Understanding what the stages of alcohol addiction look like can help you or a loved one decide whether rehab treatment is necessary. Early-stage alcoholism is the beginning of the person’s chronic alcohol use. They may not appear like they have a problem despite having a higher tolerance.
Our team of addiction medicine specialists, counselors, and treatment experts are committed to supporting you through every step of your recovery from detox right through to aftercare. The final stage, known as the end-stage of alcohol abuse, is the point where a person is experiencing very serious health and mental issues. Being withdrawals from cymbalta at a later stage can make recovery more challenging, but recovery is possible at any stage of alcoholism. There are no quick fixes to addiction, and alcoholism is no different.
Alcoholic Liver Diseases
Alcoholism treatment is possible at any stage of its progression, but understanding how it works is important so you can get help sooner rather than later. Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider. A heavy drinker may drink more frequently or drink excessive amounts when drinking socially. In 2022, 61 million Americans reported binge drinking during the past month. Chronic, long-term drinking can contribute to malnutrition by replacing foods needed for essential nutrients and by interfering with absorption, storage, or metabolism of the essential nutrients. This can also lead to anemia, when your red blood cell (RBC) count is lower than normal or there’s a problem with the hemoglobin protein inside those cells.
Environmental Factors
Treatment involves quitting drinking, which can be difficult for an end-stage alcoholic. Recovered is not a medical, healthcare or therapeutic services provider and no medical,psychiatric, psychological or physical treatment or advice is being provided by Recovered. Ifyou are whats speed balling facing a medical emergency or considering suicide or self harm, please call 911immediately. If you or a loved one suffers from end-stage alcoholism, there is hope for recovery.
At this point, people who have spent years drinking may have developed numerous health and mental conditions in addition to their alcohol abuse. Major organ damage and failure often occur during this time, as well as interpersonal consequences like isolation and job loss. By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health.
The safest course of action is to seek treatment in a professional environment that is catered to the individual needs, preferably with holistic treatment. Over time there is a progression of liver disease from hepatitis (inflammation) to fibrosis (hardening) and eventually to scarring of the tissue (cirrhosis). Late-stage alcoholism requires a more intensive and comprehensive treatment approach than middle-stage alcoholism. Treatment may include medical detoxification and inpatient rehabilitation, where the individual can receive 24/7 support and care.
Many people refer to alcoholism as a “family disease” because it can have a major impact on all members of the family whether they realize it or not. Middle-stage alcoholics might deny their drinking problem or try to hide their alcohol use from others. Stopping is impossible at this point without professional help because of the severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that would occur if they quit cold turkey. By this stage, their drinking is taking an obvious physical toll as well.
The overwhelming need for the body to operate with alcohol in the system begins to put the disease in the driver’s seat. As alcoholism progresses, the cells in the body become more and more resistant to the short-term effects of alcohol. As a person continues drinking excessively, the cells will continue to adapt. Eventually, the presence of alcohol becomes the norm for the body, and the long-term damage continues. A person with early-stage alcoholism may also exhibit a high tolerance to alcohol. Their tolerance may go unnoticed by everyone except the people they spend the most time with.
Stage 2: Middle Stage Alcoholism
If you know someone who drinks regularly and has these symptoms, have them reach out to a treatment provider to discuss their treatment options. By the time a person reaches end-stage alcoholism, drinking has taken over their lives and has likely had a negative impact on relationships, work or school, finances, and overall health. If a person tries to quit drinking on their own during end-stage alcoholism, they may experience severe symptoms of withdrawal, including tremors and hallucinations. One of the most severe consequences of alcohol withdrawal is called delirium tremens (“the DTs”), which if left untreated, can be fatal. End-stage alcoholism is not technically a medical term, but it is used to describe an alcohol addiction that creates serious, likely terminal health effects. End-stage alcoholism is also called late-stage alcoholism and affects those who have been addicted to alcohol for some time.
Blackout episodes, where the individual does not remember what they’ve said or done while drinking, may occur. When alcohol is not present, individuals may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as restlessness, tremors, headache, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. At this stage, the alcoholic may appear to be functioning normally and is unlikely to have performance problems at work, school or in other settings.
- While every person’s alcohol addiction is unique, alcohol affects people in similar ways.
- Although recovering from end-stage alcoholism can be challenging, it is possible.
- It may sound backward, but the person may feel that they function better when they are intoxicated.
- Early-stage alcoholism is the beginning of the person’s chronic use and pathway to abusing alcohol.
- Your increased drinking is also damaging your physical and mental health in more severe ways.
Psychosis is a detachment from reality and can lead to serious injury. A condition called alcohol hallucinosis can occur, causing hallucinations that seem real. This can lead someone to act dangerously, such as attempting to fly by jumping off a high building or walking in traffic because they believe they are somewhere other than an active roadway.
Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of celebrities drinking alcohol the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. Visit the following websites to learn about The Recovery Village’s network of rehabilitation facilities.
In fact, it contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S., making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. By the time they’ve reached the third and final stage of alcoholism, drinking has consumed their lives. Their alcohol withdrawal symptoms are so severe that they must drink continually to avoid them.
You may start missing work or important social events because of drinking issues or hangovers. When casual drinkers move into early-stage alcoholism, their tolerance begins to rise. They may appear to maintain coordination and motor skills to some degree. A person with a higher tolerance may not look intoxicated, despite drinking a large amount of alcohol. Others who have had less to drink may look more intoxicated than a person with a high tolerance.
Physical Symptoms
Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica’s empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.