When it comes to addiction, many of us instantly think about illicit substances. Yet millions of people every year abuse legal substances putting themselves at risk of developing a dependency or addiction. With how prevalent alcohol is in our society, people forget about the risk of addiction that comes with drinking. However, when signs of alcoholism, or what we now refer to as alcohol use disorder, begin to show, an alcohol addiction rehab center is necessary for help. Should you ignore these alcohol addiction symptoms and allow the drinking to continue, the problem could become detrimental to you or a loved one’s health. Sante Center for Healing offers extensive treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Understanding the Stages of the Signs of Alcoholism

Even if you don’t choose to consume alcohol, knowing the signs of alcoholism is crucial. If your loved one is drinking heavily and raising concerns, you will have the ability to find them the help they need. With alcohol addiction, the signs tend to come in stages. Understanding these stages is also helpful in keeping your loved one safe. You will know what type of help to get them depending on the types of alcohol addiction symptoms they’re displaying. When you catch the warning signs of an alcohol use disorder, you give your loved one a better chance of achieving recovery. According to the DM-5, there are 11 symptoms or signs of alcoholism. The stage of alcohol addiction an individual is in depends on how many symptoms are present.

The Early Stages of Alcohol Addiction

If you notice your loved one in the early stages of alcohol addiction, getting them the help they need quickly is key. Alcohol addiction treatment during these early stages won’t have to be as extensive or intensive because they haven’t been consuming alcohol for as long. The DSM-5 requires two of the 11 signs to be present during this stage.

Signs of someone is struggling with alcohol use disorder include:

Drinking more excessively than planned
Making excuses to drink
Drinking alone regularly
Experiencing hangovers or becoming ill
Having consuming thoughts about alcohol

Chronic and Severe Stages of Alcoholism

As alcohol addiction becomes worse, so do the signs of alcoholism. If you begin to notice more symptoms in your loved one, time is of the essence to find help. The longer the drinking continues, the more at risk they become for serious health issues. Over time, alcoholism can even result in death.

The DSM-5 states that three to five present symptoms will result in the chronic stage of alcoholism. These symptoms can include:

Ignoring responsibilities due to drinking
Continuing to drink despite the adverse effects on relationships
Participating in reckless, unlawful, or dangerous activities due to drinking

The severe stage will result when over six signs of alcoholism are present. When individuals are at this stage, they’re at extreme risk for serious damage to their health. Intensive treatment is usually crucial at this stage. They also run the risk of chronic health problems developing like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The more severe symptoms of alcoholism include:

Experiencing blackouts
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drinking doesn’t occur
Developing a tolerance for alcohol

Finding Help at the Warning Signs of Alcoholism

If you begin to notice any signs of alcoholism in yourself or your loved one, the time to find help is now. At Santé Center for Healing, recovery and healing from alcoholism through alcohol addiction treatment programs are possible. We provide detox, treatment, and therapy services that allow our clients to achieve their recovery goals. Some of our therapeutic services include:

These therapies and more are available to patients across all our addiction treatment programs. To learn more, contact Santé Center for Healing today at 866.238.3154.