Why is Alcohol Addictive?
Many people that drink alcohol start out drinking with friends, or in other social situations. Perhaps you began drinking alcohol at the family dinner table during the holidays. Having a drink or two does not seem like it would cause harm. Why is alcohol addictive to the point of potentially causing severe harm to individuals with an alcohol use disorder?
The Right Step professional staff members help you, and other clients, understand why is alcohol addictive, along with the benefits of receiving treatment for alcohol addiction. The addiction treatment programs and addiction therapy programs help people that are searching for alcohol treatment to get back on the right path and stop abusing alcohol. Wherever you are in your addiction to alcohol, we are here to help.
How Many People Experience Addiction to Alcohol?
When you have an alcohol use disorder, Know you aren’t alone. People that have an alcohol addiction likely feel alone, especially after alcohol addiction affects relationships with family, friends, and employers. The truth is that there are millions of people that face alcohol addiction.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reveals that in 2017, there were more than 14 million people in the U.S. with alcohol use disorder. Some sources put the number closer to 16 million people in the U.S. having an addiction to alcohol.
You are at risk of potentially serious consequences if you wonder why is alcohol addictive, yet do not seek help for the addiction. Consider startling facts that include:
- Alcohol use disorder was responsible for nearly 50 percent of the more than 78,000 liver disease deaths in 2015
- Approximately 20 percent of all college students meet criteria for having an alcohol use disorder
- An estimated 88,000 people die every year as a result of alcohol-related cause
- Even a single incident of drinking too much increases the risk of alcohol-related heart damage
- Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing several types of cancer
Alcohol addiction is treatable and helps take you from despair to being productive and living a life free of alcohol.
Why is Alcohol Addictive?
When you have an addiction to alcohol, it’s hard to just stop drinking today, or at any other time. Alcohol is a highly addictive substance. Why is alcohol addictive? There are several reasons, such as:
Alcoholism is a chronic and relapsing brain disease
Alcohol addiction interferes with the communication pathways of the brain
A person with an alcohol addiction experiences compulsive alcohol use
An individual with alcohol addiction has an impaired ability to stop abusing alcohol
Continued misuse of alcohol results in the body adapting to the presence of alcohol
A person potentially feels the need to drink more alcohol to stop or prevent withdrawal symptoms
There are other reasons why alcohol is addictive, which the caring treatment team at The Right Step explain as you complete your Medical detox treatment, and progress through your alcohol rehab program which may include treatments and therapies such as…
- Medical Drug Detox Centers
- Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers
- Men’s Addiction Treatment Centers
- Women’s Addiction Treatment Centers
- Aftercare Programs
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment
You have the support of treatment team members with the expertise to guide you through the recovery process and through your aftercare program. Reach out to the professionals at The Right Step to learn how to live without alcohol controlling your life. Contact us at 844-768-0396 and discover how to start your recovery today.