Going out for an occasional drink with friends might be fine, but when it turns into more than that, alcohol addiction can have an overwhelming impact on your life. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition “characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.” Both men and women are at risk for developing AUD at any age, though binge drinking, health concerns, and biological makeup make women slightly higher risk.
Why Alcohol Addictive? What Does It Do to the Body?
Alcohol is closely monitored and has many laws restricting use due to the impact it has on the body. People under 21 are not legally permitted to consume alcohol and there are laws against drinking and driving because of the way that alcohol impairs brain function.
Alcohol is an addictive depressant that impairs brain and body function as quickly as the first drink. As a depressant, it slows everything in the body down. Alcohol is addictive because of how it impacts the brain and the body. Alcohol causes the brain to release increased amounts of dopamine, impacting the pleasure sensors in the brain. This is how alcohol impacts mood. Dopamine and endorphins create a sense of euphoria for the brain making people “lighten up.” It lowers inhibitions and gives a false sense of reduced stress. This “freeing” or “less stressed” feeling makes consuming alcohol more enticing for people with anxiety or other mood disorders.
Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to react and respond to external stimuli after approximately two drinks. According to the CDC, 29 people a day die in alcohol-involved-accidents, which is why it is illegal to drink and drive. By five drinks (BAC equal to .10%) speech is slurred, muscle coordination is dramatically decreased, visual perception and information processing are impaired. Women are typically more affected by alcohol consumption based on their body composition and have a higher risk of health concerns.
If you are concerned about you or a loved one’s alcohol consumption, contact us at Stillwater Treatment Center today.
What Are Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol is also addictive because of the withdrawal symptoms related to use. Alcohol withdrawal from a nonchronic user might include a hangover with headache and dehydration. However, chronic alcohol consumption withdrawal can cause symptoms like shaking, nausea, depression, anxiety, and even a heart attack.
Chronic alcohol consumption wears down the body’s natural defenses against illnesses. Alcohol can weaken the muscles of the heart, cause irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure. Aside from the heart, alcohol damages the liver and pancreas. Studies have also proven a direct correlation between chronic alcohol consumption and certain types of cancers like head, neck, liver, and breast.
Benefits of Going to an Alcohol Rehab in Santa Barbara, CA
Stillwater Treatment Center is a premier detox and alcohol rehab in Santa Barbara, CA. Our state-of-the-art treatment center caters to the needs of each individual client with personalized treatment plans in a boutique facility.
At our alcohol addiction treatment centers, we treat our clients with compassion and understanding. Addiction is a devastating disorder, and our expert staff have decades of combined experience treating the root causes of addiction and helping our clients manage their mental health.
Our luxury detox facility and alcohol rehab in Santa Barbara offers multiple traditional evidence-based treatments, alternative treatment styles, and amenities for your stay. Through the recovery process, our goal is to create a comforting and relaxing location to provide holistic healing.
Here at Stillwater, we combine medically supervised detox with inpatient therapies to reduce the risks of relapse and promote overall wellness and healing. Available 24-hours a day, our leading alcohol rehab Santa Barbara, CA is available to support you through the first steps on your journey to sobriety.
Get sober today with Stillwater Treatment Center!
