Alcohol abuse is a serious disorder that affects the health and well-being of individuals. It can lead to addiction and other life-threatening consequences.


If you think someone in your family is abusing alcohol, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Getting treatment early can increase your chances of lasting sobriety.

Treatment
Alcohol abuse can cause a wide range of problems. It can interfere with your work or school, affect family relationships, and put you at risk for alcohol-related accidents (driving, operating machinery, mixing alcohol and drugs).

Treatment for alcohol abuse aims to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, prevent relapse, and improve your quality of life. It can involve behavioral therapies, medication, or a combination of these methods.

Behavioral therapy, sometimes called cognitive behavioral therapy, helps people change their thoughts and behaviors that lead to drinking. It can be done one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups.

Motivational enhancement therapy, which focuses on your internal strengths and encourages you to make changes in your behavior, is another treatment option. It can be combined with other methods such as 12-step programs, support groups and medications.

Prevention
Alcohol abuse can lead to addiction and other alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Excessive drinking has many negative effects on health, relationships, work, legal problems and a person's overall quality of life.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can be treated successfully, but it's not always easy. It's a long-term process that requires commitment and follow-up with treatment providers.

Preventive measures include: replacing alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic options, minimizing binge drinking, and avoiding social gatherings where alcohol is served. Keeping alcohol out of the home can also help prevent drinking.

Providing prevention services to individuals and families at risk of alcohol-use disorders is the first step in reducing harm from alcohol. Health services also should inform society about the public health and social consequences of alcohol, support communities in addressing these harms, and advocate for effective societal responses.

Side Effects
Like any drug, alcohol can have both short- and long-term effects on your body. The amount you drink, your medical history and tolerance to alcohol affect how much impact it has on your body.

The body’s immune system, skeletal and reproductive systems are all affected by alcohol. In the immune system, heavy drinking can make bacteria-fighting white blood cells sluggish and less effective.

In the skeletal system, alcohol inhibits new bone production and can cause osteoporosis and bone fractures. It can also weaken muscles and cause tense or painful joints.

It can also harm the liver whose job it is to break down harmful substances in your body. This can lead to hepatitis, jaundice and cirrhosis.

Drinking too much alcohol can also have a negative effect on your digestive system, leading to ulcers and chronic inflammation in the stomach, esophagus and gut. It can also affect how your pancreas produces insulin, putting you at risk for diabetes.

Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that causes significant physical and mental problems. It is characterized by the intense urge to use alcohol or other drugs for continued gratification, even in the face of harmful consequences.

Medications are used to treat this condition. These medications reduce craving and help patients cope with emotional stress and negative thoughts.

People who drink alcohol need to be treated as a whole person with medical and behavioral treatments, as well as counseling and support groups. They need to learn new coping skills and find new ways to deal with situations that trigger their drinking.

Some of the symptoms of addiction include drinking more than planned, feeling irritable or cranky when not drinking, and getting into dangerous situations such as driving, unsafe sex or falling. Problems with work, school, relationships and the law are also common.