Alcohol Addiction
Our comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment services include everything from detox and residential treatment to family resources and aftercare.
legal but destructive
Unlike other illicit substances, alcohol is legal, making it harder to know when casual use crosses the line into abuse. Alcohol misuse contributes to 88,000 deaths in the United States each year, with one in 10 deaths among working adults due to alcohol misuse, according to Facing Addiction In America, the US Surgeon General’s 2016 report on alcohol, drugs, and health.
Are you concerned that you or a loved one may need help dealing with your alcohol use? Read on to find out more about alcohol addiction and determine if The Meadows Malibu alcohol treatment is the right option for your situation.
Alcohol Addiction fast facts
- In 2015, 66.7 million people in the United States reported binge drinking in the past month.
- Alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorders cost the U.S. approximately $249 billion in lost productivity, healthcare expenses, law enforcement, and other criminal justice costs.
- Over 175 million persons 12 and older (65.7%) reported alcohol use in the past year, with over 66 million (24.9%) reporting binge drinking in the past month .
- Almost 8% of the population met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder for alcohol or illicit drugs, and another 1% met diagnostic criteria for both an alcohol and illicit drug use disorder.
- Although 20.8 million people (7.8% of the population) met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder in 2015, only 2.2 million individuals (10.4%) received any type of treatment.
Source: Facing Addiction In America, the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2016 report on alcohol, drugs, and health
Alcohol’s Effects on the body
Drinking too much, whether occasionally or on a regular basis, can have a serious impact on your health. Alcohol abuse can increase your cancer risk and negatively affect your brain, heart, liver, and pancreas, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and the development of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen.
The research evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks — particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time — the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States were alcohol-related.
Drinking too much can also weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much. Even drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections — up to 24 hours after getting drunk.
Potential alcohol-Related Health Risks
- Interferes with the brain’s communication pathways
- Brain disruption can cause mood, behavior, coordination issues
- Cardiomyopathy (stretching/drooping of the heart muscle)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Fatty liver
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Fibrosis
- Cirrhosis
- Multiple types of cancer
- Pancreatitis (dangerous inflammation that prevents proper digestion)
Medical Detox for Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol withdrawal side effects start approximately six to 24 hours after your last drink. The severity of side effects is dependent on multiple factors, including the amount of alcohol consumed, medical history, co-occurring disorders, family history, and any past or current trauma.
Common alcohol Detox Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping/tiredness
- Stomach pain/loss of appetite/vomiting
- Physical tremors/sweating
- Depression
- Confusion/trouble thinking clearly
- Mood swings/irritability
- Heart palpitations
- Elevated blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat/increased rate of breathing
A small percentage of patients may also experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations, fever, seizures, severe confusion, and agitation. Our treatment team is here to monitor and assist with these symptoms, using FDA-approved medications (including Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram) to help reduce alcohol-related cravings.
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Are You at Risk for Co-Occurring Disorders?
When it comes to mental health, it’s almost always a two-lane street; meaning, it’s very rare that there’s only one issue involved. For example, when anxiety and depression are fueled by a substance abuse issue. This is what is referred…
We’re Ready to Help
Is it time to take that next step? Our Admissions team is here to help 24 hours a day and will treat you with compassion, dignity, and respect. The Meadows’ Admissions Specialists are here to help you on your way to the healthier, more fulfilling life you imagine. If you are interested in The Meadows Malibu for yourself or a loved one, call or fill out a contact form today!