Understanding Adderall Addiction: Signs, Risks, and Treatment
These facilities will provide you with 24-hour care as you withdraw from alcohol and recover from your addiction. Once you’re well enough to leave, you’ll need to continue to receive treatment on an outpatient basis. Alcohol use disorder develops when you drink so much that chemical changes in the brain occur. These changes increase the pleasurable symptoms of alcohol dependence feelings you get when you drink alcohol. People with alcohol use disorder will continue to drink even when drinking causes negative consequences, like losing a job or destroying relationships with people they love. They may know that their alcohol use negatively affects their lives, but it’s often not enough to make them stop drinking.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Previous studies have shown that the development of depression, stress, and anxiety in college negatively impacts academic performance, social connection, and health. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends pregnant women and women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. If someone loses control over their drinking and has an excessive desire to drink, it’s known as dependent drinking (alcoholism). People who binge drink (drink heavily over a short period of time) are more likely to behave recklessly and are at greater risk of being in an accident. The risk to your health is increased by drinking any amount of alcohol on a regular basis. If you accompany someone to an appointment, try to get an explanation for the person in simple language about the illness, the long-term effects and the options for recovery.
Causes and risk factors
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. When all behaviors and health problems are taken into consideration, a doctor may determine that a person’s drinking is in fact an addiction.
Warning Signs
If you are drinking more than that at any one time, you may be misusing alcohol. Excessive drinking is defined as 15 drinks or more a week for men and eight drinks or more a week for women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate drinking is typically defined as two drinks or fewer for men per day, or one drink or less for women.
- People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be able to hide many of the more obvious symptoms of addiction for a long period of time.
- Delirium tremens is a symptom of severe alcohol withdrawal that can be potentially fatal.
- Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.
- If your blood pressure, pulse, or body temperature rises, or if you have more serious symptoms like seizures and hallucinations, seek medical care immediately (dial 911).
