Alcohol Use Disorder - What Is It, and How to Get Better?

Studies show that over 85% of all adults have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives. For a lot of people, alcohol is a normal part of entering adulthood. But, for some people, alcohol use can turn into dependence & overtime, lead to addiction. There are several factors that play a role here, but the most important thing to remember is that alcohol use disorder is not a choice - it is a disease - and it is treatable. 

Common risk factors of alcohol use disorder:

Although the exact cause of alcohol use disorder is unknown, there are certain factors that may increase your risk for developing this disease. The specific cause of alcohol use disorder remains unknown, however, science has come a long way in understanding what makes some people more susceptible to the condition than others. Here are the most common risk factors:

• Consuming more than 15 drinks per week (for men) 
• Consuming more than 12 drinks per week (for women)
• Consuming more than 5 drinks per day at least once a week (binge drinking)
• Having a parent with alcohol use disorder 
• Living with a mental health condition 

Other factors that increase the likelihood of developing alcohol use disorder are:

• High levels of stress
• Living in a culture or family where alcohol consumption is very common 
• Peer pressure 
• Low self-esteem 

How Does Alcohol Addiction Start? 

In essence, there are four stages of addiction, which are: 

• Experimentation: As a normal part of growing up, young adults are often encouraged to try out new substances and experience new things. This may be done through popular culture, media, peers, and so on. Some individuals may take their first drink just to see how it feels. Some people may stop with just a few drinks, whereas others may not. 
• Regular use: This stage is a turning point for many people. Some people may never become addicted, even if they regularly consume alcohol. On the other hand, some people may become addicted as their use gradually increases, and they need more and more alcohol to feel the numbing or euphoric effects. The tendency to get addicted varies from person to person, and it generally depends on things like genetics, social environment, lifestyle, and so on. 
• High-Risk use: This is the stage where alcohol abuse starts negatively affecting the individual. They might continue using the substance even if it causes problems for them. They might start doing things like driving or showing up to work under the influence, which puts them at risk. 
• Addiction: This is the last stage, where the body is fully dependent on the substance. Without the substance in their body, they start experiencing heightened discomfort, sweating, shaking, and so on. In order to cope with these unpleasant feelings, they have to keep consuming alcohol in order to feel okay. 

Should You Just Go Cold Turkey From Alcohol?

While it is easy to think that one can just stop drinking, the reality is much more nuanced. Suddenly cutting the body from alcohol (known as going cold turkey) can cause severe physical problems for you. 

As the body is dependent on alcohol during addiction, any disruption can cause severe consequences on your body, such as:  

• The loss of appetite 
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Hallucinations 
• Seizures. 
• Delirium tremens, which is an extreme withdrawal symptom. It can include symptoms like shaking, high blood pressure, fevers, hallucinations, and so on. It can be fatal. 

Is it possible to get better from alcohol use disorder?

It is a common myth that alcohol use disorder is a choice. It is a physical illness, and just like any physical illness, it can be treated under the guidance of a medical and/or mental health professional. In a study of over 4,400 individuals with alcohol abuse disorder, it has been found that over 35% entered recovery, which means that they either stopped drinking completely, or they do not drink to problematic levels. Out of this, 18% of people stopped drinking completely. 

There are several options for people seeking to get better from alcohol use disorder, such as: 

• The 12-step program - This is a common technique used by the alcoholics anonymous, wherein you will be asked to follow 12 steps. This includes things like asking for forgiveness, acknowledging your faults, and so on. The primary aim of this process is to take control of addiction and build back relationships on the road to recovery. 
• The 28 and 30 day inpatient rehabilitation program - These are residential treatment programs for alcohol use disorder, where professionals will monitor you and help you to enter recovery. 
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - This method involves tackling the psychological aspect of addiction. 
• Mutual support groups like alcoholics anonymous (AA) which can provide social support. It can help in building resilience and finding support with other people that have been through the same thing. 

Some treatment options may work well for some people, whereas some may not have any effect. Every individual is different, so it is important not to lose hope if one treatment does not work for you. 

How is alcohol use disorder treated?

Before starting the treatment for alcohol use disorder, it is critical to consider the various aspects that get you ready to enter treatment. Getting support from family, friends, and other loved ones can be a very significant factor that can help you get ready to enter the process of recovery. You also need to mentally prepare yourself through therapy, to start the process of treatment.

The first step towards the treatment of alcohol use disorder is detoxification. In this stage, the body gets rid of all the alcohol in its system. Detoxification can be physically demanding for some people, as they may experience withdrawal symptoms. For some people, it may be extremely easy. This depends on the duration (how long the addiction has been going on) and the severity of the addiction. Detox is usually conducted under strict medical supervision. The individual undergoing detoxification is given medicines to counter withdrawal symptoms and reduce discomfort. 

After detoxification, the individual will start the rehabilitation process. This is where the real healing begins. Think of rehab as a place where the individual will learn how to live without alcohol. They are taught healthier ways to cope with negative emotions and given round the clock care. The length of rehab varies and can range from 30 days to 90 days. 

Therapy is a crucial part of recovery from alcohol use disorder. Going to therapy addresses the root cause of most addictions. These may arise from using alcohol as a way to cope with negative emotions like sadness and stress, using it as a way to escape reality, and so on. There are many kinds of therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and so on. 

It is always important to remember that alcohol use disorder is an illness, not a choice. It is to be treated as such.

References

Alcohol Detox. (2022, April 26). Alcohol Rehab Guide. https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/treatment/alcohol-detox/ 

Alcohol Intoxication Symptoms, Treatment, Signs, Blood Alcohol Levels. (2020, April 3). eMedicineHealth. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/alcohol_intoxication/article_em.htm 

Alcohol’s Effects on the Body | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). NIAAA. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body#:%7E:text=Alcohol%20interferes%20with%20the%20brain’s,clearly%20and%20move%20with%20coordination. 

Juergens, J., & Parisi, T. (2021, October 20). Alcohol Detox: The First Step of Alcoholism Treatment. Addiction Center. https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/detox/