About Adult Alcoholism

Alcohol is a depressant that, when drunk, makes its way to the liver. However, the excess that isn’t broken down gets circulated through the rest of the body. Once in the brain, it interferes with the organ’s normal processes. This obstruction results in a euphoric sensation, along with feelings of decreased anxiety, increased socialness, and, at extreme levels, unconsciousness.

The alcohol that typically gets abused usually appears as a beverage. Despite this staticity in substance-type, there is an abundance of variety in the drinks themselves.

Though the addictive nature and harmful side effects of long-term alcohol consumption are widely known and studied, alcohol addiction still takes hold of millions of victims in the United States alone. According to Newsweek, there were an estimated 32 million Americans who have struggled with alcoholism as of 2015.

A subgroup of alcoholics that often goes overlooked is adults. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 15.1 million adult Americans suffered from alcohol use disorder (reported in 2015). Although not all alcoholics are adults, it is imperative that you understand how this substance dependency impacts the 18+ age group.

Along with the euphoric sensation caused by drinking, an adult alcohol user will experience the following common effects:

The severity and length of time an adult experiences these symptoms is largely determined by the amount of alcohol consumed. The higher the blood alcohol concentration of the individual, the more likely they are to experience any of the above, and the more potent these symptoms will become.

Because of the temporary nature of alcohol’s effects when compared with other addictive substances, adult alcoholics will usually consume these beverages frequently, in some cases more than five times a day. As with many addictive substances, prolonged alcohol abuse has extremely damaging side effects on the body. This elongated period of abnormally frequent consumption is more prevalent in adults, as they have likely engaged with the substance for more years than most. Alcoholism often causes intense sclerosis of the liver correlating with age, as well as a life expectancy shortened by roughly ten years.

Although not commonly referred to as overdose, alcohol poisoning is just as devastating for the adult body. When taken in high doses, a user can poison their body to a disturbing level. This damage may result in respiratory depression, a coma, and sometimes death.

Alcohol addiction markers are like those of other addictive substances, though they may be difficult to distinguish at times. Among these are:

Alcohol addiction contains both physiological and psychological elements. Adults who frequently consume alcohol will develop a dependency, and require alcoholic beverages just to feel normal. Once a drinker is dependent, it will become difficult for them to stop, due to the unpleasant effects of alcohol withdrawal, which become increasingly severe with age. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

(Provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Alcohol is an incredibly difficult substance to quit, but with proper treatment, you can overcome your dependency, and you or your loved one can enjoy a healthy and substance-free lifestyle. Treatment options vary depending on the patient’s location, resources, health, and circumstances, but there are a variety of programs available to accommodate adult patients. One of our admission specialists would be happy to help you learn more about alcohol addiction recovery programs at Riverside Recovery.