Signs Of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows down the central nervous system. Like any depressant, when used in small doses, alcohol can help people relax and relieve tension. However, when consumed regularly and in high amounts, alcohol can significantly impair a person’s social and occupational functioning. It also causes major health problems, organ failure, cancer, and premature death. If drinking alcohol causes more problems in your life than it solves, a Boston alcohol addiction treatment center can help you on the path to recovery. Signs of alcohol addiction include the following:

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Consuming regular, excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to the development of physical dependence on the substance. Physical dependence causes alcohol withdrawal syndrome when consumption is stopped or substantially reduced. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome causes both physical and psychological symptoms. When the central nervous system becomes reliant on alcohol, it overcompensates when the person loses access to alcohol. The presence of the following withdrawal symptoms may contribute to relapse, even after sustained periods of sobriety:

• Uncontrollable shaking
• Irritability
• Dysphoria
• Rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure
• Excessive sweating
• Extreme anxiety
• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Hallucinations
• Disorientation
• Seizures

For many people with alcoholism, the fear of withdrawal symptoms perpetuates alcohol consumption. After detox, the following programs can be helpful for people coping with alcoholism:

• Partial hospitalization
• Residential addiction treatment
• Daytime outpatient program
• Evening outpatient program

Reckless Drug Use When Drinking

If drinking alcohol causes you to ignore warning labels on medication bottles or take drugs that you would otherwise avoid, the combination of drugs can be deadly. The following combinations cause dangerous short- and long-term side effects:

• Mixing alcohol and opioids
• Mixing alcohol and benzodiazepines
• Mixing alcohol and stimulants
• Mixing alcohol and antidepressants
• Mixing alcohol and antipsychotics

 If you are unable to safely take doctor-prescribed medication because of your intoxication level, this is an indication of an alcohol use disorder. 

Your Family and Friends are Worried About Your Drinking

Regular alcohol intoxication substantially increases the risk of health, social, mental, and mental problems for heavy drinkers. Confronting someone about their alcohol intake isn’t easy; if your family and friends express concern that you are drinking too much, ask yourself this question: “Do the experiences in my life validate their concerns?” Like many other medical problems, alcoholism is easier to treat when it’s detected early, but many alcoholics go to great lengths to hide their dependence on alcohol. These are a few of the early signs of alcoholism that family members and friends often notice:

• Daily consumption
• Binges
• Blackouts
• Aggression
• Drug use when drinking
• DUIs
• Impaired social and occupational functioning
• Alcohol-related violence
• Absence from work or school
• Legal difficulties
• Arguments with family and friends

Blackouts

Have you ever woken up without knowing where you are after a night of drinking? A blackout is a condition that affects your memory while drinking heavily. If drinking alcohol causes gaps in your memory, this is a blackout. In a partial blackout, visual or verbal cues (e.g., looking at your Snapchat story from the night before may jog your memory. In a complete blackout, memory loss is permanent. Blacking out is caused when blood flow to the brain is delayed. Heavy alcohol intoxication prohibits the brain from forming new memories while you are intoxicated, but it doesn’t erase memories formed before the onset of intoxication. Frequent blackouts cause certain people to be more likely to develop alcohol dependency. Contact a Boston rehab center near you if you are concerned that you are developing alcohol addiction.

A Needham Alcohol and Drug Rehab Can Help 

If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of alcoholism, Greater Boston Addiction Centers. We have decades of experience helping people recover from alcoholism. To reach our office, call 877.920.6583 to take the first step toward a new life. Additionally GBAC also has other substance abuse treatment programs including:

• Boston Rehab Programs
• MA Intensive Outpatient Program
• Partial Hospitalization Program in Boston MA
• Evening Intensive Outpatient Program
• Outpatient Program Boston MA
• Women’s Addiction Treatment Program
• Men’s Addiction Treatment Program

  This Blog was originally published by the addiction treatment experts at GBAC: https://www.greaterbostonaddictioncenters.com/rehab-blog/5-signs-of-alcohol-addiction/