Addiction to any substance can have long-lasting and often extremely debilitating effects, and alcohol is one of the most dangerous and common addictions that occurs.
Many individuals may forget that alcohol is considered to be a drug and is often categorised alongside substances such as heroin – a substance known to be physically addictive.
Physical addiction means that when an individual consumes large quantities of alcohol or regularly over time, they begin to build a tolerance to the substance, as well as incorporating the presence of alcohol into everyday and essential bodily processes.
This article will cover the dangers of alcohol, as well as how the process of alcohol rehabilitation occurs, including the different types available.
Why is addiction dangerous?
Any addiction can be dangerous to the individual’s long-term health and wellbeing. Not only is this due to the physical substance itself, but also the knock-on effects that can begin to affect other areas of the individual’s life.
In addition, many individuals are often in denial of their issues, meaning that they may delay care and/or continue their regular alcohol consumption, leading to a vicious cycle of increased effects caused by a worsening addiction.
The following subheadings outline some of the potential impacts that alcohol can have on an individual’s health – both physical and mental effects – as well as the reasons for these effects.
1. Physical health impacts of alcohol
Within the body, alcohol is processed in the liver, primarily, but has effects all over the body when consumed regularly and/or in large quantities.
For example, a dependence on alcohol has long been linked to a higher rate of mortality, including cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and neurological impairments (1).
Over a long period of time, these health effects and serious forms of disease can often worsen and lead to an increased need for full-time care and, in serious cases, life-threatening situations.
Physically, alcohol can often cause individuals to look different, especially if they consume high quantities of alcohol in a short period of time, as well as having a long-term addiction to the substance.
2. Mental health impacts of alcohol
In one study, it was found that proximity to a liquor store in residential area could increase the prevalence of mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression (2).
Though this is in one sole study, there has been strong evidence over long periods of time that have linked the consumption of alcohol to an increased occurrence of mental health issues or worsening of existing mental health struggles.
For example, common symptoms of addiction include decreased energy in interaction with others, their environment, and in activities/hobbies that they may have previously enjoyed. Attempting to avoid these previous factors is another sign of addiction, as well as secretive and increasingly withdrawn behaviour.
When should someone seek rehabilitation for an alcohol addiction?
All individuals who suspect that they or someone they know is struggling with an addiction should attempt to seek further help and support as soon as possible.
This is because the sooner an addiction is identified, the sooner the individual is able to engage in treatment and therapy in order to reduce the long-term impacts of the disorder.
However, this is not always possible for individuals to do, as addiction can often cause individuals to be in denial of their situation, most commonly due to the shame or embarrassment that they may feel subconsciously about their addiction.
Interventions and how they can help
In the cases where denial is present, it can be beneficial to organise an intervention in order to support an individual who may be experiencing this.
Interventions include the presence of a mediator/counsellor to oversee the process and to lead the conversation, being available to provide professional and non-judgmental next steps for both the individual struggling with addiction and their loved ones, as well.
During an intervention, everyone is given an opportunity to speak about their experiences of the addiction of a loved one or of themselves.
This is done in a non-judgmental and respectful manner, with everyone being given time to say how they feel and have been affected.
It is vital that no individual feels blamed or uncomfortable during an intervention, so should be thoroughly discussed with a professional before attempting to participate in.
The stages of alcohol rehabilitation
In general, it is recommended that alcohol rehabilitation takes place across three key stages of care.
By progressing through each stage of alcohol rehabilitation in order and with full commitment, individuals are much more likely to see positive changes, long-term effects, and a lower rate of relapse.
The next three subheadings describe these stages in more detail, as well as suggesting specific examples in the context of an alcohol addiction.
1. Detoxifying from alcohol
With all types of addiction, it is essential that an individual must first withdraw from the substance before beginning any follow-up forms of care.
This is so that their body is prepared physically and that they will not be distracted by their body’s potential physical dependence during the remainder of their treatment.
For alcohol, the detoxification process can be slightly more complex than other withdrawals due to the physically dependent nature of alcohol itself.
Going ‘cold turkey’ i.e., withdrawing from the substance suddenly and without a transition period, is never recommended during an alcohol withdrawal as the effects can be fatal.
Individuals who require an alcohol detoxification session are always recommended to have full supervision and withdraw from the substance over a long period of time during a transition period in order to minimise potential physical health impacts.
In some cases, medical intervention may also be required, including administration of substances such as Librium to reduce discomfort and physical harm during withdrawal.
2. Therapies and treatments for alcohol addiction
After physical withdrawal has been completed successfully, individuals are always recommended to continue with therapy and further treatment to focus on the mental health impacts of addiction.
This is not a stage to be overlooked due to the importance of long-term wellbeing and reducing the risk of relapse once leaving detoxification.
Common therapies and treatments suggested for an alcohol addiction include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to combat negative thought patterns and behavioural associations with the individual’s personal addiction, as well as group therapy and holistic treatments such as music or art therapy.
3. Aftercare following alcohol rehabilitation
After an individual has spent time progressing through various therapies and treatment programmes, it is then always recommended to continue with ongoing learning and personal development and growth through aftercare.
Aftercare is a term referring to any additional and ongoing treatments and programmes that an individual participates in after the majority of their treatment in alcohol rehabilitation.
Generally, individuals are often assigned a case officer or addiction support worker to regularly catch up and assess progress after leaving alcohol rehabilitation, so individuals should always ensure that this is included within their rehabilitation programme choices.
Inpatient vs. outpatient alcohol rehabilitation
For alcohol addictions, it is generally suggested that individuals attend some form of inpatient rehabilitation i.e., rehabilitation attended full-time and often solely within a dedicated rehab centre, rather than outpatient care.
Outpatient treatment refers to rehabilitation that occurs during part-time sessions rather than full-time residential care and is generally only suggested for other forms of addiction.
These options should be fully discussed with a medical professional before agreeing to or beginning any form of addiction support.
Seeking further care
In serious cases of addiction, it is always recommended to contact emergency services or immediate professional care in any case of serious threat to health.
If you are in doubt about your personal health or the personal health of any other individual, always contact the relevant or local emergency services.
No addiction is too insignificant or too serious to be dealt with by a medical professional, so never delay reaching out for support if necessary.
References
[1] Cargiulo, T., 2007. Understanding the health impact of alcohol dependence. American journal of health-system pharmacy, 64(5_Supplement_3), pp.S5-S11.
[2] Pereira, G., Wood, L., Foster, S. and Haggar, F., 2013. Access to alcohol outlets, alcohol consumption and mental health. PloS one, 8(1), p.e53461.
