Article Written By: Isabella MacLean
Article Cover By; Nitya Gundamaraju
Over 18 million people in the United States have some form of alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction is defined as a physical or mental dependence on alcohol. Alcohol isn’t necessarily an addiction when consumed in moderation. It becomes abuse when issues arise due to heavy drinking and a person prioritizes alcohol consumption over their relationships, work, hobbies, and other aspects of their life.
How does alcohol addiction differ from other forms of addiction?
The short answer is that it doesn’t. Alcohol abuse is just as much of an addiction as drug addiction and should be taken just as seriously. A drug is any substance, excluding food or water, that alters brain functions and has psychological effects. Despite popular opinion, not all drugs are illegal. There are three main classifications of drugs: illegal drugs, legal drugs, and illicit drugs.
Illegal drugs - substances made illegally and sold illegally on the street versus in a shop or by a pharmacy, etc. Most are known to have a stronger effect than legal drugs.
Legal drugs - substances made legally, typically regulated by the government, and sold legally in pharmacies, stores, or prescribed.
Illicit drugs - substances that are legal but were obtained illegally (usually through a fake prescription or stolen from a medical center).
Due to the social role and tradition alcohol has in our society and cultures throughout history, it is very rarely considered a drug by the public. However, alcohol is by definition a legal drug. Alcohol is so ingrained culturally and socially, that it is often separated from pharmacy drugs and illegal substances by society. The notion that alcohol isn’t a drug, even though it classifies as one, contributes to the idea that alcohol addiction should be discredited societally.
How does alcohol affect its abuser?
Alcohol, like any other drug, affects brain function and alters our psychological state. Even if drunk in moderation, alcohol causes blurred vision, difficulty walking, slurred speech, slower reactions, faulty memory, and a variety of physical effects. These impacts will take effect in as little as one or two drinks, but usually disappear in 12 to 24 hours after the last drink. Although, alcohol can be detected in urine from up to 14 days in cases of excessive drinking. These are all common symptoms of alcohol use. Feeling these effects after drinking is not uncommon, since the purpose of the drink is to change your psychological state.
A person who drinks excessively for a long period of time not only feels the effects listed earlier, but could also experience a variety of effects on the brain after reaching sobriety or physical damage such as liver complications. The emotional impacts alcohol has on its abuser include depression, irritability, anxiety, violence, etc. Oftentimes an alcohol abuser will drink even more excessively to escape these emotional effects, and therefore feel these emotions even more greatly, creating an endless cycle. It is not uncommon to find an alcohol addict who is also suffering from a range of mental issues such as depression or anxiety. A person suffering from alcohol abuse could possibly have violent tendencies, especially when under the influence or when deprived of more substance. It is important to know that it is the alcohol that manipulates an addict's behavior and causes them to act the way they do.
Is it an addict's fault they are addicted to alcohol?
The long lived debate over whether or not addicts are at fault for their substance abuse still continues within society. Should lung cancer patients who have never had a smoking addiction be taken priority over those who are or have once been addicted to cigarettes? Should patients who don’t currently suffer from alcoholism or haven’t previously, be prioritized for liver damage treatment over patients who have abused alcohol in the past? The answer to this question boils down to morals and ethics, and the circumstance or details of the situation. Is it truly right to prioritize any patient over another due to their current or past health habits?
However, alcohol addiction, or any other addiction for that matter, is more often than not, uncontrollable by the addict themselves. The accessibility of alcohol and illegal substances is extremely easy in some parts of the world including the U.S. Not to mention that hereditary factors often contribute to the likelihood a person may become an alcohol addict. The addictive properties of alcohol and drugs, whether it be heroin, cocaine, or even a cigarette, make it exceedingly difficult not to get hooked, especially after experiencing the high a drink can give you.
It is very common in society to assign blame to an addict struggling. However, addicts are often victims themselves and suffer too with the disease of addiction.
How does addiction affect the families of an addict?
Alcohol addiction doesn’t just impact the addicts themselves but also those around them, particularly family members or close friends. While the addict themself feels their own set of physical and emotional effects, those close to them are also emotionally affected, often these effects are similar to the addict’s. Many alcoholic addicts often isolate themselves in attempts to prevent their loved ones from seeing their addiction, straining the relationship. However, this neglect negatively impacts both the addict and their family.
Children of alcohol addicts are 3-4 times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction themselves, as well as behavioral or mental issues that stem from living with an alcoholic. Many adult children of addicts still feel the trauma of their childhood even well into adulthood. According to American Addiction Centers, “children who grow up in a household where one or both parents have alcohol use disorder may experience a chaotic and unstable living environment, inconsistent parenting, frequent arguments between the parents, abandonment, or unpredictable behavior,” as well as domestic violence. Living with an alcoholic parent, family member, or spouse is a very unique experience, and is far too common for children across the globe.
What can I do to help?
The shocking truth is that there is nothing you can personally do to stop an alcohol addict from drinking. Addiction is preventable, but not stoppable without serious dedication and professional help. The most important thing to do when you or a loved one is suffering from any form of addiction is to refer to a professional facility. Donate to rehab centers, spread awareness, and end the stigma against alcohol addiction.
Resources to help:
Call:
855-781-7509
Sources: