Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships. And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder.
If you think you need help with alcohol use, talk to your doctor. They can assess whether you have a risky drinking pattern, evaluate your overall health, help create a treatment plan, and refer you to programs or other healthcare providers if necessary. Find out how this disease affects your body and brain, why people become addicted to… No matter how severe the drinking problem is, treatment can help those with AUD quit alcohol and recover.
- It can also lead to serious symptoms like seizures, fever, or hallucinations, and can be a medical emergency.
- It can be hard to see there is a problem even if the drinking is negatively impacting your health and your life.
- Regardless of the type of support system, it’s helpful to get involved in at least one when getting sober.
Treatment and Medication Options for Alcohol Use Disorder
This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for relapse to drinking. Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Your health care provider or counselor can suggest a support group. Alcoholism has been known by a variety of terms, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Alcohol misuse refers to single episodes during which you might drink excessively. When this occurs repeatedly over time, and when it begins to impact your health and your life, alcohol misuse can become AUD.
What is Low-Risk Drinking?
Certain people should avoid drinking alcohol, such as pregnant women and those with a family history of alcoholism or pre-existing medical conditions. Alcohol withdrawal after periods of excessive drinking can cause debilitating symptoms hours to days later. Moderate and severe withdrawal syndromes can include hallucinations, seizures, or delirium tremens; the latter two can be life-threatening. A BAC of 0.09% to 0.25% causes lethargy, sedation, balance problems and blurred vision. A BAC of 0.18% to 0.30% causes profound confusion, impaired speech (e.g. slurred speech), staggering, dizziness and vomiting.
They may start drinking to cope with stressful events like losing a job, going through a divorce, or dealing with a death in their family or a close friend. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re under stress and think you may be at risk for relapse. Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment. Seeking professional help early can prevent a return to drinking.
It’s important to recognize warning signs and seek help if you’re concerned about having a relapse. Treatment of AUD focuses on relieving symptoms of alcohol withdrawal in the short term and then suppressing alcohol cravings in the long term. Many people with AUD continue to drink even as they develop health problems related to drinking. Over the long term, AUD may lead to serious health conditions, while worsening others.
Health Consequences of Alcohol Addiction
Behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Medications also can help deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk of a return to drinking (e.g., divorce, death of a family member). A common initial treatment option for someone with an alcohol addiction is an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation program. An inpatient program can last anywhere from 30 days to a year. It can help someone handle withdrawal symptoms and emotional challenges. Outpatient treatment provides daily support while allowing the person to live at home.
If identified and treated early, someone with an alcohol addiction may be able to avoid major consequences of the disease. Regardless of how the addiction looks, someone typically has an alcohol addiction if they heavily rely on drinking and can’t stay sober for an extended period of time. If you don’t have any symptoms, then staying within the limits provided in the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans could reduce your chances of having problems in the future.
If you do have any symptoms, signs you were roofied then alcohol may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health care 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.