Alcohol Misuse Signs, Effects, and Treatment
Learn about alcohol use disorder and how to find addiction treatment for yourself or someone you love.
Alcohol Misuse and Addiction
About Alcohol Misuse
Treatment Programs
Alcohol Addiction Overview
Alcohol addiction, clinically referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a common, chronic, and sometimes-progressive medical condition that entails compulsive drinking of alcohol.
For many people, having a beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail can be an enjoyable part of a meal, occasional social gatherings or celebrations. For others, drinking in moderation may be more difficult and they may find themselves unable to control their alcohol use.
Alcohol Misuse Information & Statistics
Alcohol use is common in America. In 2021, more than half of all adults reported drinking alcohol in the past month.1 And it’s not just adults; more than half of all high school seniors surveyed in the 2020 Monitoring the Future survey admitted to past-year drinking.2
While many Americans drink responsibly, excessive drinking results in an estimated 140,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.1,3 Excessive drinking includes both heavy drinking and binge drinking, as well as any drinking by a pregnant woman or person under the legal drinking age of 21.3
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
An alcohol use disorder goes beyond the occasional binge or periods of heavy drinking and reflects a loss of control over one’s alcohol use. Alcohol’s effects on the brain are similar to other drugs people misuse, and for some people alcohol use can become compulsive.4,5
Someone with an AUD will not be able to stop drinking even when their alcohol use is causing harm to their health or to other areas of their life, such as their relationships, job, or social life.5
Someone with an AUD might also be dependent on alcohol, needing to drink to avoid withdrawal.5 Alcohol dependence adds another layer of difficulty to getting sober.6
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Misuse
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Misuse?
The immediate dangers of intoxication—such as the risk of accidents and injuries, as well as blackouts and alcohol poisoning—are well-known. However, excessive alcohol use over time can lead to the development of chronic illness and many other serious physical and mental health problems. Some of these include:7,8
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Violent behaviors.
- Suicidal thoughts and actions.
- Suppression of the immune system.
- Heart problems, including irregular heart rhythms, heart muscle disease, or stroke.
- Liver disease.
- Inflammation of the pancreas.
- Increased risk of many cancer types, including cancer of the breast, esophagus, head and neck, colon, and liver.
Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Chronic excessive alcohol use may also result in a very serious, although rare, brain disorder called Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which arises from a deficiency of Vitamin B1 (thiamine). Symptoms include:9
- Confusion.
- Vision problems.
- Dangerously low body temperature.
- Low blood pressure.
- Problems with muscle coordination.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy often develops into a more long-lasting condition called Korsakoff’s syndrome, symptoms of which include:9
- Disorientation.
- Vision problems.
- Tremors.
- Coma.
- Difficulty in making new memories or recalling old ones.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome occur together so often that they are believed by many to be two phases of one syndrome (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome), with the first being the acute phase and the second being the chronic phase.9
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
For a person who regularly drinks heavily, quitting isn’t as simple as saying no to alcohol. Sometimes, it can actually be dangerous. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome has a broad range of symptoms from mild to severe.
For most people, alcohol withdrawal will be uncomfortable and may prompt serious urges to relapse in order to feel better. For others, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dramatic and severe, even dangerous and life-threatening.6
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
While there is no single “cure” for alcohol addiction, people struggling with alcohol misuse or undiagnosed alcohol use disorder can achieve and maintain long-term recovery. However, they may need help to do it.
For many people, treatment in some form or another is effective in significantly reducing or promoting complete abstinence from alcohol.
Alcohol addiction can be managed with evidence-based treatment approaches that include behavioral and pharmacological therapies.12
Types of Alcohol Treatment Programs
Alcohol treatment comes in many forms, and often people will engage with more than one type. Levels of addiction treatment may include:
Not every person’s treatment path will look the same, nor should it.6 At Desert Hope, American Addiction Centers’ Las Vegas alcohol rehab center, we individualize your recovery plan to your specific needs.
Paying for Alcohol Misuse Treatment
Desert Hope is in-network with many major health insurance companies and offers financing options to those in need. Check your insurance coverage by submitting the confidential and see if you qualify for financing by completing the questionnaire below.
Our compassionate admissions navigators are available 24/7 to answer your questions about types of rehab care and paying for rehab. We’re here to help you determine what is right for you or your loved one. Call us at .
Frequently Asked Questions about Alcohol Use and Addiction
Warning signs include drinking more or longer than intended, unsuccessful attempts to cut back, cravings, tolerance (needing more to feel the same effect), withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, neglecting responsibilities, and continuing to drink despite relationship, health, or legal problems.
Yes — alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. Symptoms can include tremors, anxiety, nausea, elevated heart rate, and in more severe cases, seizures or delirium tremens (DTs), which involves confusion, hallucinations, and dangerous spikes in blood pressure and heart rate. Anyone with heavy, long-term alcohol use should not attempt to detox without medical supervision.
Symptoms typically begin within 6–24 hours of the last drink, peak around 24–72 hours, and improve over 5–7 days for most people. However, timing varies based on drinking history, and medical monitoring is important throughout, since complications like seizures most often occur in the first 48 hours.
At Desert Hope, medical detox includes 24/7 monitoring by physicians and nurses, medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications like seizures, and continuous assessment so the care team can respond quickly if symptoms escalate. Detox is typically followed directly by inpatient or outpatient therapy.
For people with mild, infrequent alcohol use, stopping without medical support may be manageable. But for anyone with heavy or long-term daily drinking, sudden cessation (“quitting cold turkey”) carries real medical risk. Desert Hope’s admissions team can help assess your situation and recommend the right level of care during a confidential call.
Yes. Alcohol use disorder frequently co-occurs with conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Desert Hope provides integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders so both are addressed together rather than separately.
Desert Hope builds an aftercare plan for every patient, which may include outpatient therapy, sober living, alumni programming, and ongoing support groups to reduce relapse risk after discharge.
