Alcohol Rehab Arizona Warns About the Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder
There are many forms of addiction, but one of the most common is alcohol use disorder. According to a study by JAMA Psychiatry, approximately one in eight Americans (12.7%) qualify as an alcoholic. (1) This makes the importance of an alcohol rehab Arizona a pressing need.
Societal acceptance and easy access can make alcohol a difficult substance to avoid for many individuals. An outside intervention and professional guidance is an essential component on the path to sobriety. In order to understand what it takes to abstain from the dangers of an alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is important to understand what constitutes an AUD.
Defining Alcohol Use Disorder
An AUD can be defined as a pattern of alcohol use where it is difficult to control or moderate one’s usage. They become preoccupied with alcohol, using it despite the problems it causes. Suffering from withdrawal symptoms is common when they decrease or abstain from drinking. Unhealthy drinking is defined as any use that puts your health or safety at risk and leads to other stressful or difficult life issues. (2)
Regular binge drinking can also be a sign of an AUD, This can be defined as five or more drinks for a male within two hours and four or more drinks within the same time period for a female. If your usage leads to significant distress and problems in your daily life, it is likely that you have an AUD and should consider seeking out a trusted alcohol rehab Arizona.
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Warning Signs of an AUD
Unfortunately, repeated alcohol use can have serious negative consequences for one’s life, both in terms of physical, mental, and emotional health. Understanding how alcohol use disorder affects you or a loved one could help you know when it’s time to seek help.
Physical Signs
Excessive drinking can lead to issues such as an increased risk for cancer, including mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer. (3) An AUD can also lead to liver disease and pancreatitis, as repeated usage can damage a person’s vital organs. Additional physical complications include things such as heart failure, an increased risk for stroke, brain damage, and high blood pressure.
When a person is unable to drink, they may suffer from nausea, sweating, shaking or hallucinations. This is known as alcohol withdrawal and is a clear sign that they are suffering from AUD. It’s imperative that a person seeks alcohol detox during alcohol withdrawal.
Mental & Emotional Health Signs
An AUD can also lead to significant mental health implications. Alcohol usage can contribute to and exacerbate an individual’s existing mental health condition. For example, alcohol use can increase the risk of depression and anxiety. It can also lead to suicide in more extreme cases. Often, individuals with a mental illness will also have an AUD or another form of substance use disorder. This is known as a dual diagnosis.
Over time, an AUD can additionally cause a person’s relationships to deteriorate as they choose to drink over social interaction. It can also cause an individual to become less reliable and create distance between friends and loved ones.
A serious AUD can also lead to a reduction in activities that you once received enjoyment from or had a passion for. This includes exercise, socializing, and productive hobbies. If you find yourself using alcohol in situations where you are putting your health at risk, you may be suffering from an AUD. Another tell-tale sign that you are dealing with an AUD is if you have repeatedly failed to fulfill important life obligations. These include things such as work responsibilities, paying your bills on time, or neglecting important family relationships.
The Growing Need to Seek Out a Trusted Alcohol Rehab Arizona
According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use accounts for about 88,000 deaths in the United States each year. Of this total, 2,362 deaths occurred in Arizona. 18% of adults and 26.5% of high school students reporting some level of binge drinking in 2011. (4) In fact, Arizona ranks toward the top of the country in terms of regular alcohol consumption, according to an article in the Washington Post. (5)
It can be easy to believe that deaths as a result of excessive drinking are more likely to occur in individuals in their high school or college years. However, this isn’t the case in Arizona. Unmarried men in their 40’s and 50’s are at the biggest risk to deal with injury as the result of alcohol. (6) In fact, Arizona had the fourth-highest death rate from alcohol poisoning in the US between 2010 and 2012 according to the CDC. (7)
Get Help With Alcohol Rehab Arizona
All of this is a clear indication that the importance of Arizona alcohol rehabilitation programs remains relevant. Individuals often require professional help in order to tackle this debilitating issue. Withdrawing from a serious alcohol use disorder can be life-threatening. It is especially important to seek medical supervision while undergoing this process. Detoxing from an AUD is something that a trusted alcohol rehab Arizona will provide. A trusted rehab will ensure an individual doesn’t suffer negative health impacts during this vulnerable time. Rehab will also provide therapy and other relevant interventions to help a person understand the causes of their addiction. They will then develop a plan to avoid use in the future.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction and needs to find a way forward that works, contact the caring professionals at Desert Cove Recovery. We work directly with our clients to address their unique concerns and circumstances. Our caring and compassionate team will help guide you through the recovery process. We will work directly with you to create a treatment plan that will give you a new lease on life.
Sources:
(1) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2647079
(2) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243
(3) https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551
(4) https://www.cdc.gov/psr/2013/alcohol/2013/AZ-alcohol.pdf
(5) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/24/where-the-heaviest-drinking-americans-live/
(6) https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/01/16/cdc-study-arizona-fourth-highest-alcohol-poisoning-us/21834549/
(7) https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/alcohol-poisoning-deaths/infographic.html#graphic
