Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
In this article
People drink alcohol for many different reasons. However, some people drink alcohol more than others, and those who consume many alcoholic drinks regularly can develop alcohol use disorder.
Here are some of the most common reasons why people drink alcohol:
Some people consider themselves social drinkers, as they consume alcohol in various social situations — happy hours, birthday parties, holidays, etc.
A social drinker might enjoy a glass of wine during an evening out with friends or during another social activity. This form of drinking typically doesn't disrupt their lives or cause any personal or major health problems long-term.
Your peers may pressure you to engage in activities that you may not have otherwise chosen on your own, such as drinking alcohol.
Some people start drinking or drink too much due to peer pressure. Young people, like high school and college students, are especially susceptible to peer pressure. Sometimes, young people begin drinking alcohol to "fit in."
The effects of alcohol are long-lasting and can take a toll on your health.
Like all addictions, alcoholism affects the reward center of the brain. Unfortunately, heavy drinkers can pass their drinking problems down to their children.
People with a family history of alcoholism have a genetic disposition to develop alcoholism.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down the central nervous system (CNS). Depressants can induce feelings of relaxation.
This is why some people turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with stress.
Alcohol can provide a mental escape from one’s own mind, which is why some people may abuse alcohol to "self-medicate."
However, people with mental health issues can experience extreme effects from substance use. This could lead to co-occurring disorders like bipolar, anxiety, and depression.
Positive and fun past experiences with alcohol may make someone drink again. On the other hand, a negative experience while drinking may have the opposite effect.
Enjoying drinking in the past may motivate you to drink.
The environment a person is in may make drinking more appealing. When alcohol is advertised on television, glorified in the media, or surrounding someone at college, it can become a habit to drink more often.
Many people drink alcohol because it is incredibly accessible. It is also a widely accepted activity.
The accessibility and acceptability of alcohol can make it easier to indulge in it.
Drinking alcohol makes many people feel happy, social, and relaxed. Alcohol often enhances people’s experiences at events or in social situations.
Young people, like teenagers, often want to rebel against their parents or the rules. One way to defy the rules placed upon them can be by drinking alcohol.
Alcohol use is common in young people due to their adolescence and interest in experimenting with adult activities.
Additionally, if they have parents or guardians who tend to abuse alcohol, this behavior can rub off on them.
Binge drinking is the most common, expensive, and lethal pattern of excessive alcohol use across the country.
Binge drinking can elevate a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl or higher. This typically happens after five or more drinks for men or four or more for women in about 2 hours or less.
Binge drinking may or may not lead to more serious alcohol problems, such as alcoholism.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) doesn’t identify binge drinking as a formal disorder. However, it is a behavior that can be a risk factor for formal disorders and is still dangerous.
People who binge drink are more accident-prone, are at a higher risk of making poor decisions and are more likely to lose emotional control.
People binge drink for many of the same reasons people drink in general:
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Underage drinking is defined as anyone who drinks below the legal age limit, which is 21 years old in the United States. Unfortunately, it’s quite common.
The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that nearly 17% of teens aged 16 to 17 have consumed alcohol. Similarly, that number jumps to 32% in 18 to 20-year-olds.9
Warning signs of underage drinking include:
Many of these warning signs also correlate with typical characteristics of adolescence. Consult a doctor if these symptoms seem abnormal or last for a long period of time.
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol on occasion is not harmful to most people. But drinking frequently or heavily can lead to health issues and/or alcoholism.
Casual drinking can turn into binge drinking, which can lead to alcohol abuse, which can lead to alcoholism.
Alcohol can harm your health and impair your ability to make sound decisions. The following potential consequences can affect you long-term:
The more someone drinks, the more dangerous behavior they will engage in. Drug use and abuse are more common among people with heavy drinking habits.10
Alcoholism is characterized by an addiction to alcohol (alcohol use disorder). Alcoholics can experience withdrawal when they’re not drinking, which makes it even harder to quit.
An estimated 15 million people cope with alcoholism in the United States.11 These people likely experience dependency-induced consequences.
Alcoholism can have consequences that take a serious toll on your physical health, mental health, social life, and career.
There are many different options to consider when addressing a substance abuse disorder.
Five treatment options include:
In behavioral therapy, health professionals help people identify the behaviors that lead them to drink heavily. They also help them develop the skills to stop drinking, detox, build a strong support system, and cope with triggers.
Biofeedback therapy (or neurofeedback therapy) uses an electroencephalograph (EEG) to train the brain to function more efficiently.
An EEG listens to a patient’s brainwave activity to help them identify triggers and stress-induced psychological responses.
Holistic therapy combines many therapies that focus on a person’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Family members like spouses and siblings can play a significant role in the treatment process. Family therapy incorporates family members in therapy sessions.
A loved one can help monitor an alcohol user’s consumption of alcoholic beverages. Loved ones can play a huge part in helping an alcoholic through all stages of recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is arguably the most well-known support group for addiction treatment. AA offers anyone with an alcohol problem accountability meetings and discussion groups about addiction.
AA uses a 12-Step program to help members overcome alcohol addictions, which they can revisit whenever they need.
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