Alcoholism Warning Signs and Symptoms
It can be hard to tell when someone has crossed the line into alcohol addiction. When it becomes apparent that the consumption of alcohol is disrupting their health, relationships, and ability to work it’s time for them to seek help. It is important to know the warning signs of alcohol use disorder, so that you can recognize them in yourself and those around you.
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What are the Warning of Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a chronic and progressive disease that can be fatal. Alcohol use disorder includes alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcohol addiction.
The warning signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder may vary from person to person. Some people may have all the signs and symptoms while others may only have a few.
The most common warning signs of alcohol use disorder are:
- Neglecting responsibilities and performing poorly at home, work, or school.
- Using alcohol while driving, operating machinery or mixing alcohol with illicit substances even though they are aware of the dangers of these activities.
- Receiving multiple arrests or running into legal problems because of the influence of alcohol.
- Continuing to drink despite loved ones advising that you stop or despite the strains that it causes in your relationships.
- Using alcohol as a relaxation technique or using intoxication as an escape from a stressful day.
- Drinking more than intended or for longer periods than intended
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking or when drinking less
- Spending a lot of time drinking instead of doing other things
- Experiencing cravings for drink
Binge Drinking Vs Alcohol Use Disorder?
Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL or above. Alcohol use disorder is a condition in which an individual has difficulty controlling their drinking, and may have physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.
The difference between binge drinking and alcohol use disorder is that with the latter, there are some health risks associated with it. One example of this is liver disease. There are also psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety disorders.
How to Identify if You Have an Alcohol Problem Using the AUDIT-C Test
The AUDIT-C is a ten-item questionnaire that can be used to screen for alcohol use disorder. The test is designed to identify hazardous and harmful drinking patterns.
The AUDIT-C test consists of ten questions which are scored on a scale of 0 to 4, with the higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of alcohol use disorder. The total score ranges from 0 to 40 and the cutoff score for hazardous drinking varies depending on gender and age, but generally ranges from 8 to 13.
If You Suspect Your Loved One Has AUD
If you are concerned that someone close to you might have an alcohol abuse problem, it is important to be sensitive about how you approach the situation. Alcoholism is a disease that can be difficult for some people to admit, and can be hard for them to overcome without the help of others.
You may have noticed a change in their behavior or personality or the way they act when they drink. You could notice physical signs like red eyes or slurred speech. If there are children involved, they may show more aggressive behavior than before.
There are many ways that we can help someone with an alcohol abuse problem. It is important to know what your options are so that you can make sure that you do what’s best for them and everyone else involved in their life.
Warning Signs of Teenage Alcoholism
Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences. There are many warning signs that can indicate a teenager is addicted to alcohol.
These warning signs include:
- Lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Anger or hostility
- Disruptive behavior at home or school
- Frequent hangover or blackouts
Warning Signs of College Alcoholism
The warning signs of college alcoholism are not always easy to spot right away. But as a parent, you should be aware of some of the early indications that your son or daughter is struggling with alcohol abuse.
Some warning signs include:
- A sudden change in behavior, such as becoming irritable or depressed
- Neglecting school work and other activities they used to enjoy
- Frequently drinking alone or in secret
- Missing classes and showing up late for work without an explanation
- Experiencing blackouts or memory loss after drinking
Physiological Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcoholism is a severe disease that can lead to major health complications if left untreated. There are several warning signs that people can look for when trying to identify alcoholism in themselves, a friend or a family member.
Alcohol Tolerance
When you have to drink a lot more than usual in order to feel the same effects, your body has built up a tolerance to alcohol. Having a high tolerance to alcohol is an early sign of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
Alcohol Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms are the physical consequences of abstaining from alcohol for even a short period of time. Suffering from alcoholism requires a person to drink in order to relieve or avoid these physical symptoms. Some withdrawal symptoms include:
- Tremors, convulsions, or uncontrolled shaking
- Sweating, even in cold conditions
- Extreme agitation or anxiety
- Insomnia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
Withdrawal from alcoholism can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. Withdrawal is an important step in the treatment process, but can be dangerous. Undergoing withdrawal should always be done under the supervision of a doctor or rehabilitation center.
The physical signs and symptoms of alcoholism can be visible depending on the amount and frequency of drinking. Some of these visible signs are:
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Poor balance and clumsiness
- Delayed reflexes
- Stomach pains, vomiting or nausea
- Loss of consciousness or blacking-out
- Redness of the face during or after periods of consumption
- Hallucinations
Health Risks of Alcoholism
Alcohol impairs judgment, coordination and reaction time. The more alcohol that is consumed, the greater effect on bodily functions. Every organ of the body is affected when drinking alcohol.
- Brain: Alcohol interferes with brain communication pathways and can change mood, behavior, cognition and coordination.
- Heart: Drinking can damage the heart and cause cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, strokes, and high blood pressure.
- Liver: Alcohol can cause dangerous complications to your liver including inflammation, steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis.
- Pancreas: Pancreatitis is common in alcohol abusers. The pancreas produces a toxic substance when faced with too much alcohol that leads to inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels.
- Immune System: Excessive alcohol consumption can weaken the immune system leading to pneumonia, tuberculosis and hinder the body’s ability to ward off infection.
Treatment for Alcoholism
There are several treatments that are effective in altering drinking patterns, including alcohol rehab centers. Behavioral treatments such as counseling by a professional aim to identify and change the behaviors and environmental factors that lead the person to drink heavily. Working with the counselor, patients can set goals and work to avoid triggers.
There are currently three medications available that are approved to help people reduce drinking and prevent relapse. They can only be prescribed by a physician and are best used alongside another form of treatment. Support Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) use a 12-step program to combine professional counseling with peer support. Group members get rewards for reaching sober milestones and are allowed to remain anonymous. Having a support system of friends and family is the best way to stay on track and avoid relapse.
The transition to a sober lifestyle can be wrought with anxiety and having a support team can make the process easier. All decisions regarding medications and therapy treatments should be discussed with a doctor or medical professional.
