End Stage Alcoholism: The Steps Leading to Fatal Alcoholism

Once you have reached stage three, you’ll no longer be able to hide your alcohol abuse. Changes in the way you look, act and deal with everyday life will be obvious to those around you. Chances are good you’ll find yourself constantly thinking about alcohol. You will experience the physical effects of alcoholism like weight gain or loss, stomach bloating, alcohol withdrawal headaches and shakiness, particularly when you’re craving a drink. The first stage of alcoholism is a general experimentation with the substance. Individuals in this stage may not be familiar with different types of alcohol, so they are more likely to test their limits.

Because alcohol places a significant strain on the liver, people who suffer from alcohol use disorder often suffer from serious and even deadly liver diseases such as liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. This is because long-term alcohol abuse damages the liver, and an estimated one out of every two Americans who have liver disease or end-stage liver failure are either active or recovering alcoholics. Many of the people who continue to drink heavily have a genetic predisposition 3 stages of alcoholism or environmental factors that might contribute. For example, if you are the child of someone with an alcohol abuse problem, you’re four times more likely to have a substance use disorder. People who had difficult childhoods or have an underlying mental health disorder may also be more prone to move from an occasional, social drinker to someone who develops an abuse problem. Just like there are stages of the disorder itself, their stages of quitting drinking, too.

Alcoholism: When Does It Start?

The existence of two or three symptoms equals a diagnosis of mild alcohol use disorder, while four to five symptoms is considered moderate, and six or more is considered severe. At Nova Recovery Center, we provide personalized alcohol addiction detox, rehab, sober living, and aftercare programs for people in all stages of addiction and recovery. Alcohol misuse has negative consequences at every stage and severity. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Even people considered to be early alcoholics or those diagnosed with mild alcohol use disorder are at risk of adverse health effects. While many people still refer to the stages of alcoholism and find them useful, they are considered to be an outdated way of describing alcohol use disorder. The DSM-5 criteria allow for a broader range of symptoms and a more nuanced understanding of individuals’ experiences.

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. When one begins to drink regularly, one may find that the amount of alcohol needed to achieve the desired effects rises as tolerance levels increase.

Potential Predictors of Alcohol Use Disorders

As this alcohol-rich blood is pumped throughout your body, the alcohol affects every single organ and cell, leading to dramatic changes in how your body functions. Alcohol is classified as a sedative-hypnotic drug, a substance that depresses the central nervous system, especially when consumed in high doses. This can impact a range of essential functions in your body including your respiratory system, your brain function, and your organs, leading to a slowing of both voluntary and involuntary functions.

• In the brain, alcohol abuse can decrease brain mass and damage areas of the brain responsible for mood and memory.
• While everyone may experience this progression differently, there are four common stages people go through when becoming a functional alcoholic.
• Alcoholism emerges from alcohol abuse, when there’s a pattern of drinking despite negative consequences.
• It usually lasts for between two and three days, and it can be fatal.
• Once you quit drinking, your body can begin to recover from some of the damage or, at the very least, prevent it from getting worse.

Drinking-related legal issues occur, like driving under the influence (DUI). Alcoholism damages the body in many different ways, and it can have a severe impact on a person’s long-term health. Many people who have an addiction to alcohol may not want to attend treatment, though. Being at a later stage can make recovery more challenging, but recovery is possible at any stage of alcoholism.