Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, has long been associated with a set of classical symptoms, such as experiencing alcohol withdrawal or continuing to drink alcohol even after suffering physical or psychological health problems. Along with alcohol abuse, alcoholism is now considered part of a broader condition called alcohol use disorder (AUD), as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. Over time, alcoholism (and AUD) can cause a number of complications, but this chronic disease is treatable.
Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol affects every organ in the body. In many organs, the effects of alcohol build over time, and the damage becomes apparent only after years of abuse. But the brain experiences the effects of alcohol right away, resulting in changes in mood, behavior, judgment, and coordination. In the short term, alcohol consumption may cause:
Difficulty walkingBlurred visionReduced inhibitionsConfusionDifficulty concentratingBreathing problemsSlurred speechSlowed reaction timeMemory lossBlackoutsComaHangover
Drinking alcohol can also raise your risk of:
Injuries from accidents (such as crashing a motor vehicle, falling, or getting burned)Aggressive or violent behavior, including suicide, homicide, and sexual assaultAlcohol poisoning and deathRisky behaviors (such as unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, or driving while impaired)Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (if drinking while pregnant)
Alcoholism Complications
Over time, alcohol can permanently affect the brain, such as by causing dementia and the serious brain disorder Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome. About 80 percent of alcoholics have a deficiency in thiamine, which causes Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Aside from brain issues, alcoholism — and sometimes just drinking too much on a single occasion — can cause:
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), stroke, or high blood pressureSteatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis (thickening of liver tissue), or cirrhosis (scarring of and permanent damage to the liver)Gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers, varices (swollen veins in the esophagus), and esophagitis (esophagus inflammation)Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation)Cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, or breastAn increased risk of infections, particularly pneumonia and tuberculosis
Alcoholism can also cause mental health problems (depression and anxiety), as well as problems with relationships and work.
Alcoholism Treatment
There are several treatment options available for AUD, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Twelve-step programs — Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), in particular — and 28-day in-patient rehabilitation are the most commonly known treatments for alcohol problems, according to the NIAAA. A mutual support group, AA teaches you to adopt 12 spirituality-based principles in an effort to help you overcome your compulsion to drink alcohol. Other support groups include SMART Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Moderation Management. Rehab, on the other hand, is usually a month-long treatment program in a facility that completely removes you from situations and circumstances that perpetuate substance abuse. Some treatment options for AUD are guided by mental-health professionals. For example, alcohol counseling can help you identify and change behaviors that lead to drinking, build a stronger support system, develop attainable goals, and handle triggers that lead to relapses. Treatment may also involve standard therapies used to treat other mental illnesses, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is commonly used to treat depression, among other disorders. In addition to counseling and support groups, several medications are available to help you curb your drinking. Drugs for alcoholism approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include:
Antabuse (disulfiram), which helps you avoid drinking alcohol by causing nausea, skin flushing, and other unpleasant symptoms when you drink alcohol, by blocking the metabolism of alcohol in your bodyCampral (acamprosate calcium), which can help you continue to abstain from drinking and is thought to work by restoring brain chemical imbalances caused by heavy drinkingRevia or Vivitrol (naltrexone), which helps reduce heavy drinking by blocking the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication
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