Is Alcohol Addiction a Disease?

Alcohol addiction is when someone has a drinking problem that becomes severe. An alcoholic doesn’t know when or how to stop drinking. The addict will spend a lot of time thinking about alcohol and won’t be able to control their alcohol consumption.

They will continue to consume alcohol even when it is causing serious problems at home, at work, in their relationships, or financially.

Are All Addictions Diseases?

Addictions do not occur due to moral weakness, unwillingness to stop, or a lack of willpower. Addictions of any kind are actually chronic illnesses that are accompanied by a number of significant changes in the brain.

People often start to drink or take drugs because they believe they can control their use. Over time, more and more alcohol and drugs are needed to achieve the same level of high they received when they first started. Progressive changes in the brain occur the more you consume the substance and this drives the compulsion.

When this happens, the person can longer choose not to consume the substance, even if it means losing everything they once cared about. The addiction basically takes over their life.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition that is characterised by an impaired ability to be able to control or stop consuming alcohol despite the adverse effects that it has on your life.

This disorder is considered to be a brain disorder and it can come in various forms from mild to severe. Heavy drinking for a long period of time can cause changes in the brain that make you at a higher risk of relapse.

No matter how severe the problem may seem, however, it has been proven that rehab can help. The various behavioural therapies, support groups, and medications provided in rehab can help people with AUD achieve and maintain their recovery.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

There are many alcohol treatment options and therapies available to people recovering from addictions. These include the following:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – This is a specialised talking therapy that is focused on identifying and correcting the negative thoughts that encourage you to keep drinking alcohol.
• Prescribed Medications – Medications are prescribed to help with the withdrawal symptoms that come when easing off alcohol.
• Dual-Diagnosis Treatment – If your addiction is accompanied by mental health problems such as depression, a dual diagnosis treatment will help your counsellor tackle both problems at once.
• Support Groups – These are peer-led therapy groups where attendees share their experiences with each other.
• Family Therapy – This is where family members meet to support you with your recovery. They may also seek support for themselves as helping someone through addiction can be difficult.