Teenage brains are especially susceptible to the damaging effects of alcohol. The prefrontal cortex, involved in self-control and judgment, is still developing up until age 25. Drinking during adolescence and young adulthood can disrupt growth in this and other brain regions, leading to long-term cognitive damage. The sobering truth is that alcoholism should be treated as a chronic medical what is a chronic drinker disease.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder (Alcoholism)?
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Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemistry and genetic predispositions, contribute to the vulnerability to alcohol dependence. Psychological Drug rehabilitation factors, including stress, trauma, and mental health disorders, can also influence the chronicity of alcoholism. Additionally, social factors, such as peer pressure and environmental triggers, can perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
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We receive a commission if you begin treatment with a fee-paying provider. You can also speak to your doctor and ask for a diagnosis and a referral to a rehab clinic or treatment programme. You can be referred to a rehab clinic by your doctor after receiving an official diagnosis, or you can self-refer by getting in touch with your preferred clinic. You will have never experienced any other way of living, so these behaviours will seem normal to you. It’s important to remember that having an addiction is not your fault.
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- A lipase blood test, with other pancreatic blood tests — like an amylase test — can help providers diagnose pancreatic disorders, like a pancreatic cyst or pancreatic duct obstruction.
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- Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment.
- Additionally, social factors, such as peer pressure and environmental triggers, can perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
Always consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional for advice regarding any medical or mental health concerns. Individual results will vary, and participation in our programs does not replace professional treatment.Copyright © 2025 LiveWellandFully.com. Its treatment involves a comprehensive approach, addressing both the addiction and any underlying mental health issues. Over time, heavy drinking can damage the brain cells and lead to problems with memory, attention, and decision-making. Chronic alcohol use can also increase the risk of developing neurological disorders, such as dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Alcohol addiction is a brain disorder because of alcohol’s effect on the brain. Just like drugs, alcohol triggers your reward system to produce feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Over time, the triggering of positive neurotransmitters becomes a learned behavior, so you start to crave more alcohol. At the same time, you begin to develop tolerance, so you have to drink more and more often to achieve the same results. Therefore, quitting alcohol is difficult or even impossible on your own because your brain has adapted to need alcohol to function. Alcohol dependency is labeled as a chronic disease because it typically persists over time and demands continuous management and support.
- It is important to recognize that recovery from alcoholism is not a linear process.
- Getting treatment after PTSD symptoms arise can be very important to ease symptoms and help people function better.
- Framing AUD as a disease doesn’t remove accountability—it opens the door to meaningful recovery.
- Relapse refers to a return to alcohol use after a period of abstinence or reduced drinking.
- This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for return to drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Why Is Alcoholism Considered a Chronic Disease
The tribunal would decide if you have a disability by considering evidence from both parties. It will listen to what you say, but you might also need to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ show them medical evidence – like a letter from your GP or consultant. The effect on your normal day-to-day activities might be substantial if you have more than one impairment. It has a substantial and adverse effect on his ability to do normal day-to-day activities – for example he can’t go out alone because he’s likely to fall down.
Mental Obsession
Exposure to peer pressure, stressful life events, and easy access to alcohol are some examples of environmental influences that can contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder. It requires individuals to enact changes in nearly every area of their lives and actively maintain sobriety using effective coping skills and relapse prevention techniques. Comprehensive treatment is often necessary to address the underlying physical, emotional, and environmental factors that facilitate addiction and prevent individuals from being their best selves in recovery. The progressive nature of alcoholism is one of the many reasons why treatment can be so important.
