The term alcoholism is widespread in American society, but it is a non-clinical descriptor. As a society, we need a better understanding of what makes up different alcohol consumption levels. In 2012, an estimated 7.2 percent of teens ages 12 to 17 had the disorder. An estimated 855,000 younger people had a diagnosable alcohol-use disorder in 2014, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
The DSM-5 provides doctors with eleven factors to guide them in diagnosing alcohol consumption disorders and their different alcohol consumption stages.
Drinking Heavy During the Pandemic
If a person tends to rely on having a good time drinking heavily, they can develop problematic drinking habits.
It depends in part on the need for medically supervised detoxification, but it would be good to talk to an addiction counselor or psychologist about safe ways to detoxify alcohol. Most addiction specialists agree that it is never advisable to detox at home or in the cold. Only when withdrawal symptoms and possibly cravings for alcohol are present, make it more difficult to stop drinking.
Therefore, anyone who tries to detoxify alcohol is advised to consult a doctor first. People at risk of withdrawal need medical detox, and in some cases, alcohol withdrawal can increase the risk of severe health problems such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and even death.
The eleven factors outlined in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAA) annual report provide additional insight into the disease. Six of these occur in the early stages of addiction, indicating the need for treatment or intervention to combat addiction; two occur in the late stages, such as the final stages of alcoholism and the first years of drug dependence.
Stages Of Alcoholism
When discussing the early stages of alcoholism, including the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh stages. The class of heavy drinkers known as “highly functional” should be taken into account. A high functioning person who abuses alcohol will be able to work all day, exceed expectations, fulfill the required financial obligations, and perform tasks. About 80 percent of people who abuse alcohol can be classified as highly functional, according to the NIAA.
Contrary to this assumption, highly functioning individuals are not responsible for the long-term effects of alcohol abuse on their health. In essence, drinking is a ticking time bomb that can cause serious health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
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