Alcohol: The Legal Drug

At La Jolla Healing Center, we understand and acknowledge the complexity of alcohol abuse/alcoholism. The effects of alcohol are different on everyone. Some people become more social and outgoing, some become angry and short-tempered. One of the most essential components to understanding alcoholism is the internal recognition that it is a disease.

Though the medical community recognizes alcohol abuse as a primary disease, society can be uneducated, judgmental, and harsh. It is not a moral failing. It is not the result of a lack of self control. Overcoming the stigma and shame of addiction can be one of the most difficult things you do on your journey to recovery and sobriety.

Do I Have a Problem?

Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs, because it is socially acceptable, legal, easily accessible, and enjoyed by many people in appropriate moderation. Once your drinking habits begin to effect your personal relationships, professional life, and emotional and/or mental health, it may be time to assess whether or not you have a problem. Alcohol abuse has less to do with how much you drink and more about what happens when you drink.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcohol dependence, or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), as a brain disease with symptoms like compulsive drinking, loss of control when using alcohol, and negative feelings when not using alcohol. It is estimated that over 14 million Americans over the age of 18 have an alcohol dependence.

What Causes Alcohol Dependence?

There’s no easy answer to what exactly causes a person to develop a dependancy or start abusing alcohol. But it includes both genetics and the person’s environment. Some studies show a link between a genetic vulnerability, while others identify risk in those who begin drinking at an early age, or whom have experienced childhood traumas. These factors are still being researched and debated.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Use of alcohol is common across most cultures worldwide. But to some, the use develops into an abuse, or even an addiction. Alcohol can have a significant negative impact on their lives, and may even become deadly. If you believe you or a loved one might be abusing alcohol, contact an expert for a qualified diagnosis.

Drinking more alcohol than you originally intended to or drinking more frequently than you had planned
Experiencing cravings to use alcohol
Experiencing signs of physical withdrawal when alcohol is withheld
Giving up things that you previously enjoyed, such as sports and hobbies, to consume alcohol
Spending a great deal of time and money acquiring, using, and recovering from using alcohol
The inability to fulfill roles at work, school, or home because of alcohol use
Tolerance to alcohol, which means that a person has to keep drinking more and more to feel the effects of alcohol
Unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop using alcohol
Using alcohol even if it makes a mental or physical problem worse
Using alcohol even though it causes family, or other interpersonal, conflicts
Using alcohol when it is dangerous to do so, such as drinking and driving

Treatment

Detox is usually the first step for treating alcohol abuse and addiction. For some people the physical dependance is so strong that it might be dangerous for them to quit straight away, and they have to stop more delicately. A medically supervised detox may be necessary in these cases. After that, a person may either start an in or outpatient program at a facility. Usually, a combination of treatment programs are employed to approach the addiction from a mental, physiological, and spiritual direction.