Alcohol Addiction Symptoms & Effects

Learn about alcohol addiction

Alcohol abuse is characterized by a pattern of drinking that involves one or more of the following problems:

• Continuing to drink despite problems with one’s interpersonal relationships that are related to alcohol use
• Inability to carry out daily tasks at school, work, or home
• Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous
• Legal problems as a result of alcohol use

These unhealthy and dangerous drinking habits can greatly impact an individual’s life. More specifically, adolescents who abuse alcohol may begin to show a decline in their academic performance, often experience physical injury from their engagement in dangerous behaviors, and experience a decline in good decision-making skills. Additionally, alcohol abuse can cause irreversible damage to organs and, in some cases, end in death. If an individual continues to abuse alcohol it can lead to alcohol dependence, which means that he or she has become both physically and mentally dependent upon it. Individuals who have become dependent upon alcohol have intense cravings for alcohol and are unable to function on a daily basis without drinking.

If you are abusing alcohol or have become chemically dependent, it may be hard to stop drinking without professional help. Alcohol abuse treatment can be extremely beneficial in helping an individual reduce his or her drinking and go on to live a substance free life.

Alcohol addiction statistics

Research has concluded that almost half of junior high and high school aged adolescents admit to drinking alcohol at least one time in the past month. Furthermore, statistics show that 14% of young people have been drunk on at least one occasion in the past year and that, when young people drink, they are binge drinking 90% of the time. Finally, it is estimated that almost 2000 junior high and high school aged adolescents die in motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol each year in the United States.

Causes and risk factors for alcohol addiction

It is not uncommon for adolescents to experiment with alcohol because of peer pressure or out of simple curiosity. However, the reason for why some go on to continue to abuse alcohol and others do not is not fully understood. Most agree that it is a combination of genetic, physical, and environmental factors that make certain individuals more susceptible to alcohol addiction. Consider the following:

Genetic: Addiction specialists have concluded that there is a genetic component to the development of alcohol addiction in people. Especially in those with a first-degree family member who has also grappled with alcoholism, there is an increased chance that those individuals will abuse and possibly become addicted to alcohol as well.

Physical: Over time, drinking too much leads to changes in the normal balance of chemicals and nerve tracks in the brain that are associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment, and an ability to exercise control over your own behavior. When these brain chemicals are unbalanced, it causes an individual to crave alcohol in order to bring back good feelings or remove bad ones.

Environmental: The environment in which a person is raised can contribute to an individual developing a problem with alcohol. Exposure to alcohol abuse, easy access to alcoholic beverages, and home situations involving chronic stress can lead a child or adolescent to use or abuse alcohol. The vulnerability to this is even greater when a child or adolescent does not have the appropriate coping skills needed to successfully manage stress. Lastly, experts agree that exposure to trauma, abuse, or neglect can render a child or adolescent susceptible to developing an alcohol problem later in life.

Risk Factors:

• Steady drinking over time
• Family history of alcohol or drug abuse
• Family history of mental illness
• Presence of depression or other mental illnesses
• Easy access to alcohol
• Having friends or a partner who drinks regularly
• Lack of impulse control
• Having low self-esteem
• Low socioeconomic status
• Early exposure to alcohol use or abuse
• Lack of appropriate coping skills
• Conflict among friends and/or loved ones

Signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction

When talking about alcohol abuse and addiction, there is a distinct difference between the two, with alcohol abusers having the ability to set some limits to their drinking. However, this type of alcohol use is still self-destructive and dangerous. The signs and symptoms that may be present in someone who is abusing alcohol includes:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Repeatedly neglecting home, work, and school responsibilities
• Unjustified anger or aggression
• Lying
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Decline in academic functioning
• Concealing alcohol and/or drinking habits
• Experiencing blackouts
• Continuing to drink without considering the consequences
• Stealing money or alcohol
• Drinking alone

Physical symptoms:

• Unexplained stomach pain
• Numbness in feet or hands
• Red face and cheeks
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Incoordination
• Headaches
• Weight gain or loss
• Poor eating habits
• Experiencing black outs
• Passing out after drinking

Cognitive symptoms:

• Memory problems
• Poor concentration
• Faulty decision-making
• Constant cravings
• Changes in personality

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Irritability
• Changes in temperament
• Extreme mood swings
• Increased hostility
• Increased anxiety
• Periods of depression

Effects of alcohol addiction

Drinking alcohol lowers a person’s inhibitions, affects his or her thoughts and emotions, and impacts his or her judgment. All of this can lead to poor choices and dangerous situations and behaviors. Additionally, too much alcohol impacts a person’s speech, muscle coordination, and vital centers of the brain. If continued to be abused, alcohol can lead to a number of serious consequences for adolescents, which may include:

• Increased likelihood for engagement in criminal activity
• Conflict with parents and other authority figures
• Alcohol related car accidents
• Engagement in risky sexual behaviors
• Interaction with law enforcement, including incarceration
• Driving under the influence
• Poor performance at school
• Disciplinary action at school, including expulsion

Additionally, there are a number of health risks that could result from abusing alcohol:

• Liver inflammation and disease
• Heart problems
• Strokes
• Cancer
• Damage to vital organs
• Confusion and memory loss
• Weakened immune system
• Physical injury due to engaging in risky behaviors
• Exposure to viruses or infections due to engaging in risky sexual behaviors
• Death due to overdose

Effects of alcohol withdrawal and overdose

Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal: The symptoms of withdrawal will depend upon how long an individual has been abusing alcohol and the amount that is being abused. Withdrawal can occur hours or days after an individual has stopped drinking. The following symptoms of withdrawal may occur:

• Jumpiness or nervousness
• Anxiety
• Irritability or becoming easily excited
• Depressed mood
• Emotional outbursts
• Fatigue
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Convulsions
• Tremors
• Sweating
• Fever

Effects of Alcohol Overdose:

When a child or adolescent consumes more alcohol than his or her body is able to metabolize, an overdose, or alcohol poisoning, occurs. The following symptoms are signs that a person has overdosed and needs immediate medical attention:

• Shallow or irregular bleeding
• Poor or absent reflexes
• Difficulty waking the person
• Unconsciousness
• Lack of response to outside stimuli
• Vomiting and nausea
• Seizures
• Confusion
• Slurred or incoherent speech
• Blue colored or pale skin
• Death

Alcohol addiction and co-occurring disorders

Individuals who abuse alcohol often suffer from another mental health condition. The following mental illnesses are known to occur alongside an alcohol use disorder:

• Bipolar disorder
• Other substance use disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Personality disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Anxiety disorders