Alcohol Addiction Health Risk Factors

Alcohol addiction is a serious matter that can be a strain on your life in many areas. In addition to taking over your life, alcohol abuse can also take over your body due to the many health risks associated with it.

The more you abuse alcohol, and the longer you continue to do so, the greater your risk of countless dangers to your health, so it’s important to get the help you need.

Common Health Risks Of Alcohol Addiction

There are a multitude of health risks associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Contrary to popular belief, these risks affect more than just mental health.

Specifically, alcohol abuse can cause your mental and behavioral health to deteriorate as well.

Physical Health Risks

Physical effects of alcohol can be broken into two categories, short-term and long-term.

Short-term risks can occur immediately after excessive alcohol intake or even with occasional use, whereas long-term risks are a result of continual alcohol consumption.

Short-term effects of alcohol use can include:

• injuries
• alcohol poisoning
• nausea or vomiting
• dizziness
• headache
• blackouts

Long-term effects can include:

• increased risk of certain cancers
• high blood pressure
• stroke
• alcoholic hepatitis
• fatty liver
• cirrhosis
• heart disease
• weakened immune system

Mental Health Risks

Though alcohol addiction is sometimes used to cope with mental health conditions, abusing the substance can actually increase mental health problems. There are many mental side effects of abusing alcohol.

Mental health risks of alcohol addiction may include:

• depression
• anxiety
• confusion
• memory loss
• dementia
• lapse in judgment

Behavioral Health Risks

Arguably one of the most overlooked effects of alcohol addiction is its association with behavioral health risks.

Depending on alcohol can completely alter the way you act in every area of your life, including relationships, work, and even with yourself.

Behavioral health risks may include:

• violence
• risky choices or behavior
• irritability
• pulling away from friends and family
• inability to show up for work or other responsibilities

Risk Factors For Developing Alcohol Use Disorder

It’s important to know that anyone can develop AUD, but some people may be at a greater risk for developing alcohol addiction.

High-risk factors for developing alcohol use disorder can include:

• genetic factor/family history
• adolescents or young adults whose parents have unhealthy drinking habits
• environmental factors
• drinking at an early age/peer pressure
• previous substance abuse
• gender
• mental illness
• age
• engaging in binge drinking or heavy drinking

Treatment Options For Alcohol Addiction

Seeking treatment options for alcohol addiction can be overwhelming. Bedrock Recovery Center, located in Canton, MA is an excellent choice for you or your family member with AUD.

Our rehabilitation center is highly rated and offers a variety of addiction treatments, so you can find the right program for your needs.

Bedrock offers three main categories of treatment including detoxification, inpatient programs, and medication-assisted treatment.

Alcohol detox is often the first step of treatment at Bedrock, but is completed in a controlled environment and can be eased with the use of medication.

After you’ve completed the first step, inpatient alcohol treatment offers a variety of tools to help you continue to succeed in both early and long-term recovery.

Precisely, we offer clients therapy, support groups, recovery education, and more, all depending on what is best for you.

Find Addiction Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

Taking the plunge into alcohol addiction treatment may be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Call our helpline at Bedrock Recovery Center today for more information and support.