The Physical Effects of Alcohol

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The physical effects of alcohol can be dangerous.

The Physical Effects of Alcohol Explained

Alcoholism is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. To better understand the physical effects of alcohol, it is vital to know how alcoholism starts and progresses.

Alcohol can cause mental and physical addiction. Sometimes, there are fatal consequences as a result of consuming alcohol. Alcohol affects some aspects of a person’s life, including finances, legal, relationships, and personal life.

A dependence upon alcohol should always be taken seriously.

 

Early Stages of Alcoholism

Consuming alcohol is common in the United States. Most people have had at least one alcoholic beverage in their life. Some will drink moderately. Others may binge drink or begin to drink alcoholically. Heavy drinking does not always indicate alcoholism however. A person also does not need to down half a bottle of scotch or more every night to be an alcoholic.

Alcohol impacts a person’s judgment quickly. For some people, just one alcoholic beverage can affect their ability to make healthy decisions. Almost everyone who has an alcohol use disorder diagnosis began their drinking safely.

How Does Alcoholism Start?

What can cause someone to become an alcoholic? The shift from normal drinking to alcoholism generally happens when someone changes why or how they consume alcohol. For example, someone might go from drinking with their friends to drinking to relieve pain. When the change occurs, there is usually an increase in cravings. From there, the person will likely start drinking more and more.

It has as much to do with their relationship with alcohol as it does behavior. A true alcoholic will not put down the drink in the face of consequences. Many people drink to excess in college for example. Someone who binge drinks in college may be exhibiting an alcohol use disorder at the time, but if that person is able to simply quit on their own or cut back substantially and drink only lightly after that, then that person isn’t typically what you’d call and alcoholic.

Many people don’t get the effects they are looking for when drinking alcohol, so they turn to harder liquor or increase their alcohol intake. A lot of people that struggle with alcohol abuse slowly increase the amount they drink. When someone drinks a lot of alcohol, especially for a longer time, they will likely start experiencing the physical effects of alcohol use.

If someone doesn’t get addiction rehab help, the physical effects could cause significant health issues. Alcoholism could take their life via drunk driving or deterioration of body organs, as well.

 

Immediate Effects from Abusing Alcohol

Alcohol can consume a person’s life. It can lead to severe health issues. Some of the health issues will take longer to develop. However, other effects can happen right after someone starts drinking.

Some immediate effects from abusing alcohol include:

  • Getting into an accident or having an injury
  • Having an arrest for reckless or irresponsible behavior
  • Higher chance of engaging in risky sexual behaviors
  • Relationship damage
  • Severe dehydration
  • Blackouts
  • Damage to fetus
  • Alcohol poisoning

These are just some immediate effects of abusing alcohol. Some long-term effects could occur with alcoholism, as well.

 

Long-Term Physical Effects of Alcohol Abuse

If someone keeps abusing alcohol for longer, they will start experiencing more severe health effects. In addition to the effects above, long-term abuse of alcohol can lead to:

  • High risk of neurological issues
  • Increased risk of having a stroke
  • Digestion issues
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Cancer
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased risk of developing mental health issues
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Brain damage

These are just a few of the many long-term physical effects that could occur from alcohol abuse. If you or someone you know has alcohol addiction, don’t wait. Getting treatment now could help to prevent some or all of these long-term effects.

 

Other Issues Caused by Alcohol Abuse

The immediate and long-term effects above can happen to anyone.

There are some other issues caused by alcohol abuse, as well. Some of these issues may include:

  • Malnutrition
  • Higher risk of getting anemia
  • Immune system function issues
  • Higher risk of getting pancreatitis
  • Seizures

The only way for someone to fight against these health problems is to quit drinking. The best way to overcome alcoholism is to get professional rehab help. The rehab team members can help you work through obstacles, triggers, personal issues, and much more. They can help you manage any health issues you already have, as well.

 

Most people who succeed in an alcohol addiction program don’t miss their drinking days. They may have cravings and triggers, but they realize their life is better in recovery than drinking. It may take some time before you feel like this. However, once you start getting treatment, you can find more meaning in life when you are sober.

Get Help for the Physical Effects of Alcohol

Millions of Americans are living with alcoholism or an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).  A lot of the people who have an alcohol addiction experience immediate physical effects of alcohol use. The people who continue drinking for years may start experiencing the long-term effects, as well. Alcohol addiction comes with serious psychological effects as well.

Even if you don’t have any of the long-term physical effects of alcohol yet, it is still best to get treatment now. Many of the physical effects of alcohol which occur later are irreversible. Other than these effects of alcohol there are the consequences of behavior while drinking. Driving while intoxicated, fights, destroyed relationships, high-risk sexual behaviors. The results can be tragic. But they don’t need to be. You can also take back control over your life with the right kind of help.

Contact us at Harmony Treatment and Wellness today. We can answer your questions and explain how our alcohol treatment program can help.

 

7 Benefits of Outpatient Rehabilitation

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Outpatient drug and alcohol rehab can be a viable option.

Advantages to Outpatient Rehabilitation

If you’re thinking about using outpatient drug and alcohol rehab, it’s important to know what to expect. Because outpatient isn’t as intensive as inpatient, it can be easier to fit it into most people’s lives. It also can be cheaper if you haven’t got health insurance. To help you decide if this a possible option for you, we’ve created a list of 7 benefits that outpatient drug and alcohol rehab can provide. These are:

  • Works with inpatient care.
  • Fits with almost any schedule and lifestyle.
  • You can select a level of treatment.
  • Increased Flexibility.
  • Gives you real-world experience.
  • Provides a smoother transition to long-term recovery.
  • Less Cost.

What is Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

In short, outpatient drug and alcohol rehab is a treatment program for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) that allows you to stay at your own residence. You then go to a treatment facility during the day. However, there’s several different types of outpatient care. But, some operate by letting you live where you wish. There are generally three types of outpatient care:

Our Florida addiction and recovery center provides all of these and more.

Works with Inpatient Care

The first benefit to outpatient treatment is it works with inpatient care. If you have already been through a residential treatment program, outpatient treatment is ideal. This is because it is intended to be used after an inpatient program. You don’t need to choose one or the other. In fact, using both gives you the best chance of success. Outpatient treatment is most useful and effective as a follow-up to a more intensive program, rather than a substitute for one.

Fits with Most Schedules

The biggest advantage to outpatient rehabilitation is it works with most lifestyles. If you need to continue to work or attend school, you can do so. Because outpatient rehab only operates for a few hours a day, multiple times a week, it’s easy to fit it into your schedule. You’re also able to sleep in your own bed, which is usually the most attractive part.

Different Levels of Treatment

There is a range of options under the general outpatient treatment umbrella. Intensive Outpatient treatment, for example offers similar benefits to a residential program and you can enjoy the security and structure of a sober living environment. IOP treatment is often followed by Outpatient Treatment, which usually consists of only one or two days a week of care at most, which can fit into most schedules.

Increased Flexibility

Along with being able to choose your level of treatment, you can also change your care level as time goes on. If you relapse, you’re able to choose something more complete. When you become more stable and confident in your sobriety, you can reduce the amount of outpatient treatment you receive.

Provides Real-World Experience

Staying sober during inpatient treatment is fairly easy. It’s supposed to be. However, when you get back out into the world, you’re faced with real world problems. When this happens, your sobriety is going to be challenged. These challenges can easily lead to relapse. On the other hand, using outpatient treatment, you’re exposed to the stress of normal life. But, you’re given a lot of help and support to cope with that stress. Thus, you’ll learn ways to handle problems as they happen. This can help stop you from being overwhelmed.

Smooth Transition to Long-Term Recovery

The goal of outpatient rehab is to move you gently into long-term recovery. Once you’ve learned all the skills and tools to live sober, then you can exit the outpatient care. If you go to an inpatient facility but don’t attend outpatient care, you’re likely to experience problems. Worse, if you merely try to get sober on your own, you’ll probably experience a lot of failure. This is because you aren’t given the tools and support necessary to live sober. Outpatient treatment helps slide you into a life of sobriety. Rather than throwing you in the deep end of the pool.

Less Cost

Inpatient care can be expensive without health insurance. Even the cheapest ones tend to be costly. Worse, cheap care is usually inferior. This means it won’t help you as much. The advantage to outpatient care is the cost is minimal, but the care is still good. Some outpatient facilities are covered by Medicaid, Medicare or insurance. Plus, you can sometimes work while you attend outpatient rehab. Which makes the cost even easier to bear.

Getting Outpatient Care

If you’re ready to get help, or merely want to learn more about outpatient rehab, please get in touch with us. Our Florida recovery center is equipped to handle all of your recovery needs. Our staff is excited about helping others achieve sobriety and will be happy to answer any questions you have. We tailor all of our outpatient care to fit you as an individual. This means you’ll have total control over how much care you receive. There’s a program that’s right for you. All you need to do is call us today and we can get started building a path to your new sober life!

Telehealth for Addiction

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telehealth for addiction

Telehealth is one form of treatment that has resulted in promising results in addiction recovery management. There are many benefits that can be reaped from the different forms of telehealth for addiction. In this article, learn more about telehealth and how it can benefit the addiction treatment industry from a top Florida recovery center.

Telehealth for Addiction Benefits

Telehealth is the practice of using telecommunication, such as phone calls and video conferencing software, to provide care services. By using the internet, patients can access a variety of services without having to travel anywhere. This can include possible treatment options for their addiction or mental health disorder.

The use of technology has allowed doctors to treat patients that are not available to make it to the office for a face-to-face appointment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became extremely useful because it allowed patients to remain isolated in their homes while still getting the care they needed. These are a few of the many benefits that telehealth has to offer patients dealing with addiction.

1. Quick Screening and Intervention

One of the more prominent benefits of telehealth is that it can be used to screen and help patients quickly. Patients can have an online assessment done, and the results are given quickly. This quick screening can then be followed up with a full treatment plan. Interventions can be done at any time or location that is best for the family.

2. Reduces Stigma

Studies have shown that the stigma associated with addiction has had some effect on whether people seek out treatment for it or not. Telehealth allows individuals to seek treatment in a less stigmatized environment, which can reduce the likelihood of them not seeking treatment.

3. Increased Accessibility

Telehealth has allowed for decreased costs for patients seeking treatment. With the expansion of telehealth treatment options, people can have a more accessible addiction recovery plan. This is especially beneficial to impoverished patients who may not have the financial means to afford an in-person care option or for those that cannot take time away from work or family commitments for a full-time, residential program.

4. Treatment from Anywhere

One of the most significant advantages of telehealth is that there is no need to be at a certain location in order to obtain treatment. Patients can become instantly connected with services that are thousands of miles away from them, allowing them to get help when they need it most. This is especially beneficial for those who have moved away or otherwise become geographically isolated.

5. Help Outside Office Hours

An age-old problem with addiction treatment is the inability to receive help at times when it is most needed. With telehealth, patients can have access to a doctor or therapist after hours in order to work through issues that are often present during those late evening hours. This is an especially beneficial option for those who have unsupportive families or live in unsafe environments.

6. No Travel Costs

One of the largest costs of receiving treatment is the amount of time and money patients must dedicate to travel for appointments or treatment centers. Telehealth has allowed patients to remain in the comfort of their homes, and with the assistance of telehealth providers, treatment can be accessed wherever they are. While many people travel out of state for residential care, telehealth is a great option for those that are not able to afford traveling.

7. It’s Less Expensive Overall

A general misconception is that all forms of treatment are expensive, which is not always the case. Telehealth can be used to provide patients with the care they need at a significantly lower cost than other treatment methods. This is great for those who may have a hard time affording even one in-person appointment, but can still benefit from the care available through telehealth.

8. Part of a Holistic Approach to Complement In-Person Treatment

Telehealth can be a part of an addiction recovery program. It does not have to be all in-person or all telehealth. This combination of treatment options allows for a more holistic approach to addiction recovery that can be tailored to the needs of the patient.

9. Beneficial to Aftercare Programs

Telehealth can be used to better facilitate aftercare programs. Patients can have an ongoing care plan with follow-up sessions that are monitored through a video conferencing program to provide ongoing care after treatment. Aftercare programs can make it easier for patients to maintain sobriety in the early stages of recovery.

As technology continues to develop, telehealth is expected to become more prevalent in the addiction recovery industry. As more people begin using telehealth and become aware of its usefulness, more clinics and treatment centers are likely to adopt these services in order to provide a greater range of options for their patients. As more people seek out treatment, there will be a greater need for these services.

Because of the nature of telehealth and the benefits it provides, it has created a new environment for addiction recovery. By using technology to connect patients with care options that are local and global, there is more access to treatment that much more convenient for individuals who need it most.

Telehealth for addiction can also help more people to access recovery from a Florida addiction and recovery center even if they live far away. If you have more questions about telehealth or about addiction recovery, contact Harmony Stuart to speak with one of our representatives today. We can help you to start the treatment process and to avoid the traps of early sobriety.