The Cycle of Alcohol Addiction National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. After ongoing https://curiousmindmagazine.com/selecting-the-most-suitable-sober-house-for-addiction-recovery/ heavy use, the body may develop a physical dependence in middle-stage alcoholism, where they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking. In the stage of alcoholism, individuals may or may not be physically dependent on alcohol. In other words, they may or may not experience symptoms of withdrawal when they stop drinking.

• The psychological side effects can be just as detrimental, if not more, than the physical ones, and they can create problems in relationships and behavioral challenges.
• If they choose not to address their drinking problem, they’re likely to drink themselves into an alcohol-induced illness, such as cirrhosis or cancer.
• Other health complications, like heart problems and stroke, stem from chronic alcohol abuse in end-stage alcoholism.

But it is important to remember that with appropriate help and support, recovery is possible at any stage of alcoholism. The next stage of alcoholism begins when alcohol consumption becomes more frequent. These individuals may start to develop an emotional attachment to drinking. This more an individual turns to alcohol to “feel good”, the more at risk they are of developing an alcohol use disorder and potentially needing alcohol treatment.

Is there treatment for early-stage alcoholism?

If someone has an issue with alcohol, the sooner they seek help, the better. Addiction cannot be cured, but it can be managed like other chronic health conditions, including asthma and diabetes. Any stage of the Jellinek Curve is considered dangerous because the person is not consuming alcohol in moderation, which is the only safe way to drink. Moderate drinking means two drinks or fewer in a day for men or one drink or fewer in a day for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many thought that drinking problems were the result of weak willpower or a lack of self-control. What one person might deem to be a problem might be something someone else finds ignorable. Over time there is a progression of liver disease from hepatitis (inflammation) to fibrosis (hardening) and eventually to scarring of the tissue (cirrhosis). Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. A person with early-stage alcoholism may also exhibit a high tolerance to alcohol.

Early-Stage Alcoholism

As they continue drinking, though, they move from a point where their reasons for drinking are no longer social but psychological. Whether they realize it or not, they’re beginning to lose control of their drinking. If they do not stop drinking, they continue progressing to the point of alcohol dependence and then finally to the point of chronic alcohol use. What starts as casual drinking advances into dependence and addiction over time. The majority of people who struggle with alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), took months or years to reach that point. Here in Indiana, the average age when someone has their first drink is 12.8 years old.

Learn why is ecstasy addictive and the suggested treatment for addiction. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time is dangerous, and can even lead to coma or death. Furthermore, you may become dependent on the feeling you get from drinking and find that these episodes increase in frequency.

Signs and Symptoms of End-Stage Alcoholism

While this stage technically can begin with the first drink, the primary portion of this stage revolves around people who are expanding their journey with alcohol. This is usually combined with inexperience, but it mainly focuses on experimentation in the form of both levels of alcohol consumption and types of alcohol. Because the person is experimenting, they might binge drink or go out drinking multiple nights in a row. This can lead to the development of a habit of regularly consuming alcohol. Oftentimes, a combination of family, stress, peers, economic status, and sometimes untreated mental health conditions can all lead to someone developing an AUD.

Group therapy, professional counseling, or a combination of both will set you in the right direction. Alcoholics must find new outlets to cope with trauma, grief, and stress that drove them to drinking in the first place. Many recovery will share their own experiences with fear, but they will also explain how their new community and skills have given them a new found purpose in life. Not only can the person who has an AUD be greatly impacted during this stage, but those around them start to be impacted as well. It’s not uncommon for familial relationships and relationships with friends to be damaged by the effects of alcohol.

These relationship impacts, combined with the side effects of alcohol, can also lead to the further development of mental health problems such as depression. Late-stage, or end-stage alcoholism, is a full-blown addiction to alcohol, often with damaging physical and mental health effects. Alcohol detox and treatment are nearly always necessary at this stage.

In terms of diagnostic criteria, individuals may display 7 or more symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Some people may experience all 11 symptoms of the condition during this stage, making it imperative for them to get professional treatment for alcoholism. This stage does not have to be a final stage and treatment is still a good course to regain physical well-being.