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750 E Prima Vista Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
Alcoholism is also referred to by its clinical term, alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is described as a medical condition characterized by an inability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.
Alcohol use disorder is broken up into 3 main categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Each category has many different symptoms which can cause negative side effects. All three categories could most likely also benefit from a treatment program.
There are many risk factors that can increase alcohol abuse. Dependency can be developed over time, regardless of the reason for the first drink. Alcohol abuse can be triggered by using drinking as a coping mechanism for a difficult life event, for example.
While people may drink for many different reasons, there are a few common reasons:
Whether it is diagnosed or undiagnosed, mental illnesses such as depression, for example, can make drinking alcohol very tempting. The euphoria from the first couple of drinks can be enough to make the person forget they are depressed.
Not only are there different levels of an alcohol use disorder, but there are also different types of drinking and drinking patterns. It’s important to know these patterns so someone can tell when a pattern becomes a drinking habit.
Alcohol addiction includes a strong need or urges to use alcohol. People suffering from alcohol addiction may have problems controlling their drinking, continue to drink even when it causes problems, or have withdrawal symptoms when they rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism are very similar, but the difference can be found in the physical dependence on alcohol, and other criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
Some examples of the criteria that differentiate alcohol abuse and alcoholism (AUD) are:
Give us a call today. Our admissions coordinators will answer any questions you may have about our program and walk you through the admissions process.
Several things can increase a person’s risk of becoming addicted to a substance, even if their initial intent is only social or recreational use. There are 5 main risk factors for developing an alcohol use disorder. They are the duration of use, age of first use, environmental and social factors, heredity, and mental health.
Environmental factors like stress and exposure to violence can also increase the risk of developing an addiction, especially if the exposure happened in the developmental years of someone’s life. If someone lives in a violent or unpredictable environment, they may have a high risk of developing unhealthy coping mechanisms that could lead to an addiction.
Social factors such as peer pressure and social isolation can also contribute to addiction. If someone feels like they don’t fit in or are feeling lonely, they may be more likely to try drugs or alcohol.
There are many signs that could be a warning someone is suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Because AUD is a very personal disease, the signs will be different for everyone, but there are a few commonalities to look for.
Getting help for an addiction is the only way to truly start the road to recovery. There are many different types of treatment that have been proven successful for many types of alcohol use disorders. Typically, starting a detox program, followed by inpatient treatment and then an aftercare plan will set someone on the right path to a long-lasting recovery from alcohol addiction.
Starting treatment for alcoholism can be done by calling us at Agape Detox Center. We have admissions coordinators waiting to answer any questions you may have, and help you to develop a plan to become the healthiest you can be.
