10 Common Myths Surrounding Alcohol Addiction

The longer someone keeps using alcohol, the more difficult it is to quit using it to the point that it is one of the most addictive substances someone can use. Because of that, alcoholics have a much more difficult time ending their addiction than most people believe it to be. Another myth about alcohol addiction is that drinking beer or wine is healthier than hard liquor. Frankly put, abusing any kind of alcohol is not good for your health. Myths about alcohol addiction are misleading and can have far-reaching effects.

Maybe you have a friend or other loved one who is an alcoholic. Now that you know the myths about alcoholism, here are some ways to help. The highest level of patient care is offered by a residential program. In this type of program, the individual lives at the treatment center for a duration of time that meets their needs. Some people take medicines that make the effects of alcohol stronger. Sadly, some older adults may start to drink more because they are bored or feel lonely or depressed. Bedrock Recovery Center deploys an individualized approach that treats the underlying causes of addiction by placing our patients needs first.

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The problem is that this is often misunderstood to mean the individual has to lose everything before they can quit. The rock bottom refers to the point where the addict has had enough.

The businessman and the doctor who founded Alcoholics Anonymous were once considered by their friends to be ‘hopeless drunks’. However, they demonstrated that alcoholics can live sober, productive lives a day at a time. Because Alcoholics Anonymous has never kept formal membership lists, it is extremely difficult to obtain completely accurate figures on total membership.

Myth: If I Can Hold My Liquor, Then I Don’t Have a Problem

These individuals tend to drink more, socialize with people who drink a lot, and develop a tolerance to alcohol, i.e., it takes more and more alcohol to feel or act intoxicated. As a result, they have an increased risk for developing AUD. Someone who misuses alcohol, especially over the long-term, can experience permanent liver, heart, or brain damage.

• Nobody ever started drinking with the goal of it ruining their life.
• Some people tend to think that since alcohol is legal and other drugs are not, that alcohol itself is not so bad.
• Self-detoxification may result in extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms which lead to relapse, or worse yet, it could lead to death.
• Individuals in a medically monitored detox receive 24-hour supervision with clinicians available to give medications if necessary.
• In recovery, the best lessons are found in the experience, strength and hope of others’ recoveries.

A person does not have to drink in excess every day and all day to be an alcoholic. There are alcoholics who can go without having a drink for days or weeks at a time. Some may binge drink occasionally, Myths About Alcoholism some may only drink on the weekends, and some may drink until the point of deep intoxication to cope with stress. Each of these patterns is indicative of a person who may be an alcoholic.

Myth #8: Once You Develop Alcohol Addiction, You’ll Never Overcome It

It is a frustrating issue for everyone who is affected by alcoholism, even if they are not alcoholics themselves. Throughout the decades, researchers have made colossal steps to understand what alcoholism is and how it affects a person. Through this research, a great deal of resources have been made available to alcoholics, along with their friends and families, peers, and coworkers.

As a healthcare writer for RCA and a recovery advocate, Nick Goldberg covers all aspects of addiction and treatment. Nick holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University. It https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is worth adding here that although alcohol itself does not kill brain cells, alcohol withdrawal can kill you. It is another myth, then, that you can’t die from alcohol withdrawal.

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They drink all the time, but the rarely become so drunk that it affects their memory. There are also many people who do have blackouts but do not notice the missing time. The usual way that people find out that they have had a blackout is when other people remind them of their behavior, and they can’t remember it.

• Although we know more about the effects of alcohol than we did in the past, there are still some popular myths about alcoholism and drinking problems.
• Ironically, long-term alcohol use can actually increase pain.
• Though you might think alcohol addiction can only affect people of a certain age, the reality is anyone can become addicted to the substance.
• Alcohol addiction is a serious and dangerous behavior that affects thousands of people across the nation.

Not only are you at risk of overdosing; you can die from withdrawing from alcohol as well. Alcohol is one of only two drugs that you can die from while withdrawing . In this article, you will find the 5 most common misconceptions about alcoholism, along with how they affect people. – If your parents or grandparents had an alcohol addiction, this can increase your risk of alcohol dependence. Alcoholism is defined by how much a person drinks in a day or over the course of a week, not how often they drink.

Common Myths About Alcohol Abuse

The main goal of detox is to stabilize the patient and prepare them for a formal treatment program. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. This fact sheet is to inform parents how to effectively talk to their young adult about the risks of underage drinking. Though alcohol use disorder can lead to making a variety of bad decisions, the addiction isn’t to blame for those decisions – you’re still the one behind the wheel, so to speak. Once you struggle with alcohol abuse, it may feel as though you’ll never be able to get past this addiction. It can be easy to slip back into old drinking habits when you’ve abused alcohol in the past, so it’s important to be realistic with the role of alcohol in your life moving forward. If you feel as though you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, getting help as soon as possible is even more beneficial than waiting for it to get worse.