Excessive alcohol use can harm people who drink and those around them. You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. One size does not fit all and a treatment approach that may work for one person may not work for another. Treatment can be outpatient and/or inpatient and be provided by specialty programs, therapists, and health care providers.
How to Support a Loved One Struggling with ETOH Abuse
Treatment for ETOH abuse often involves detoxification, counselling, and support, with medical professionals providing critical guidance throughout the recovery process. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized ethanol abuse by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It encompasses the conditions that some people refer to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and the colloquial term, alcoholism. Lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse perpetuate AUD and make individuals vulnerable to relapse.
- Your liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from your blood through a process known as oxidation.
- Chronic, heavy drinking raises the risk for ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries) and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
- Additionally, consider joining support groups like Al-Anon for guidance.
Treatment for alcohol misuse
Engaging family members in therapy and education can improve the overall support system and address any family dynamics contributing to addiction. Maintaining sobriety—often called recovery—is a long-term process that can take many forms. Fellowship groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are drug addiction treatment often very helpful. People should also note that those with AUD may already be dehydrated, and further dehydration due to exercise may place people at an increased risk of seizures. As with any chronic condition, proper nutrition is an important component of any recovery plan, but so is physical activity. Additionally, alcohol may cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
About Medical News Today
Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. The whole body is affected by alcohol use–not just the liver, but also the brain, gut, pancreas, lungs, cardiovascular system, immune system, and more. A recent literature review suggests that frequent aerobic exercise may complement behavioral therapy used for AUD, leading to reductions in alcohol intake. More study is needed in this area, and all the natural remedies above.
One of the most common forms of psychotherapy used by therapists today involves “cognitive behavioral therapy,” or CBT for short. In this form of treatment, patients work together with their therapist to identify negative thought patterns and behaviors while also learning how these thoughts affect their moods and emotions. For someone who struggles with chronic depression or another mental illness, this can be an effective way to reduce depressive episodes while learning healthier coping mechanisms. One of the most common side effects of alcohol is drowsiness because ethanol interferes with chemical reactions in the brain that are needed for staying awake and active throughout the day.
Is ethanol a drug?
However, as consumption increases, these pleasant effects can rapidly give way to less desirable ones. Higher amounts of ethanol can lead to impaired judgment, slowed reflexes, and decreased coordination. It can distort vision and hearing, cause confusion, and even lead to blackouts or memory loss.
- While small amounts may have minimal impact, excessive or long-term use can lead to significant health concerns, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems, neurological damage, and addiction.
- This is due to the substance’s ability to stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain.
- Preventing ethanol abuse is a collective effort that requires societal involvement and awareness.
Different people will need different kinds of help, so it is crucial to find a support system that works best for the individual. Ethanol/alcohol abuse causes the user to engage in risky behavior like driving rashly without caution and making poor judgments. The person also experiences blackouts, and even though the person is conscious, they do not remember (or rarely recall) what happened during the drinking episode.
How do I take care of myself?
EtOH abuse is the act of heavy drinking, binge drinking, or any form of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ harmful relationship with alcohol. It may lead to liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide.
