Why Is Alcohol Use Disorder A Chronic Disease?

Alcohol use disorder isn’t simply a choice—it’s a complex, chronic condition impacting millions of people worldwide. Alcohol dependency is widely recognized as a disease rather than a choice, as it involves complex changes in brain chemistry and functioning that affect behavior. This emphasizes the need for medical treatment and support rather than solely attributing alcohol misuse to personal choice. Rehabilitation programs offer structured environments for individuals with severe alcohol dependency or those needing intensive support. These programs provide comprehensive treatment, including medical detoxification, therapy, and skill-building, in a distraction-free why is alcoholism considered a chronic disease setting away from triggers.

• All of these groups are based on 12-step programs that provide a spiritual and behavioral guide to self-improvement and offer social support for people seeking to achieve abstinence.
• Hydration and electrolyte balance are critical, as alcohol withdrawal often causes vomiting and sweating.
• The journey to recovery is fraught with obstacles, but understanding these barriers is the first step towards overcoming them.

Alcoholism, often known as alcohol use disorder or alcoholism, is a chronic disease characterized by a person’s physical and/or psychological dependence on alcohol. We’ll examine how and why alcohol consumption disorder is a disease in this section and why it’s seen as a chronic condition. We want to provide information and tools for people who are struggling with alcohol use and their loved ones who might be looking for assistance and guidance. It’s important to realize that alcoholism can be treated and that many options are accessible to those who want to overcome addiction and sustain sobriety.

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The program encourages members to admit their powerlessness over alcohol and to seek help from a higher power, which is inconsistent with the idea of alcoholism as a disease that can be treated medically. The environment in which a person grows up and lives can strongly influence their drinking habits. For example, children who grow up with parents who drink alcohol in their presence, encourage them to drink, or pressure them to consume alcohol are more likely to develop AUD. Parental drinking patterns can also impact a child’s future relationship with alcohol.

Treatment Options

These health issues do not resolve on their own and continue to deteriorate without treatment, much like the complications of untreated chronic diseases. The body’s inability to recover from the cumulative damage caused by alcohol underscores the chronic and progressive character of AUD. The brain’s reward system is another area significantly impacted by alcohol. Prolonged alcohol use alters the mesolimbic pathway, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reinforcement. Specifically, alcohol increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, creating a cycle of dependence as the brain seeks to replicate these pleasurable sensations. Over time, this leads to tolerance, where more alcohol is needed to achieve the same effect, and cravings, which drive compulsive drinking behavior.

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Evidence-based treatments are tailored to the severity of the addiction, the presence of co-occurring disorders, and the individual’s unique circumstances. For instance, someone with a dual diagnosis of alcoholism and depression may require integrated treatment that addresses both conditions simultaneously. This individualized approach is supported by research showing that tailored drug addiction interventions yield better outcomes than one-size-fits-all methods.

• Similarly, the protocol allows counselors to modify the content of intervention even without changing the frequency.
• A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person’s symptoms.
• Although medical professionals can rebalance these neurotransmitters with time and effort, the neural pathways created during heavy drinking remain.
• There is no single cause of addiction; people begin using substances for many reasons and one person’s path to addiction may look drastically different from that of another.

In alcohol detox, the alcoholic’s brain will create new neural pathways to help them derive pleasure from activities other than drinking. However, without the proper support, it becomes very easy for the recovering alcoholic to start drinking again. Alcoholism is a major issue in the US and it affects people personally and socially.

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• It’s essential to seek professional assistance and support to address this condition and improve quality of life effectively.
• The first step in understanding alcoholism is recognizing that alcohol is indeed considered a drug.
• By acknowledging the hereditary factors that increase vulnerability to alcoholism, healthcare providers can adopt a more informed and compassionate approach to treatment, emphasizing the need for sustained support and care.
• Epigenetic research highlights the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and behavior, reinforcing the disease framework.

Mental disorder refers to the changes in an individual’s emotions, thinking patterns, or behaviors that create significant distress and affect their daily functioning. Xenia Ellenbogen (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health, mental health, and wellness. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Everyday Health, Well+Good, Rewire News Group, Prism, and more.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, please consult your healthcare provider for support. However, there’s good news—treatments like therapy, support groups, and medicines are available to support those who are struggling with this disorder. Another way that your doctor can diagnose you with alcohol addiction is by using the ;DSM’s 11 criteria of addiction. If you score two or more points, you are likely to have some form of alcohol addiction. A simple way for a doctor to diagnose you with alcohol addiction is through the ;CAGE questionnaire.

The American Medical Association (AMA) first classified alcoholism as a disease in 1956, and since then, it has increasingly been treated as a chronic disease by health and addiction experts. The CDC defines chronic diseases as lasting at least a year and requiring ongoing medical attention, limiting activities of daily living, or both. These conditions can often be managed but not cured and tend to worsen over time. The development of alcoholism is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. Research has shown that genetics account for approximately 60% of the risk for alcoholism, with the remaining risk influenced by environmental factors such as growing up in a household where alcohol is present.

The brain’s reward system is activated by the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, compelling the person to repeat the behaviour. Over time, the brain produces less of its own dopamine, leading to a decrease in stimulation from previously enjoyable activities. This can result in individuals with AUD avoiding social situations that don’t involve drinking. Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic disease characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. The American Medical Association (AMA) first classified alcoholism as a disease in 1956. This marked a significant shift in the perception of alcoholism, urging that alcoholics be admitted to general hospitals for care.

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Mutual-support groups provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. Group meetings are available in most communities at low or no cost, and at convenient times and locations—including an increasing presence online. This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for return to drinking. Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Alcoholism is classified as a disease because it meets the criteria of a chronic, progressive, and relapsing condition that affects the brain and body. It involves changes in brain chemistry, impaired control over drinking, and continued use despite negative consequences, similar to other medical diseases.