Oak Forest Recovery - Alcohol Resources
Statistics About Alcohol Use
Six people die every day from alcohol poisoning.
23 percent of admissions to public treatment centers are due to alcohol abuse.
14.5 million people suffered from alcohol use disorders in 2019.
5 Fast Facts about Alcohol
Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk for health problems such as liver disease, pancreatitis, high blood pressure and heart attack.
Alcohol use disorder is linked to several mental illnesses, such as major depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Too much alcohol affects the vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge can even cause coma or death.
Heavy drinking lowers your judgment skills and inhibitions, which can lead to dangerous situations such as car accidents, committing crimes, and problems with other substance use.
Over time, excessive alcohol use can change the parts of your brain that aid in judgment, experiencing pleasure, and controlling your behavior.
About Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), also called alcoholism, alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, is
a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism is a disease in which an individual
has problems controlling their drinking, has strong cravings to drink, and/or experiences
withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. Alcohol addiction can affect your physical
health, mental health, financial health, family life and work life.
AUD also includes binge drinking, which is defined as five or more drinks within two hours (for
males) and four or more drinks within two hours (for females). In 2019, 25.8 percent of people
ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month.
Alcoholism is one of the biggest public health crises in the U.S. An estimated 95,000 people die
from excessive alcohol use each year, with almost half of those deaths caused by binge drinking.
Symptoms of alcohol addiction
- Increased quantity or frequency of alcohol use
- High tolerance for alcohol
- Strong cravings to drink alcohol
- Unsuccessful attempts to reduce drinking
- Drinking at inappropriate times such as first thing in the morning
- Needing alcohol to function in everyday life
- Hiding alcohol
Short term effects of alcohol abuse
- Lowered inhibitions
- Trouble concentrating
- Slow reaction time
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of judgment
- Mood swings
- Passing out
- Vomiting
Long term effects of alcohol abuse
- Memory loss
- Loss of attention span
- Trouble learning
- High blood pressure
- Cancers of the throat, mouth, larynx,
liver, breast, and colon - Stroke
- Irregular heart beat
Signs of alcohol poisoning
- Confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unconsciousness
- Low body temperature
It’s important to get medical attention if you or someone else is showing signs of alcohol
poisoning.
Stages of alcoholism
Knowing the stages of alcoholism can help you as you determine what your options are for
detoxification and treatment. There are four stages of alcoholism:
1. Pre-alcoholic – you’re still primarily drinking socially but with increasing frequency, you
begin to build tolerance.
2. Early alcoholic – occurs after your first alcohol-related blackout, you begin to experience
an inability to resist alcohol, you may be lying about drinking, have an increased
tolerance, and are obsessing about alcohol.
3. Middle alcoholic – when you begin missing work or social obligations, become irritable,
experience body changes such as weight gain/loss, and you may make attempts to stop
drinking.
4. Late alcoholic – when serious health problems develop, you experience job loss, and
drinking is the most important thing in your life.
No matter what stage of alcoholism you are in – you can overcome your alcohol dependence and
recover through detox, rehab and therapy.
Types of Alcoholics
According to American Addiction Centers, there are five types of alcoholics:
1. Young adult alcoholic – the most common type of alcoholic; drinks on few occasions,
but engages in binge drinking on those occasions.
2. Young antisocial alcoholic – characterized by antisocial personality disorder, this type
of alcoholic usually begins drinking around age 15 and is now in their mid-20s; suffers
from alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
3. Functional alcoholic – does not fit into the traditional stereotype of an alcoholic; has a
job and family life, separates their drinking from the rest of their life.
4. Intermediate familial alcoholic – usually middle-aged; has a family history of
alcoholism; nearly half struggle with clinical depression and use alcohol to self-medicate.
5. Chronic severe alcoholic – started drinking at a young age; the majority have a family
history of alcoholism; often smoke cigarettes and suffer from dependence on other
substances; often experiences legal troubles.
Treatment for alcohol addiction
Treatment for alcoholism can include various methods, but it typically involve three steps.
1. Detoxification
This is the first step of alcohol addiction treatment. It should be completed with the help
of a medical professional.
2. Rehab
There are two types of rehab that can help with recovery from alcohol addiction.
– Inpatient – intensive treatment programs that require you to check into a facility for a
short-period of time.
– Outpatient – a program in which individuals participate in recovery while living at
home and continue with daily life.
3. Maintenance
After completing rehab, you will need to engage in certain methods to maintain your
sobriety. This can include attending individual counseling, or group therapy/support
groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
– Counseling/therapy
– Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups
