Stages of Alcoholism: Early, Chronic and End Stage

It can be caused by multiple factors including genetic, social, psychological, and environmental risks. While it can’t be cured, AUD can be managed with proper treatment, including detox, counseling, medication, and support groups. Seeking treatment can help a person recover from the physical effects of heavy drinking and can even save their life. By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health.

• About 62% of functional alcoholics work full time, and 26% possess a college degree or higher.
• Now is the time to line up support from addiction specialists, mental health professionals, friends and family, and others living with an alcohol use disorder.
• There are various types of alcoholics, and not everyone with an alcohol problem fits a stereotype.
• People who drink heavily over a long period of time are also more likely to develop pneumonia or tuberculosis than the general population.
• In fact, it contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S., making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
• This subtype makes up 19.5% of people addicted to alcohol in the U.S.

Also, 290,000 Americans are injured in car crashes caused by alcohol every year. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of physical signs of alcoholism a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. In the DSM-5, alcohol use disorder is further classified into categories of mild, moderate, and severe.

Long-term effects of alcohol

During end-stage alcoholism, a person may struggle with involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) or weakness and paralysis of the eye muscles due to thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency. This deficiency can also cause dementia if not https://ecosoberhouse.com/ treated immediately. Certain factors may increase your chances of experiencing alcohol use disorder. Long-term alcohol use can affect bone density, leading to thinner bones and increasing your risk of fractures if you fall.

For this reason, a full spectrum of rehab services that starts with medical detox and continues to treat the psychological aspects of abuse is needed. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2012, an estimated 7.2 percent of American adults aged 18 and older, approximately 17 million people, had a diagnosable alcohol use disorder. Men have alcohol use disorder almost twice as often as women; of the estimated 17 million affected adults, 11.2 million were men and 5.7 million were women.2 Adolescents are not immune.

If you or a loved one are seeking help for addiction, our network of addiction facilities are ready to welcome you.

The most serious effect is Korsakoff’s syndrome, characterized in part by an inability to remember recent events or to learn new information. As a result, they eventually need to drink more to notice the same effects they once did. The pancreas helps regulate how your body uses insulin and responds to glucose. If your pancreas and liver don’t function properly due to pancreatitis or liver disease, you could experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Alcohol use can begin to take a toll on anyone’s physical and mental well-being over time.

Many individuals with alcoholism are in denial or unaware that they have a problem. Others may realize something is wrong
but go to great lengths to hide their problem out of fear or shame. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification.

Finding Detox and Treatment

Roughly 80% are from families that struggle with multigenerational alcoholism. Whether you’re the loved one of someone struggling with alcohol addiction, or you yourself are struggling, it’s important to be aware of these signs and to know that you’re not alone. Thousands of people from all walks of life battle alcoholism every day, and thousands make the decision to seek help. Jaundice – Also a common by-product of liver disease, jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclera (the whites) of the eye. Some alcohol abusers suffering from jaundice will also experience darkening of the skin around the eyes, mouth, and legs. Facial redness – Alcohol abuse reduces vascular control in the brain which can lead to blood vessels in the face becoming enlarged.

End-stage alcoholism, or late-stage alcoholism, is the final stage of an alcohol use disorder, resulting in serious physical and mental conditions as well as other life consequences from years of alcohol misuse. Regular drinking can also affect overall mental health and well-being, in part because alcohol may worsen symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. At the end of the day, the signs and symptoms of alcoholism may differ depending on the
stage of alcoholism and the
type of alcoholic.