Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the world. Worse, its legal status and widespread availability make the problem of chronic alcoholism even harder to address.
True enough, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 29.5 million Americans age 12 and up have alcohol use disorder or AUD. Unfortunately, only 10% of this huge number receive some kind of treatment.
For this post, we’ll discuss the chronic alcoholism definition, its risk factors, its dangers, and where you can get help for yourself or a loved one. Read on to learn more about this long-standing problem and why professional treatment is a game-changer.
What is chronic alcoholism?
Chronic alcoholism is a compulsive and long-term consumption of alcohol in large amounts. Unlike a typical heavy drinker, a chronic alcoholic has an extremely high tolerance to alcohol, which leads them to take alarming amounts of alcohol just to achieve the same effects.
Also called chronic ethanolism, this level of alcohol use can have severe physical and mental dangers. In most cases, individuals with this condition will have trouble performing basic responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Aside from that, it’s also found that alcohol use is highly associated with aggressive behavior than any other psychoactive substances. With this, uncontrolled heavy drinking can lead to a slew of behavioral changes as well.
Am I a chronic drinker?
But what is a chronic alcoholic, and how can a person considered one? If your excessive drinking habits fall into any of these scenarios, then it might be time to seek help from an alcohol rehab center like LA Wellness Home:
You have an uncontrollable desire to drink.
A chronic or severe alcoholic will go to great lengths just to satisfy their ‘thirst’ for alcohol. If you’re still drinking despite knowing its negative outcomes, you might have chronic alcohol use disorder.
You can’t function without drinking.
Chronic drinkers have become dependent on alcoholic drinks as part of their daily lives. Failure to drink can make them physically and psychologically incapable of functioning or performing their usual activities.
You have to increase your alcohol intake to get the same effects.
Individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder often increase their drinking habits just to chase the same effects they experienced before. This tolerance will increase the physical dangers of alcohol, including liver damage.
You feel extremely sick if you don’t drink alcohol.
A tell-tale definition of chronic alcoholic is when you’re already starting to experience withdrawal symptoms. This includes nausea, tremors, heavy sweating, and anxiety.
In some cases of chronic alcoholism, withdrawal would trigger delirium tremens, a severe form of hallucination without medical treatment.
You’re suffering from alcohol-related health complications.
Chronic alcohol addiction is often accompanied by liver problems as well as jaundice, bloating, redness on the face, and deteriorating health. Aside from that, chronic drinkers have a much higher risk for stroke and heart disease.
Take note that these complications will only get worse – and deadly – if you don’t seek intervention for your alcohol use. That being said, now is the best time to explore treatments like medical detox before you suffer further health problems.
Risk factors for chronic alcohol use disorder
Several factors can increase a person’s likelihood of developing a chronic case of alcohol use disorder or AUD. Here are some of these contributing factors that you can check on yourself or someone you know:
- Genetics. As with any form of substance abuse, you have a 50% chance of developing alcohol use disorder if your family has a history of alcohol misuse. Still, having this genetic predisposition doesn’t mean you’re bound to be an alcoholic, but it sure does increase your susceptibility.
- Early exposure to alcohol. According to the NIAAA, early drinking is linked to a higher risk of developing lifetime and chronic alcoholism. It’s because heavy alcohol consumption as a teenager will alter your brain development, which increases your risk of developing alcohol dependence.
- Social factors. Peer pressure and being surrounded by people with AUD can also influence a person into consuming alcohol.
- Trauma. Some individuals who have experienced trauma will resort to chronic drinking as a coping mechanism. The combination of trauma and alcohol use disorder can only be addressed with the help of specialists like LA Wellness Home.
- Mental health disorders. People suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions have a high risk of developing alcohol use disorder. Experts have long established the connection between substance abuse and mental health conditions.
- Easy access to alcohol. Social gatherings, the availability of alcohol in stores, and lax regulation all make alcoholism within reach for at-risk individuals.
The dangers of chronic alcohol consumption
The dangers of chronic alcohol use disorder go beyond the psychological and emotional impact it could bring. Most especially, it can cause a slew of life-threatening health complications.
If you’re having close to or more than 4 hard drinks daily, it’s only a matter of time before you get diagnosed with the following:
- Liver disease. Your liver is the first internal organ that alcohol will damage. After all, your liver is responsible for metabolizing alcohol, and chronic consumption can eventually kill and scar your liver cells. This leads to an irreversible condition called liver cirrhosis, which can cause a buildup of toxins in your bloodstream.
- Heart disease. Chronic drinking will increase your risk of having life-threatening blood clots. This is why individuals with chronic alcoholism are more likely to die from heart conditions.
- Seizures. Long-term and heavy alcohol consumption can have serious effects on your nervous system. It can trigger seizures, especially when you stop or reduce your drinking habits without medical supervision.
- Digestive illnesses. You can also suffer from the caustic effects of chronic ethanolism, meaning it can cause your stomach lining to become inflamed. Eventually, this can trigger ulcers and further inflammation of your stomach, esophagus, and other parts of your digestive system. From there, it will branch out to more deadly health complications.
How can you help individuals with chronic alcoholism?
If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic alcoholism, help is always available. Here’s what you can do to help them get the treatment they need:
- Educate yourself about AUD. The first thing you should do is inform yourself about alcohol use disorder, its causes, and why it’s more than just about binge drinking. The more you know about the condition, the easier it will be for you to have a conversation with your loved one.
- Express your sincere concern. You can also express your legitimate concern to the person regarding their drinking habits. Always use a caring tone and avoid blaming the person for their situation. Instead, express that you care for them and you’re concerned about their health. Also, prepare yourself to not get a favorable response at first.
- Offer your support. Many of those who deal with AUD are initially reluctant to seek help. In this case, don’t pressure them into enrolling to any program or seeing a specialist. Instead, assure them that they have your support once they decide to embrace change.
- Introduce treatment options. Once the person is more open to talking about his drinking problem, you can start explaining treatment options. For example, you can tell them about the perks of entering an addiction treatment center, their programs, and that many facilities offer a home-like environment.
- Work with a specialist. As someone who wants their loved one to overcome alcoholism, you are not alone in this journey. You can seek help from our Los Angeles rehab center for guidance on how you can convince the person to get the treatment they need.
Inpatient rehab as an effective approach to chronic AUD
When it comes to chronic alcohol use disorder (AUD), an inpatient rehab in Los Angeles is the safest and most effective approach to treatment. Here’s why you or your loved one should consider enrolling in a residential program like what we offer at LA Wellness Home:
1. 24/7 medical support
Chronic alcoholism will trigger severe withdrawal symptoms that can lead to medical emergencies. This is why a person who wants to quit alcohol should consider entering an inpatient program for round-the-clock monitoring.
In our luxury rehab in LA, we have a medical team of doctors, nurses, RADTs, LVNs, and medical staff who will provide you with personalized care. This way, you can overcome alcohol use disorder as safely as possible.
2. Focus on recovery
There’s a high risk for relapse when a person has easy access to alcohol. But with a residential facility, you or your loved one will be away from the place and influences that caused the addiction.
Since you will be staying inside the facility throughout the duration of the treatment, you won’t have access to alcohol. You’ll also be accountable for your recovery as you get past cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
3. Developing healthy coping mechanisms
Inpatient treatments are not just about ‘blocking’ your access to alcohol. Our main goal is to help you develop positive coping mechanisms so you won’t have the urge to access the substance anymore.
This way, you can sustain your sobriety once you finish our program and rejoin society.
4. Evidence-based treatments
Inpatient alcohol rehabilitation centers also use tried and tested modalities to approach AUD. This includes, but is not limited to, behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), counseling, therapy sessions, and more.
Here at LA Wellness Home, we also highlight the importance of family involvement. This is why we have licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) who will help families navigate the treatment process.
5. Aftercare planning
Your road to recovery doesn’t stop after completing our 30-day detox program. Our specialists also prepare a relapse prevention and aftercare plan to help you sustain a sober life.
After our inpatient program, we can endorse you to our outpatient facility where you can receive further support. There, you can attend regular sessions that can be scheduled around your work, school, or home life.
Overall, the goal of our inpatient treatment is to give you a complete continuum of care wherever you are in your recovery.
Recovery from alcohol use disorder starts at LA Wellness Home
At LA Wellness Home, we believe that it’s never too late to embrace change. If you need help for yourself or a loved one struggling with AUD, our team is just one call away.
We are dedicated to providing holistic medical detox, rehabilitation, and mental health support to anyone who wants to live a life free from alcoholism. With us, you’ll achieve recovery in a supportive and serene environment right in the heart of vibrant Los Angeles.
Whether you are in LA or out of state, we provide transportation assistance so you can get the help you deserve in our facility. We also accept most major insurances to cover as much of your treatment as possible.
If you want to learn more about our alcohol rehab program, contact our inpatient rehab center today! Our specialists are here to lend a helping hand.
