Do I Really Need To Go To Rehab For Alcohol?

Alcohol can be very destructive to both the brain and body. Chronic use can cause some dangerous, or even fatal, health problems. Recovery from alcohol addiction poses a great challenge in and of itself, so getting treatment is a critical step.

Even after medical detox, some health consequences will require time and/or medication to safely and successfully manage. These are usually less severe than acute withdrawal symptoms but can still be challenging. Some of the more common issues from long-term alcohol use include:

• Liver Disease (Cirrhosis)
• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Stomach and Intestinal Damage
• Increased Risk of Cancer
• Increased Risk of Heart Disease
• Increased Risk of Stroke
• Alcoholic Dementia (Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome)

Aside from physical health problems, alcohol is associated with increased mental health issues. Over 80% of alcoholics who enter treatment claim to have experienced anxiety or depression at some point during their addiction. Certain anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, social anxiety, and PTSD, have a higher co-occurrence with alcohol addiction. People who suffer from alcohol addiction are at a much higher risk (men 6x and women 15x more likely) for developing an antisocial personality disorder. Alcohol-induced mental disorders can be resolved once alcohol use has ceased. Either way, mental health is a major concern during recovery, as having an untreated mental illness greatly reduces the chance of successful recovery.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to overdose on alcohol. The amount needed to overdose varies depending on body mass and tolerance. If someone were to take other drugs while drinking, the risk of overdose escalates. Depressants like benzodiazepines and opioids pose a very high overdose risk when mixed with alcohol, also a depressant.

Aside from the potential health conditions, it is certain that alcohol withdrawal is dangerous. When someone who has been drinking quits abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can result in seizures, brain damage, heart attack, or stroke. These risks rise alongside the amount and duration of drinking. Professional medical help is recommended to undergo this process. Repeated episodes of untreated alcohol withdrawal worsen and intensify through a process known as kindling. Without medical treatment, someone may suffer from brain damage or death.

Alcohol addiction can do devastating, irreparable, or fatal damage if someone does not receive help. The sooner someone seeks help, the better their chances of making a full recovery. Long-term alcohol abuse causes a variety of cancers, damage to vital organs, and dementia-like neurological problems.

Driving while under the influence is dangerous. Not only does it pose a risk of physical harm, but the legal complications that come from a DUI are critical. In the past 30 days, 1.4% of people in Georgia report driving after heavy drinking. The typical cost of a DUI in Georgia can exceed $10,000. This includes fines, legal fees, probation costs, and classes. But the legal fees cannot compare to the number of lives lost. In 2018, almost 400 people were killed in car crashes involving drunk drivers in Georgia. This compares to the almost 11,000 people killed across the entire country.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2019 almost 26% of people over 18 admitted to binge drinking in the last month. Keep in mind, those are only the people that admitted to binge drinking, and the number may be higher in reality. In the United States in 2019, over 14.1 million adults were diagnosed as having alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is on top of an estimated 414,000 children aged 12 to 17 who have AUD. Roughly 95,000 people die every year from alcohol-induced health issues in the United States. These facts illustrate the damage that alcohol use can do and the importance of finding help.

Alcohol use is widespread. But for those struggling with alcohol addiction, this can make it difficult to ask for help. Isolation from friends, family, and coworkers can make it difficult for others to see what is going on. And when you are surrounded by people who drink, overcoming alcohol can feel hopeless.

There is a way out, but it requires help and effort. There is no silver bullet to defeat alcohol addiction. With the latest medications, therapies, and holistic treatment practices used at The Summit Wellness Group, there is hope to return to a full life that is free from alcohol.