10 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 14.1 million people ages 18+ in the United States suffer from an alcohol use disorder. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s COVID-19 National Pulse Survey estimated that alcohol consumption rose by 23% in 2020, in part due to increased drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available data from the CDC reports that from 2011 to 2015, an average of 95,158 lives were lost in the United States due to excessive drinking.

Alcohol-related illness and death are preventable. Developing awareness of one’s alcohol dependence or disorder is key to prevention. If you or a loved one are struggling with the possibility of having an alcohol addiction, pay careful attention to any symptoms that appear. Noticing the warning signs early on can help you or a loved one to treat the problem before it escalates and becomes overwhelming. Don’t let an alcohol problem get any worse. You are worth more than becoming another statistic.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder, or AUD, is the general description and diagnosis for someone who is suffering from alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or alcoholism. These three separate illnesses illustrate the staggering levels of alcohol misuse. Alcohol use disorder should be taken as seriously as any life-threatening illness. If left untreated, serious complications can arise that may even lead to an early death.

Alcohol use disorder is especially prevalent in several populations, including at-risk youth, college-age young adults, people with a family history of AUD, people suffering from mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, men and women in their mid-20s and 30s, and people with relatives who suffer from AUD. Even those most susceptible to AUD may not recognize its development until later in its progression, as symptoms caused by this progressive disease generally worsen over time.

The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction

The differences between alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcohol addiction can be measured by how much you regularly drink in one sitting. Healthy drinkers, those who make up most of the population, do not suffer from any of these conditions. They are generally able to enjoy alcohol in moderation and can start and stop drinking at will. The same cannot be said of someone who has alcohol use disorder. A person with AUD has limited to no control over the amount of alcohol they consume.

Alcohol abuse is the first phase in the progressive illness of AUD. The term “alcohol abuse” describes the behavior of a person who consumes alcohol in a way that negatively impacts their life on a short-term basis, such as drinking slightly above a healthy limit. “Browning out,” or experiencing intermittent memory loss while drinking, is one example of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol dependence is the next step of this progressive illness. It describes the gradual tolerance and dependency that a person acquires for alcohol. At this stage, drinking becomes a regular or even daily occurrence. This level of alcohol consumption pushes a person beyond healthy limits and can noticeably impair their mood, memory, and self-control.

Alcohol addiction is the term for when AUD has progressed to the point of an apparent illness. This is typically met when a person’s drinking becomes excessive in quantity or frequency. When a person is addicted to alcohol, their world can revolve around when, where, and how they will get their next drink. Only after indulging in their craving will they be temporarily satisfied. That satisfaction does not tend to last long, however, and soon they will crave more. Alcohol addiction can lead to an inability to stop drinking, impacting a person’s physical health and social behavior. The condition is marked by poor decision-making to the degree that causes irreparable harm to yourself and others, such as driving while drunk.

Ignoring the Consequences of Drinking

Alcohol use disorder can cause a person to believe that they can or should drink despite the resulting consequences. This belief often accelerates the progression of the illness by causing higher susceptibility, increased alcohol intake, recklessness, and carelessness. An inability to resist intense cravings can lead a person to knowingly consume alcohol despite the imminent risk of addiction. Resisting the urge to drink can be made easier through the help of social support systems that you can gain in recovery homes and treatment centers.

Widespread lack of education regarding the dangers of alcohol use disorder is another common contributor to the belief that a person can keep drinking in the face of severe consequences. Learning about AUD through online government and non-profit resources, such as the CDC, SAMHSA, AA, or NARR, can greatly motivate anyone who needs help to seek it.

Some people with an AUD will continue drinking despite the negative effects of alcohol addiction due to a co-occurring or already-present mental health disorder. When exacerbated by alcohol, depression can fatigue the mind into thinking that life is not worth living. Anxiety can also intensify the symptoms of AUD by forming a mental barrier that allows a person suffering from it to see changes they need to make but feel unable to bring themselves to meet them.

How Genetics and Heredity Affect Alcohol Abuse

Some people may harbor a genetic predisposition to alcoholism if their parents or relatives have ever shown signs of the disease. If you believe someone in your family may be affected by AUD, there is a greater possibility that you are also susceptible. A 2008 study conducted by Dr. Francesca Ducci and Dr. David Goldman, titled Genetic Approaches to Addiction: Genes and Alcohol, found that 50% of alcoholism liability is due to genetic factors.

This component of alcohol use disorder manifests in how alcohol is consumed. A non-affected drinker can limit themself to one or two drinks; if you are affected by a genetic predisposition to AUD, you may feel inclined to keep going. It can eventually become harder for you to quit drinking than to continue.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

The chance of becoming addicted to alcohol is increased inherently at birth if your mother consumed alcohol while pregnant. This hereditary inhibition is defined as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a term used to categorize the effects of various other diagnoses, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (PFSA), Static Encephalopathy / Alcohol Exposed (SE/AE), and Neurobehavioral Disorder / Alcohol Exposed (ND/AE).

According to the Florida health government agency, between 2004 and 2005, 3.9% of women admitted to using an illegal substance during pregnancy, including any illicit drug or alcohol. In a more extensive study conducted by the CDC for Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and New York between 1995 and 1997, 0.2 to 1.5 newborns of every 1,000 live births suffered from FASD.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder affects its victims well into adulthood with cognitive and physical disabilities. FAS is the known leading cause of intellectual disabilities. Children born to a mother who drank while pregnant retain the same chances of being more likely to suffer from Alcohol Abuse later in life.

Physical Warning Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol use disorder affects your health over a long duration of time. Some symptoms may be outwardly visible or discernable within your body, while other warning signs may not be as noticeable. The prevalence of its varying symptoms should not be ignored when considering the long-term effects that alcohol has on your body.

Discernable warning signs of Alcohol Abuse include restlessness, heart palpitations, nausea, chronic diarrhea, eczema, and aging of the skin. Symptoms of AUD that occur below the surface can include liver damage, liver cancer, pancreatitis, and heart disease.

If you are not suffering from Alcohol Abuse but are worried about a loved one, take into account their physical health before approaching them. The presence of these warning signs and symptoms does not always indicate alcohol use disorder. At the same time, the abuse of alcohol will often highlight and worsen existing symptoms. Take notice and take action before symptoms worsen.

Social and Behavioral Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Recognizing the social and behavioral warning signs of Alcohol Abuse is an important part of trying to help a loved one with an addiction. These warning signs may become most noticeable when your loved one interacts with other individuals. Such social situations can include small and larger gatherings where alcohol is present.

The Alcohol Abuse warning signs you should be aware of include a wide range of behaviors rooted in the person’s instilled belief that they need to continue consuming alcohol. These Alcohol Abuse behaviors may include lying, difficulty maintaining relationships, frustration over small incidents, inability to focus, poor short-term memory, and trouble fulfilling their responsibilities at work or home. It is no surprise that people who suffer from Alcohol Abuse experience these behavioral and social symptoms since alcohol acts as a depressant. When consumed in large quantities, alcohol can completely wipe away any lasting self-composure.

When recovering from an alcohol problem, reintegrating yourself into social communities is essential for behavioral growth. Immersing yourself in positive activities with other recovering alcoholics can significantly increase your chances of successfully remaining sober. If your loved one is exhibiting any of these warning signs or is known to have a history of Alcohol Abuse, it’s key that you approach them in a kind, sincere manner. Ultimately, however, they are the only person responsible for bettering themselves.

Additionally, the behavioral symptoms of Alcohol Abuse are not always long-term. These symptoms can fade throughout recovery as the person affected regains their identity and composure in sobriety. Bear in mind that even if a person makes progress on their own, they are still at risk of experiencing dangerous withdrawal symptoms when going through recovery. For someone whose body and mind become dependent on large quantities of alcohol, especially high-proof drinks, successful recovery will hinge upon professional medical help in navigating detox and withdrawal.

How to Treat an Alcohol Problem

You can determine the right kind of help to seek out by knowing which stage of alcohol use disorder you or a loved one have reached. Effective methods of alcohol recovery and treatments include detox and withdrawal services, dedicated treatment programs, medical help from a primary care physician, local Alcoholic Anonymous support groups, halfway houses, in-patient and out-patient programs, and therapy. Each person’s path to recovery is unique, and finding a method that works may take some trial and error. Be sure to speak with a medical professional to determine the best course of action for yourself or your loved one.

Alcohol Abuse is a progressive problem that accumulates in a person’s life the longer they go without seeking treatment. Even in its early stages, alcohol abuse poses a significant risk to your long-term physical and mental health.

If you believe you or a loved one may be struggling with a developing alcohol problem, seek help as soon as possible. Our comprehensive recovery program at Real Recovery Sober Living begins with a medically-supervised detox to mitigate the significant dangers of alcohol withdrawal.

We’ll assess your condition and create an individualized treatment plan to best meet your needs for care and relapse prevention. To ensure a smooth and successful transition, your treatment will progress from a rehab facility to our sober living homes.

As Florida’s largest provider of sober living beds and the state’s highest-rated sober living home, Real Recovery Sober Living offers a safe and stable environment with a strong community support system to help men successfully transition back into the real world. Call us at (727) 290-9156 to learn more.