Why Is Alcohol Use Disorder A Chronic Disease?

People struggling with AUD may experience social isolation as their drinking behavior takes over relationships and social activities. This isolation can worsen feelings of shame and reinforce the stigma surrounding alcohol dependency. Stress can also drive people to drink more, especially when faced with traumatic events or ongoing life difficulties. This link between stress and alcohol dependency has long been acknowledged, revealing how stress alters the brain and behavior. Alcohol use disorder is a serious chronic condition affecting about 28.8 million adults ages 18 and older in the US.This disorder leads to negative behavioral changes and even death in some cases.

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It is important why is alcoholism considered a chronic disease to recognize that recovery from alcoholism is not a linear process. Relapse does not signify failure but rather highlights the chronic nature of the disease. Understanding this chronicity allows individuals in recovery to approach setbacks with compassion, learn from them, and continue their journey towards sobriety.

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Long-term use can lead to serious health problems like alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD). No matter how much you drink or how long you have been drinking, the best place for you is at a rehab clinic that specialises in treating alcohol addiction. While alcohol addiction has the potential to destroy your life and affect your relationships, finances, employment and health, it is possible to recover from this disease.

• The journey from alcohol abuse to dependence is a subtle yet perilous one.
• Current drugs available for alcohol treatment are naltrexone, disulfiram, and acamprosate.
• Treatment includes detoxification, behavioral therapies, medications, and support groups.

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Over time, the triggering of positive neurotransmitters becomes a learned behavior, so you start to crave more alcohol. At the same time, you begin to develop tolerance, so you have to drink more and more often to achieve the same results. Therefore, quitting alcohol is difficult or even impossible on your own because your brain has adapted to need alcohol to function.

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• Alcohol dependency or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious medical problem where individuals struggle to control their drinking despite its harmful effects on their lives.
• It includes developing a tolerance, experiencing withdrawal symptoms and being unable to stop drinking alcohol even when you want to.
• We want to help as many people recover from the disease of addiction as possible.

Avoiding alcohol doesn’t mean a person doesn’t struggle with AUD, but rather that they’re in remission. Unfortunately, many people spend their whole lives caught in the cycle of addiction, falling in and out https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dealing-with-ptsd-alcohol-blackouts-and-memory-loss/ of alcohol use. Live Well & Fully provides personal development and family coaching services only.

Alcohol consumption disorder is a chronic disease, which means it is a persistent condition that needs continuing care. Alcoholism lacks a cure, Twelve-step program just like other chronic disorders like diabetes and heart disease. Nevertheless, it can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes.