Alcohol Addiction is a condition where people lose control of their drinking to the point where it affects their daily lives. This includes relationships with family and friends, work or school performance and even legal problems. The good news is that there are treatment programs to help someone overcome Alcohol Addiction and get their life back on track. The first step is acknowledging that there is a problem, followed by seeking help.

Getting over Alcohol Addiction is best done under the guidance of a treatment specialist. This will help people understand their triggers and set achievable sobriety goals. A residential program also gives people the opportunity to stay away from temptation and can include detox, counseling, training, support groups and activity therapy. Some residential programs may use drugs that provoke a severe reaction to alcohol (like Antabuse) or reduce cravings with medication like naltrexone or acamprosate.

The first signs of Alcohol Addiction can be subtle and easy to overlook. These include skipping meals or going to the fridge for a drink whenever feeling stressed or down. People can also begin to feel the need to drink more than normal to experience the same effect. Binge drinking, where an individual drinks heavily over a short period of time, is also an indicator. This is often associated with younger adults or college students attending parties, but older adults can also binge drink.

By the third and fourth stages, the negative effects of Alcohol Addiction become more noticeable. These can include trouble at work or in relationships, repeated problems with the law and health issues. The person may start hiding or lying about their drinking, and they might develop physical problems such as stomach aches or tremors. They might start to forget things and may have difficulty staying focused. The person might be irritable, agitated or angry when they are not drinking. They might see or hear things that aren’t there (hallucinations).

Over time, heavy drinking can damage the brain. The part of the brain that controls balance and co-ordination can deteriorate, so that people appear unsteady on their feet. They may have a reduced ability to form blood clots, so that they are more likely to bruise and have a higher risk of falls or accidents. Alcohol can also cause thinning bones and can lead to dementia, confusion or eye problems like blurred vision.

Trying to force a person to quit drinking is usually ineffective. It is better to try and persuade them by showing concern, offering support and encouragement and offering alternatives. It might also be helpful to encourage them to join a support group for families of people with Alcohol Addiction. These support groups, like Al-Anon, are free and offer a safe space for people to listen to others who have similar experiences.

It is important to seek treatment early on because the long-term effects of Alcohol Addiction can be devastating. It is a complex disease and is best treated in a specialist facility that can offer support, therapy, education and recovery tools. A recovery specialist can also help identify and treat underlying mental health conditions that might be contributing to the alcohol addiction.