
Alcohol Addiction, also known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), is a chronic disease affecting nearly 30 million people worldwide across all socioeconomic statuses.
In the United States, it’s the most common type of substance use disorder, and overconsumption has become somewhat normalized in today’s culture. Unfortunately, the excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to serious consequences such as increased injuries from falls, motor vehicle accidents, drowning, and even certain cancers. Long-term use can also cause neurological damage, liver disease, and cardiovascular problems.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction
Did you know?
Who Drinks and Why
- Average consumption among drinkers = about 3 drinks per day—but most drink far less
- Half of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed by about 10 percent of the drinkers
- Higher-income households tend to spend more on alcohol compared to lower-income households. However, lower-income individuals often face more severe health and social consequences related to alcohol consumption.
Regional differences in the United States
- Stress index: Drinking rates higher in states where people experience a great deal of social stress and tension
- Drinking norms: Drinking rates higher in states where people tend to approve of the use of alcohol to relieve stress
- Arizona fits in both categories
Alcohol Pharmacology
- Absorption: Some absorbed in the stomach, most in the small intestine
- Absorption is slower if there is food or water in the stomach
- Absorption is faster in the presence of carbonated beverages
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is a measure of the concentration of alcohol in blood, expressed as a percentage in terms of grams per 100 ml
- Metabolizes through the liver at about 0.25 ounces of alcohol per hour
- Women tend to be more susceptible than men to the effects of alcohol after consuming the same amount because Alcohol dehydrogenase (a stomach enzyme) is more active in men
- Exercise, coffee, and other strategies do not speed up the rate of metabolism Blood alcohol concentration determines effects
Behavioral Effects
- Mood changes can include euphoria, reduced anxieties, and reduced inhibitions
- Effects are greater when BAC is rising
- Chronic heavy drinkers require a higher BAC to experience impairment.
Sexual Behavior
- Alcohol use enhances interest in sex but impairs physiological arousal
- Linked to unsafe sex
Blackouts
- A danger sign of excessive alcohol use
Crime and Violence
- Alcohol use is statistically related to violence
- Homicide
- Assault, including family violence, sexual assault, and date rape
- Suicide
Physiological Effects
- Peripheral Circulation: Dilation of peripheral blood vessels means that drinkers lose body heat but feel warm
- Fluid Balance: Alcohol has a diuretic effect that can lower blood pressure in some people
- Hormonal Effects: Chronic abusers of alcohol can develop a variety of hormone-related disorders
The Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

Dependent behaviors are characterized by a loss of control over drinking and are recognized as a primary disease. This maladaptive pattern is indicated by continued alcohol use despite persistent problems caused by it. The condition includes serious psychosocial characteristics and physiological factors such as tolerance and withdrawal. Cognitive and genetic factors are also potential underlying causes of dependency. Addressing these behaviors through appropriate treatment is crucial for recovery and overall well-being.
What are the Risk Factors?
The more one drinks, the more learned behaviors are disrupted, inhibitions are reduced, anxiety and depression may increase. Judgement and critical thinking are frequently clouded. The more rapid alcohol consumption occurs, the greater the behavioral effect. Too much alcohol consumed to fast can lead to alcohol poisoning or death. Heavy drinkers that quit suddenly may die without proper medical detox interventions.
A higher amount of alcohol is necessary to impair the performance of a chronic, heavy drinker than to impair a moderate drinker’s performance. Heavy experienced drinkers may learn to overcome some of these effects, some of the time. After drinking, people tend to focus on the here and know, pay less attention to peripheral people and activities, and to long term consequences. This may lead to violent or risky behavior.
Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Alcohol Misuse/Dependence:
Alcohol Toxicity:
- Brain tissue loss and intellectual impairment
- Liver disease: hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis
- Heart disease: cardiomyopathy, heart attack, hypertension, stroke
- Impaired compromised immune system.
Alcohol Dependency Withdrawal Syndrome:
More severe and potentially deadly than opioid withdrawal. Symptoms occur in stages:
- Stage 1: Tremors, rapid heartbeat, hypertension, heavy sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia.
- Stage 2: Hallucinations (auditory, visual, and/or tactile).
- Stage 3: Delusions, disorientation, delirium
- Stage 4: Seizures
What is the Treatment?

There are several effective treatments for alcohol misuse and dependence, often tailored to the individual’s needs. These treatments can be used individually or in combination, depending on the person’s needs.
- Initial detox should be carried out in an inpatient medical setting.
- Sedatives in stage 1 or 2 prevent stages 3 and 4
- Some symptoms can last for several weeks
Here are some common types of treatment:
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): You have an automatic thought. That thought produces an emotion. As humans, our emotions can affect how we act. Once you recognize the thought and emotion associated with that thought, you usually have several choices to make, which can lead to consequences of your behavior. CBT aims to change the thought(s) to more productive and more helpful consequences.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Combines CBT with mindfulness techniques and emotional regulation, often used for borderline personality disorder.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts and emotions to understand and resolve psychological conflicts. This is a long-term therapy, typically working with the same psychodynamically trained therapist for several years or longer.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning.
Medication Management
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol): This medication works by blocking the euphoric effects of alcohol, helping to reduce cravings and prevent relapse. It is available as a daily pill or a monthly injection.
- Acamprosate (Campral): Acamprosate helps restore a balance in brain function that is disrupted by long-term alcohol use, reducing the physical and emotional discomfort that can lead to relapse.
Lifestyle and Self-Care
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Healthy Diet: Proper nutrition can positively impact mental health.
- Sleep Hygiene: Good sleep practices can help improve overall mental well-being.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Techniques to help reduce stress and promote mental clarity.
Support Groups
- Peer Support: Groups of individuals with similar experiences can provide mutual support and understanding. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) is one of the leading organizations in the country that offers free peer support groups.
- 12-Step Programs: Structured support groups for addiction recovery, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
- Psychodrama: an experiential group therapy that has people re-enact real-life situations through role-playing, storytelling, and dramatic self-presentation.
- Art and Music Therapy: Creative therapies to help express emotions and reduce stress.
- Equine Assisted Therapy: A process that uses horses to help people meet their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health goals. Teaches emotion regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility, while helping reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma.
- Yoga and Tai Chi: Mind-body practices that promote relaxation and stress reduction.
Hospitalization and Intensive Treatment
Medical Detoxification:
Medical detoxification may be necessary. Desert Star coordinates with a number of Detox facilities and hospitals as deemed clinically necessary. If referred to medical detox their medical team will monitor you for medical stability and safety until you are medically cleared. Their discharge team will then coordinate with Desert Star for admission to the program. The team at Desert Star will coordinate throughout your detoxification process.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP):
An intensive outpatient program that provides structured treatment for up to six hours during the day up to five days per week.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP):
An intensive outpatient program that provides structured treatment for up to three hours during the day up to four days per week.
If you or a loved one is struggling with Alcohol use please know that there is help available. At Desert Star Addiction Recovery Center, we’re here to support you. We offer personalized care to help you live a life in long term recovery. Our personalized treatment includes supportive and structured group therapy three to four times a week, individual therapy sessions, access to medication management and case management. No matter what you are feeling right now there is hope! With treatment you can learn the tools need to navigate your life in Long Term Recovery.
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Get the help you need without putting your outside commitments on hold! We individualize treatment for every client and can combine groups from different programs to suit your unique needs. We offer varying levels of structure and support, from partial hospitalization to intensive outpatient to once-weekly outpatient groups.