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Most people recovering from addiction will cycle through the stages of change three or four times before completing the cycle without a slip. Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
Enjoying the sensation of rapid onset drunkenness and drinking to seek inebriation as quickly as possible is dangerous and may indicate a deeper problem. Is the most severe form of problem drinking and can be divided into five stages. What starts as leaning on alcohol can gradually grow into full-blown dependency. Any stage of the Jellinek Curve is considered dangerous because the person is not consuming alcohol in moderation, which is the only safe way to drink. Moderate drinking means two drinks or fewer in a day for men or one drink or fewer in a day for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
What are the 5 Stages of Alcoholism?
They may decide, for instance, that they’re going to seek treatment sometime in the next six months but won’t set a definite date. They may also rationalize, or make excuses, for their behavior. For example, they may say they are drinking a lot because they are stressed because of work. Or they could claim that it’s common to drink to relax and say that it’s no big deal.
Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than moderate drinkers. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections–even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.
Cardiovascular Health
In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine . Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality. 5 stages of alcoholism Furthermore, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous can provide a supportive community for individuals in early recovery. Alcoholism is a disease that can take over a person’s life and leave them feeling hopeless. The affects can range from dementia and intellectual functioning to debilitating conditions that require long-term care, even if a person has been sober for a period of time.
- They might increase their use of alcohol from the occasional drink or two at get-togethers to having more get-togethers for an excuse to drink.
- It also includes the journey of alcohol addiction and into recovery.
- Our care specialists are ready to assist with acute mental health crises and co-occurring mental health disorders.
- During the alcohol dependent stage of alcoholism, your mind and body become firmly attached to alcohol.
- A moderate drinker might pair a glass of wine with a meal, while a regular drinker uses alcohol to feel good in general.
- The user loses his or her job due to too many absences and alcohol-induced fights end relationships.
Therefore, everyone should have an opportunity to receive help. However, you can still overcome your alcohol use disorder with the proper medical treatment and recovery plan. But even if you wanted to quit drinking alcohol at this stage, you can’t without the possibility of having potentially fatal seizures or organ failure.
Stage 3: High Risk Use
Most individuals in precontemplation feel that recovery simply isn’t possible for them. This stage does not have to be a final stage and treatment is still a good course to regain physical well-being. If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of alcoholism described earlier, it may be time to reassess your drinking habits.