Alcohol is an intoxicating substance classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. This classification means that heavy consumption inhibits activity in the CNS, eventually leading to slurred speech, impaired coordination, and delayed reaction time. As for alcohol’s effect on the mind, it’s a drug that impairs a person’s ability to reason and enact proper judgment.

Although alcohol is considered to be a depressant due to its action on the CNS, the effects of consumption may initially feel stimulating, and for this reason, it’s often used as a social lubricant. The temporary mood elevation is a result of alcohol’s ability to increase dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain associated with feelings of euphoria and reward.

After several drinks, however, a person will begin experiencing alcohol’s depressant effects, which can result in slowed reaction time, memory loss, pain desensitization, and cognitive and mobility impairments. CNS depression can ensure to the point of unconsciousness, coma, and even death. Unfortunately, in the U.S. around 2,200 people die each year from complications that arise from severe alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol is a substance that, when abused, wreaks havoc on the health, well-being, and lives of people in many ways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that excessive alcohol use in the U.S. led to an estimated 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost each year from 2006-2010.

The Definition of “Drug”

The term “drug” refers to something, often a substance, that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness. Alcohol is a depressant drug, just like benzodiazepines, hypnotics, and muscle relaxers. Other classes of drugs include stimulants (e.g., cocaine and meth), hallucinogens (e.g., LSD and psilocybin mushrooms), and painkillers or opioids (e.g., heroin and oxycodone).

Alcohol is often thought of a bit differently than other drugs, however, because alcohol is legal in most regions worldwide, unlike heroin and cocaine. But, because alcohol is an intoxicant, it can be just as dangerous as other illicit drugs.

In fact, one could argue that alcohol is potentially more harmful than many other psychoactive substances, such as marijuana and LSD. Furthermore, alcohol is legal and culturally-accepted, making it particularly insidious.

How Is Alcohol Made?

Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is the primary ingredient in beer, wine, and liquor that causes the intoxicating effects experienced by those who consume them. Alcohol is produced from yeasts and sugar through a process known as fermentation.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “A standard drink equals 0.6 ounces of pure ethanol, or 12 ounces of beer; 8 ounces of malt liquor; 5 ounces of wine; or 1.5 ounces (a “shot”) of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).”

Fermented drinks can contain anywhere from 2% to 20% alcohol, and these typically include beer and wine. Distilled drinks (liquor) contain around 40-50% alcohol (or more) and include vodka, rum, whiskey, and gin.

The typical alcohol content for each kind of drink is:

How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?

Following consumption, a relatively small percentage of alcohol absorbs into the bloodstream through the stomach (about 20%) and the remainder through the small intestine (about 80%) until it enters the brain and begins to depress the CNS. As the body proceeds to break down alcohol in the liver, eventually it will be unable to keep pace because it can process only so much alcohol at a time.

When a person is drinking excessively, this produces a high alcohol concentration in the blood that then circulates throughout the body and leads to intoxication. Eventually, the depressant effects of alcohol can overwhelm the person’s system, hindering his or her ability to think or talk coherently, move with proper coordination, or, in severe cases, respond to external stimuli.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

Furthermore, long-term alcohol use increases the risk of several forms of cancer, including that of the mouth, stomach, esophagus, breast, and colon.

Getting Treatment

Alcohol dependence is a common disorder that affects millions of Americans and can be devastating to a person’s life and family. If you or someone you love is suffering from alcohol addiction, help is available. Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers comprehensive, evidence-based treatment that includes behavioral therapy, individual and group counseling, health and wellness programs, aftercare planning, and more.

We employ caring addiction professionals who are trained to provide clients with the tools and support they need to achieve abstinence, prevent relapse, and maintain long-term sobriety and wellness.

Please give us a call as soon as possible to learn more about our alcohol treatment options and how we can provide you with the resources you need to begin your journey to recovery!

Dry drunk syndrome is characterized by a set of emotional impairments experienced by some people who are in recovery from alcoholism, which impedes a person’s ability to leave their addiction behind, despite being abstinent. As a result, dry drunk syndrome causes those who are suffering to remain ensnared in a day-to-day life much less fulfilling or happy than it otherwise could be.

Basically, a person who suffers from dry drunk syndrome has quit drinking alcohol but has not effectively addressed nor resolved past trauma, resentments, or hurt, and has not advanced to mental and emotional stability.

What Is a Dry Drunk?

The term “dry drunk” is believed to have originated from 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and describes someone who, their sober status notwithstanding, continues to behave as if she or he were still caught in the grip of addiction.

Who Becomes a Dry Drunk?

There are many reasons why a person in recovery would continue to encounter many of the same emotional symptoms they did when actively using. Factors that contribute to dry drunk syndrome may include the following:

The person in recovery…

…has a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder that has not been effectively addressed or treated.

…assumed that the mere act of engaging in sobriety would be enough to resolve most or all of their issues, and did not develop coping skills beyond their previous dysfunction solutions.

…failed to put forth enough effort into their mental and emotional well-being and has, therefore, become trapped in a less-than-optimal way of life.

…did not to take full advantage of therapy, counseling, and or external support such as family, friends, peer group meetings, etc.

…is spiritually empty. A lack of mindfulness or self-awareness has less to do with actual religion, but rather, reflects a fundamental belief that obtaining inner peace is not necessary or possible.

…are resentful about the fact that they cannot drink “normally” as others do, and consider sobriety as a sort of life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Dry Drunk Syndrome vs. Healthy Recovery

If you have wondered if you or a loved one in recovery has characteristics of a dry drunk, there is a good chance this may be true. People in recovery still have ups and downs and often must struggle against obstacles. But the place and the attitude from which they derive their worldview and how they cope with challenges is what is different between these emotionally measured people and dry drunks.

For example, dry drunks…

…exhibit bitterness and anger, and have a low stress tolerance.

…exhibit few changes in behavior and lifestyle other than abstinence, and at times continue to withdraw despite feelings of loneliness.

…are criticized by family and friends who regard the person as equally unpleasant to be around as when actively drinking.

…may believe that their lives are not much better than before they stopped drinking, and in fact, some things are regarded as worse.

…hold onto the belief that their dysfunctional coping skills somehow improved their lives.

…act as if they were forced into abstinence rather than going willingly, and continue to romanticize drinking.

…continue to ignore life’s difficulties in the same way they did when they were drinking.

…continue to engage in self-pity.

On the other hand, people who experience a healthy recovery…

…exhibit resilience, forgiveness, and have respect for oneself and others.

…exhibit healthy behaviors and lifestyle changes such as the employment of effective coping mechanisms and reengage in a positive and active social life.

…are noticeably and positively different in their mood and behavior to others close to them.

…find more enjoyment in life than when they were actively drinking, and accept that their previous means of coping was unhealthy compared to their newly-adopted skills and attitude.

…recognize that in recovery, life should not regress back to “before” addiction, and rather, be founded in a new paradigm of existence.

…may not have engaged in sobriety willingly, but at some point, readily adopted the new lifestyle and continue to do so.

…confront life’s challenges constructively, bounce back in spite of setbacks, and internalize the fact that life can be challenging with or without alcohol use.

…exhibit self-assurance.

Dry Drunk Prevention

Those in early recovery are often still at risk for falling into the aforementioned emotional and behavioral pitfalls that are indicative of dry drunk syndrome.

A person can avoid these traps by active engagement in an emotional self-recovery process and…

…becoming able to identify the signs of dry drunk syndrome vs. healthy recovery.

…be willing to revisit early recovery, identify where things went wrong, and seek solutions for them.

…be fully committed to recovery and routinely monitor progress on a long-term basis.

…recognizing that recovery is a lifelong process that requires permanent changes, a formidable will, and continuous effort.

…refusing to “romance the drink” or consider the idea that previous dysfunctional coping mechanisms can ever take the place of healthy ones.

…continuing to seek a meaningful connection between oneself and others.

…taking it seriously if, over time, life is still unsatisfying and immediately seek mental health care and emotional support from others.

Treatment for Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic, devastating disease that adversely impacts the lives of those who suffer as well as everyone close to them. Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers comprehensive, evidence-based programs that include services vital to the recovery process, such as counseling, psychotherapy, group support, and more.

If you or someone you love is dependent on alcohol, please contact us as soon as possible and discover how we help people reclaim their lives, prevent relapse, and free themselves from the grips of addiction!

End-Stage Alcoholism – Alcoholism is a common chronic disease that affects over 18 million adults in the United States alone. Like all diseases, there are different stages. When a person reaches end-stage alcoholism, he or she has come to a point that is far different from earlier stages.

During the initial stages of the disease, the alcoholic drinks excessively, and in between drinking episodes, they experience hangovers like everyone else. During end-stage alcoholism, however, addiction has complete control over the person, and drinking impulses are left unrestrained.

Stages of Alcoholism

There are four major stages of alcoholism – pre-alcoholism, early alcoholism, middle alcoholism, and late alcoholism (also known as end-stage alcoholism).

Stage One: Pre-Alcoholism

During the pre-alcoholism stage, there is scant evidence of a drinking problem, and much of the behavior during this stage would look normal to an outsider. Drinking has a primarily social function at the beginning of this stage, but as things progress, drinking is used more and more often as a means to reduce stress.

The main physical characteristic of this stage is that the person begins to develop a tolerance, meaning he or she can drink ever larger amounts of alcohol while continuing to function. Eventually, it takes a significant amount of alcohol to result in intoxication.

Stage Two: Early-Stage Alcoholism

Early-stage alcoholism marks the beginning of the person’s chronic alcohol consumption. The disease also begins to feed itself, because unlike most other diseases, the alcoholic finds the experience to be positive rather than negative. Externally, the alcoholic does not seem to be sick, and they appear to be relatively normal to those around them except for they are drinking a bit more.

Early-stage alcoholics typically have a high tolerance for alcohol and go unnoticed by many around them. When most people drink to their level of tolerance, they begin to exhibit the signs of being inebriated. Those signs include problems with speech and impaired motor skills, often marked by a loss of balance or coordination.

When social drinkers move into early-stage alcoholism, their tolerance begins to increase. This can allow them to overcome some of these signs that casual drinkers present. They may become able to hold conversations while intoxicated without slurring or having difficulty with coordination or motor skills.

Counterintuitively, the alcoholic begins to feel that they function better while under the influence because they only deal with the adverse effects when they quit drinking. The early stage alcoholic adjusts their drinking behavior as needed, and this often goes unrecognized.

As time passes by, however, assuming they maintain or increase their alcohol use, their body becomes progressively dependent on alcohol as the cells in their body begin to require it to function normally. Once the early stage progresses far enough, the disease reaches a tipping point where it advances into the middle stage of alcoholism.

Stage Three: Middle-Stage Alcoholism

In the middle stage of alcoholism, alcoholic behaviors manifest. Signs that there is a serious issue usually become evident to friends and family members. The person may begin missing work or social gatherings due to drinking or recovering from hangovers. He or she might drink at dangerous or inappropriate times, such as when caring for children, while driving, or at work.

The person may become increasingly irritable and argumentative. He or she may develop facial redness, bloating, sluggishness, and experience weight loss or weight gain. In this stage, the person might make several attempts to quit drinking, seek professional treatment, and join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

During middle-stage alcoholism, organs in the body are actively being damaged, and this problem is only going to get worse. The person is really starting to feel the negative effects that his or her drinking has had on their body. The pleasant effects of the next drink often serve to help the person forget the unpleasant effects of the last drinking episode, and this cycle repeats daily.

When an adequate level of alcohol isn’t present in the person’s system, they feel terrible, both physically and mentally. Only after they have been drinking do they feel well again. As the alcoholism advances, the cells in the body grow more and more resistant to alcohol’s effects, and tolerance continues to increase.

Visible signs that someone is in the grip of alcoholism are apparent. The individual begins to lose the ability to refrain from drinking due to the strong physiological compulsions their body produces to consume alcohol. When they do try to quit drinking, they experience highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, tremors, and irritability.

Common middle-stage alcoholism behaviors also include the following:

• Habitual drinking in non-social settings
• Strained interpersonal relationships
• A reduction in social activity
• Erratic behavior
• Withdrawal symptoms when not consuming alcohol

Stage Four: Late- or End-Stage Alcoholism

Late- or end-stage alcoholism is full-blown addiction that requires alcohol detox and comprehensive, long-term treatment for recovery. The person suffering now spends the majority of their time in service to the disease by drinking.

In this last stage, the person experiences both physical and mental health issues. Malnutrition may be present, and their physical condition is noticeably weakened. The addict no longer cares about the damage the disease is causing them or the many adverse consequences that occur as a result. At this point, the alcoholic’s mind and body are deteriorating at an accelerated rate.

Weakened cells are impaired in their ability to create bone, tissue, and blood as a healthy system normally would. Compounding upon the body’s challenges is that the cells lack the capability to repair themselves properly. The liver works overtime to gather nutrients and supply them to the body.

Nutritional deficiencies produce mental health issues including emotional instability, decreased alertness and mental confusion. End-stage alcoholics often develop liver, heart, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The list of conditions is extensive, and includes, but is not limited to the following:

Is Recovery from End Stage Alcoholism Possible?

Importantly, end-stage alcoholism is not like other end-stage diseases in that it’s not an automatic death sentence. But, the longer it continues, the greater the chance that a person will indeed die from causes or complications related to alcohol use.

Alcoholism’s progression is relative to the challenges of long-term sobriety, but recovery is possible at any stage. There are no quick fixes to addiction or disease, and the safest course of action is to seek treatment in a secure environment catered to each patient’s individual needs. This treatment should employ a holistic treatment approach that includes psychotherapy, counseling, group support, and aftercare planning.

We encourage you to learn more about our approach to health and well-being during drug or alcohol treatment and to seek help immediately, especially if end-stage alcoholism is upon you. If you are reading this, you probably already know that alcoholism is a major problem in your life or the life of a loved one.

You know that more alcohol is not the way to restore your sanity. You don’t need temporary relief – you need complete healing. You don’t have to feel afraid, ashamed, or alone anymore.

Contact us today and discover how we can help you reclaim your life and begin to experience the happiness and harmony you deserve!