An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse. Americans with alcohol problems qualify for an alcohol use disorder diagnosis. The country’s estimated cost of alcohol abuse exceeds $200 million per year significantly. This burden on society from alcohol abuse doesn’t include lost productivity impacts. Medical complications from moderate to heavy alcohol abuse cause most addiction-related costs. For recovering alcoholics, initial success largely involves managing physical addiction complications. Physical dependence from alcohol use disorder causes severe withdrawal symptoms that can be deadly. Medically assisted detox is often required to help the person maintain their abstinence from alcohol in the early stages of recovery.
Alcohol Dependency
Alcohol dependence, aka alcoholism, is the most serious form of drinking problem and describes a strong, uncontrollable, desire to drink. An alcoholic is powerless over the drug. Alcohol is one of the most powerful, underestimated, socially accepted and readily available drug in the world.
Drinking dictates the day to day life of an alcoholic, over time, excessive drinking leads to increased physical tolerance or experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they stop.
There are varying degrees of alcohol dependence and they don’t always involve excessive levels of drinking. If you find that you need to have a bottle of wine most nights of the week, or always go for a few drinks after work, just to unwind, you’re likely to be drinking at a level that could impact your long-term health.
You could also be dependent on alcohol. If you find it very difficult to enjoy yourself or relax without having a drink, you could have become psychologically dependent on alcohol. Physical dependence can follow, that’s when your body shows withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, shaking and nausea, when your blood alcohol level falls.
