formats and modalities, including individual therapy, group counseling, and self-help meetings.10
Most alcohol addiction treatment programs include a research-based behavioral therapy, MAT to ease withdrawal, and dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis treatment is a therapeutic approach that addresses both the addiction as well as any co-occurring mental health disorders.
How to Help Someone With AUD
AUD is a chronic condition that often leads to negative consequences. It can damage a person’s physical and mental well-being, harm relationships, and undermine a person’s ability to make a living. As a result, it can be extremely difficult to witness a loved one living with addiction.
It takes courage and resolve to talk to a loved one about their alcohol use. It helps to prepare for these conversations beforehand, where you can practice what you want to say while remaining positive and nonjudgmental. It also helps to offer specific reasons for your concern and make concrete suggestions on how to find help.11 Be aware, it may take several conversations to get someone to agree to professional help.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Atlanta
At Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta, we strive to empower clients with the life skills they need to effect positive change in their lives. Our alcohol addiction treatment program can help you through the recovery process.
We offer a number of rehab programs to suit your needs, including outpatient rehab, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and more. Our programs also include one year of recovery coaching to provide extended support once you’ve completed your program.
Our Atlanta rehab center accepts several insurance plans. We can also work with out-of-network insurances to get you the help you need. Our admissions team can verify your benefits, either over the phone or online, so that you’ve got the details of paying for rehab, including using insurance to pay for rehab. If you’re ready to learn more about our comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment programs, call us today or fill out our contact form to take that first step toward a better life.
“Thank you for giving me the courage to believe in myself again.” Stephanie, Former Client
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Understanding alcohol use disorder. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Diseases and conditions: alcohol use disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Alcohol use and your health. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Diseases and conditions: alcohol poisoning. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16640-alcohol-poisoning
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Diseases and conditions: alcohol poisoning. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354386
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Alcohol use disorder. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436003/
- American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment. American Psychological Association. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction/alcohol-disorders
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Introduction to alcohol withdrawal. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761824/
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Treatment for alcohol problems: finding and getting help. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Continuing Care Research: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2670779/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Alcohol use: conversation starters. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/alcohol-use-conversation-starters
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