It's easy to forget that alcohol is a drug too. Alcohol affects the brain - in the short term it impairs judgment, coordination and reflexes. When people use alcohol regularly they may develop tolerance and dependence. Tolerance means they will require more alcohol to achieve the same effect they used to get with smaller quantities, because the brain compensates for the sedating effects of alcohol and the liver breaks it down more quickly. Dependence means that alcohol use becomes central in their life. A lot of time is spent thinking about alcohol, obtaining it, using it and recovering from its effects. Use is continued despite knowing that it is causing harm.
A common feature of dependence is that a person will experience withdrawal symptoms if they reduce or stop drinking, due to increased excitability (irritability) of the brain. Typical alcohol withdrawal features last about 5 days and include:
shaking (tremor)
nausea & vomiting
anxiety
depression
sweating
headache
difficulty sleeping (may last several weeks)
Alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous (e.g. seizures may occur); people drinking 8 or more standard drinks a day are advised to discuss a decision to stop drinking with their doctor as medication may be needed to prevent withdrawal complications.
Because alcohol addiction, have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual's life, addiction treatment is not simple. Effective addiction treatment programs incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using alcohol for a few days and be cured. Most patients addicted to alcohol require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence of alcohol, and recovery of their lives.
For more information on alcohol abuse, addiction and alcoholism treatment visit us on the web.
Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/
A common feature of dependence is that a person will experience withdrawal symptoms if they reduce or stop drinking, due to increased excitability (irritability) of the brain. Typical alcohol withdrawal features last about 5 days and include:
shaking (tremor)
nausea & vomiting
anxiety
depression
sweating
headache
difficulty sleeping (may last several weeks)
Alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous (e.g. seizures may occur); people drinking 8 or more standard drinks a day are advised to discuss a decision to stop drinking with their doctor as medication may be needed to prevent withdrawal complications.
Because alcohol addiction, have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual's life, addiction treatment is not simple. Effective addiction treatment programs incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using alcohol for a few days and be cured. Most patients addicted to alcohol require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence of alcohol, and recovery of their lives.
For more information on alcohol abuse, addiction and alcoholism treatment visit us on the web.
Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/
