Alcohol abuse is drinking to a level that may require alcoholism treatment. When a person's drinking habits begin to interfere with their ability to maintain a job, sustain healthy relationships, and/or leads to trouble with the law, it is likely that they are engaging in alcohol abuse. Alcoholism, a severe form of alcohol abuse, requires treatment at an accredited treatment center.
If alcohol abuse in Montgomery goes untreated it is likely that alcoholism will develop. Contact Alcohol Treatment Centers Montgomery if you are ready to take the next step of finding an addiction rehab facility. Stop the abuse before it becomes potentially fatal. Call us today at (877) 804-1531. The dangerous mental and physical withdrawal symptoms associated with the disease should never be experienced alone.
Abuse includes engaging in numerous repeated binge drinking episodes or drinking to excess on a regular basis. The main difference between abuse and addiction is that addiction refers to a physical dependence upon the substance. A person will experience withdrawal symptoms when they do not drink when they have developed an alcohol dependency.
The substance can affect men and women differently. Women often need to drink less to achieve the same level of intoxication as men. Although the signs and symptoms of abuse are relatively similar, women are often prone to experience health problems sooner. In addition to this, a woman may blackout from drinking or experience short-term health issues much quicker as well. These issues can include hangovers and episodes of nausea or vomiting.
Heavy drinking is dangerous because of its potential long and short-term effects on a person's physical and mental health.
Physical
Alcoholism can cause a number of immediate and noticeable physical effects. These include slurred speech, confusion, memory loss and difficulty concentrating. A person may have lowered inhibitions that can increase their risk for injury and cause them to engage in unsafe sexual practices. They may also experience breathing problems and motor impairment.
Health
Abusing the substance can cause immediate and long-term effects on a person's health. These effects can include increased risk for heart conditions, such as heart enlargement, irregular heartbeat, stroke and high blood pressure. Because the liver is responsible for filtering alcohol in the body, heavy drinking can cause liver damage. Examples include cirrhosis, fibrosis and fatty liver disease.
Alcohol abuse in Montgomery also increases a person's risk of cancers, including those of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Heavy drinking also increases a person's risk for pancreatitis, a harmful and painful condition that affects digestion.
Unfortunately, binge drinking and heavy drinking are common in the United States. In 2012, an estimated 24.6 percent of people ages 18 or older engaged in binge drinking, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). A reported 7.1 percent of people reported they engaged in heavy drinking over the past month.
An estimated 17 million adults ages 18 and older reported an alcohol used disorder in 2012, according to NIAAA. These numbers break down to 11.2 million men and 5.7 million women in America. An estimated 1.4 million adults seek treatment for an alcohol use disorder in America at a specialized drug rehab facility. This includes 416,000 women and 1 million men. It is important for addicts that they are not alone in their struggle with addiction. Our rehabilitation and detoxification centers are here to provide a solution for recovery.
If someone you love is suffering from alcoholism or struggling with abuse, Alcohol Treatment Centers Montgomery can help you find an alcohol addiction recovery center. A healthy recovery is just a phone call away (877) 804-1531.