Alcoholism affects millions of Americans daily. You might even know someone who is currently suffering. That’s because the line between drinking and having a drinking problem is so fine that many people suffer from an alcohol use disorder and might not even realize it.
Identifying and getting help is essential to a person achieving long-term sobriety. Focused Addiction Recovery’s alcoholism rehab center in Wallace, North Carolina can help keep you or a loved one’s alcoholism from spiraling out of control. Contact us today to begin your journey to a healthier life.
Statistics On
Alcoholism
According to a 2020 survey, more than 28 million Americans 12 and older suffered from an alcohol use disorder in the past year. That equates to roughly 10% of the overall population in the U.S.
Below are some additional stats and figures as it pertains to alcoholism and alcohol use disorder:
- A 2019 NSDUH study found that over 85% of Americans drink alcohol at some point in their life
- That same study found that approximately 25% of Americans 18 and older engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days
- Less than 10% of all people that suffer from alcohol use disorder seek treatment
- Nearly 100,000 deaths annually are alcohol-related
- Every day over 300 Americans die as a result of excessive drinking
Why Do
People Drink?
There are several reasons why people drink alcohol. Some only drink for enjoyment in social situations, while others might find themselves in a position where they feel like they have to drink. Below are some of the most common reasons why people drink.
Especially in the United States, it is socially acceptable and even sometimes encouraged to have a drink or two in certain situations. Happy hour is a common occurrence, especially on a Friday after work. Additionally, pretty much any social gathering you go to has alcohol available to drink. With alcohol being so readily available in these social situations, many people feel an obligation to drink.
Another common reason why people drink is as a form of self-medication. Many people turn to alcohol as a way to deal with problems going on in their life. These issues may stem from external factors or they might be internal issues, such as mental health.
Instead of going and talking to someone about their issues they might use alcohol as a way to forget about their problems and numb the proverbial pain, even if it is just temporary. While in the short-term this strategy might seem effective, long-term it can lead to more significant issues such as abuse and addiction.
A person’s first experience with alcohol can play a major role in shaping their overall perception of drinking going forward. If their first experience with alcohol was an enjoyable one they may be more likely to continue drinking in the future. On the opposite side of that, a negative experience might keep them from drinking in the future.
Alcohol exposure, especially at a young age, increases the likeliness that a person will try alcohol when they get older. If a person grows up in an environment where drinking is a common occurrence they might think that drinking is a common thing and will be more likely to drink themselves.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that is highlighted by heavy, excessive, and frequent alcohol use. Someone with an alcohol use disorder will find themselves unable to quit drinking, even when their drinking has led to financial, health, or relationship problems.
Much in the same way that other addictions are, alcohol use disorder is considered a disease. Also known as alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction, cases can range from mild, moderate, or severe.
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of
Alcohol Addiction?
Since there is such a fine line between drinking and having an alcohol use disorder, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction so that it can be treated right away.
- Drinking more than planned
- Drinking for an extended period of time
- Craving alcohol
- Spending a lot of time either drinking or recovering from drinking
- Neglecting other responsibilities to drink
- Struggling at work or school as a result of drinking
- Losing interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Needing to drink more and more to reach your desired effect
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking
- Continuing to keep drinking even when you know you should stop
- Drinking in dangerous situations
- Frequent binge drinking
- Unexplained mood swings
- Hiding your drinking from others
- Denying you have a problem
- Poor personal hygiene
- Poor sleeping habits
- Nausea
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Racing heart
- Shakiness
- Sweating
- Trouble sleeping
- Hallucinations
- Delerium
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Coma
What Causes
Alcohol Use Disorder?
Just because someone has the occasional drink, or even has a night where they might have drank a little too much doesn’t automatically mean that they have a drinking problem. That being said certain risk factors can increase the chances that an alcohol use disorder might develop.
Genetics – If alcohol-related issues run in your immediate family you might be at a greater risk of developing an alcohol use disorder yourself.
Drinking at an early age – Studies have shown that people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are more than 5x more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than those who waited until they were 21.
Mental health conditions – As we touched on earlier, many who suffer from mental health conditions turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication. This can lead to an increased risk of alcohol abuse and addiction.
How Is
Alcohol Use Disorder Treated?
It is important to get help for alcohol use disorder at the first sign that there might be a problem.
Once it is determined that there is an issue the first thing to do is to detox. Detoxing is done to rid the body of all harmful substances so that both the body and the brain can begin to heal.
Due to the nature of detoxing, and the withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol detox, the entire detox process should be done under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals. This can be done at a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or an alcoholism rehab center that also offers detox services such as Focused Addiction Recovery. Attempting to self-detox can be dangerous and also increase the chances of a relapse.
Once medical detox has been completed, then treatment can begin. Based on the severity of your alcohol addiction your treatment professional will recommend a treatment plan that is right for you and your needs. At our alcoholism rehab center we offer the following treatment programs for alcohol use disorder:
Regardless of the program, you select, treatment will consist of different types of therapy, all designed to help get to the bottom of what led to your addiction as well as help teach healthier and more productive ways of dealing with triggers and cravings in the future.
Depending on the severity of your alcohol use disorder, you might be prescribed certain medications to help with the treatment process, particularly during the detox process and early on in treatment when the withdrawal symptoms might still be bad.
At Focused Addiction Recovery we use the following FDA-approved medication for treating alcohol addiction:
- Naltrexone
- Disulfiram
- Acamprosate
Unfortunately, many who find themselves suffering from addiction find themselves without a strong support system. As a result of their addiction friends and family members might not want to be around them anymore. This might make the person suffering feel like all hope is lost. While recovery quotes and affirmations can help, external support is essential.
Both during and after treatment, an emphasis is placed on building back that strong support system. One way to do that is by attending group therapy sessions and support group meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Group therapy and support group meetings are designed to share your feelings and experiences with others who are going through something similar to you. By doing this, you not only can help others who might be going through a similar experience that you are but you can also learn how others handled situations similar to yours.
Our Alcoholism Rehab Center Can Help You Recover
Being able to identify someone struggling with alcohol use and abuse can go a long way in helping them get the treatment that they need before it is too late. If you or someone you know is suffering from an alcohol use disorder and is looking for an alcoholism rehab center in North Carolina, contact us at Focused Addiction Recovery today. We will work with you to get the help that you need so that you can go on to lead a happy, healthy, and sober life.
