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Whether you or a loved one is experiencing the short- or long-term effects of alcohol abuse, there is help available. Many people drink a moderate amount of alcohol without harmful consequences, while for others, just one drink can lead down a dangerous path. Problem drinking is not defined only by how often or even how much a person drinks. Instead, it comes down to the effects of alcohol addiction on a person’s life. People who have issues with their work life, family relationships, finances or emotions because of their alcohol use could have a drinking problem. Communities can advocate for change on a local level for better accessibility to services and to increase the availability of effective recovery resources.
What are the main consequences of drinking alcohol?
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
A loss of balance is another effect of chronic ethanol consumption, which occurs because the body becomes accustomed to consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcoholics will often appear uncoordinated when they walk due mainly to damage to their cerebellum caused by long-term exposure. This condition may also lead to falls if not addressed immediately. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to weight gain, which is another effect of alcoholism that results from chronic abuse. Alcoholic beverages contain calories stored in fat, leading to obesity if ethanol intake continues at unhealthy levels. Anemia is an effect of alcohol addiction on the body, which occurs when a person’s bone marrow ceases to produce red blood cells effectively because of chronic ethanol abuse.
Alcohol Overuse vs. Abuse
Teenagers are more affected by alcohol than adults just as girls are more affected than boys because of differences in their bodies. A mixed drink contains more alcohol than beer, wine or wine coolers. A 12 ounce on of beer, a 5 ounce glass of table wine and a standard mixed drink with 1.5 ounce of 80 proof alcohol all contain the same amount of alcohol. A 12 ounce bottle of wine cooler contains as much or more alcohol than the rest.
- Talk openly with your child, spend quality time together and become actively involved in your child’s life.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends complete abstinence for women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or are sexually active and not using birth control.
- Individuals who consume alcohol over a prolonged period are more at risk of developing these complications.
- Men generally can drink more alcohol than women of the same size before they show its effects.
If you have a patient who is in need of treatment for alcohol abuse, do not hesitate to recommend our alcohol rehabs. The sooner an individual receives treatment, the less likely there will be lasting negative effects. Look for a treatment program that is prepared to address both the physical and psychological needs of each consequences of alcohol patient. Here at RCA Westminster, we understand that recovery is more than abstinence—we believe in restoring the health of the whole person to enable lasting and sustainable recovery. So, to learn more about our treatment programs call RECOVERY today. Alcohol is a chemical found in certain beverages that people drink.
Effects of Alcohol Addiction on Health
This is because of ethanol’s effect on the body’s ability to fight off disease. For most people, intoxication begins to occur after two to three drinks, but it can occur more quickly, with fewer drinks in a lighter person. Keep in mind that the alcohol content of different types of beer, wine, and distilled spirits can vary a lot. Generally, the lower your body weight, the less blood and water you have.
What are the consequences of intoxication?
Symptoms of alcohol overdose include mental confusion, difficulty remaining conscious, vomiting, seizure, trouble breathing, slow heart rate, clammy skin, dulled responses such as no gag reflex (which prevents choking), and extremely low body temperature. Alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
The time it takes before someone addicted to drinking can safely drink again varies on a case-by-case basis. When a person has been drinking alcohol for years on end, their brain chemistry changes, affecting how they feel about certain things or people around them. Most times, however, these effects do not go away once someone stops consuming large amounts of Alcohol but continue even after several months/years have passed. Unhealthy eating habits – from the over consumption of sugars and fats to the under consumption of critical vitamins and minerals – are common among excessive drinkers and can lead to gum disease.