Alcohol addiction is compulsive consumption of alcohol, often losing control of intake and having withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Alcohol addiction exists on a spectrum, but all levels require detoxification and treatment to get better.
In 2019, over 25% of people aged 18 and older reported binge drinking in the last month – and that includes only individuals who were self aware when reporting. In that same study done by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 14.5 million people aged 12 and older had some form of alcoholism Of those who reported having trouble with alcohol, only 7.2 percent of people received treatment for their condition in the past year (2018). Alcoholism is becoming more and more common as society normalizes binge drinking.
Conditions that Increase Risk of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction ultimately depends on your genetic makeup and your environment with about 60% of alcohol addiction cases stemming from hereditary conditions. There are several factors that can influence the development of alcoholism. Drinking at an early age is one of them. The study done by the NSDUH polled people as young as 12 years old, an age when many Americans have their first drink despite being so far from the legal drinking age. A national survey found that people who began drinking before age 15 were three times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who drank around age 21 or later.
Mental health conditions can also play a role in alcohol addiction. Those who struggle with depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder could be at higher risk for developing alcohol addiction. Being in an environment that encourages or enables binge drinking could also put those with co-occurring mental health disorders at risk of developing serious alcoholism.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
The signs of alcoholism may be surprising to many people because they often include scenarios that someone may experience without thinking they have a problem. Common signs of alcohol addiction include:
- Drinking and being unable to stop
- Attempts to reduce or fully stop drinking and not being able to
- Becoming sick during or after drinking often
- Not being able to participate in activities without having a drink
- Drinking interfering with your job or family life
- Making unsafe decisions while drinking – like driving a car
- Getting into legal or financial trouble because of drinking
- Needing to drinking more to get the desired effects each time
One or more of these are signs of having a drinking problem that could lead to alcohol addiction. If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of alcoholism, Rise Above alcohol addiction treatment could be the right fit for your recovery.
Recovery Safely with Confidence
Treatment for alcohol addiction should be done in a controlled, medically supervised setting. The detox process alone can be quite dangerous and in the event that emergency intervention is needed, medical detox provides for 24/7 supervision and support from medical professionals. Rise Above Treatment specializes in medical detox and rehab programs for every phase. We offer residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient treatment so that you can get help at any stage of life.
About Rise Above Treatment
Rise Above Treatment is a Murrieta, California based addiction treatment center that is committed to helping people recover from drug, alcohol, and other mental health concerns that are holding them back. We offer a range of services, including medical detox, residential rehab, addiction PHP, sober living options, and intensive outpatient programs. If you or a loved one is experiencing addiction, visit us at riseabovetreatment.com or give us a call at (855) 948-6325 and begin your journey to recovery.
