Alcohol Abuse

Problem drinking, the abuse of alcohol, is characterized by the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol, usually to the detriment of the drinker’s health, relationships and job. A person usually starts out abusing alcohol and becomes dependent on the substance. Early signs of alcohol abuse in young people include underage drinking by teens and adolescents and also binge drinking. In adult drinkers, early alcohol abuse signs include work problems such as decreased performance, absenteeism. The most severe form of problem drinking is alcoholism. Alcoholism can include any and all symptoms of alcohol abuse but the drinker becomes physically dependent on alcohol. In most cases, eliminating this chemical dependency on alcohol is the initial goal of alcohol treatment programs.

Alcohol abuse can be characterized by tolerance and alcoholism by withdrawal. Tolerance is a progressive state for the problem drinker and it refers to the condition when an individual needs to consume more and more alcohol to feel the same physical effects as previously. Withdrawal is the body’s reaction to not having alcohol in your system. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include: anxiety, shakiness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite and headaches. In severe cases withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever and agitation.

Long term alcoholism and alcohol abuse can cause serious health complications, affecting not just the liver and brain, but every organ in the body. Beyond the physical damage caused by alcohol dependence, long-term drinking can damage family and social relationships, finances, career and the person’s emotional stability.

At Caron Texas, the initial stage of alcohol treatment includes medical detoxification, a process that the body must go through to eliminate the chemical dependency on alcohol. We also equip the individual with the tools to recover from alcohol abuse by providing individual counseling and group and family counseling, as well. As the primary chemical dependency is treated, the Caron addiction specialists also assess and evaluate the patient for possible co-occurring mental health conditions.

Recovering from alcohol addiction is much less difficult with the help and guidance of a professional team to support the individual and his or her family. With an individualized substance abuse treatment plan for each patient, the addiction staff at Caron Texas uses a proven approach to guide the individual and his/her family through alcohol treatment and the preparation for a life of recovery.