Many people stay in this stage their whole lives and never progress, but most of those who eventually develop an alcohol use disorder begin here. The pre-alcoholic stage marks the early period during which a person starts to engage in drinking. During this stage, alcohol consumption is typically moderate and infrequent, often in social or celebratory settings.

Signs and Symptoms of Middle-Stage Alcoholism

In this stage, a person may begin to experience cravings for alcohol. An individual’s dependence on alcohol may also become more apparent to those around them. This article explains the different stages of alcohol misuse and how to find support if a person needs it. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function.

Long-Term Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking

• Even if they are able to physically get the job done, all of their mental focus is on their next drink.
• Those biological changes pave the way for the second stage, which is marked by a physical dependence on the drug.
• Middle-stage alcoholics might deny their drinking problem or try to hide their alcohol use from others.
• Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.
• Their brain is changing—and without help, there can be serious long-term consequences.
• Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.

When casual drinkers move into early-stage alcoholism, their tolerance begins to rise. They may appear to maintain coordination and motor skills to some degree. A person with a higher tolerance may not look intoxicated, despite drinking a large amount of alcohol. Others who have had less to drink may look more intoxicated than a person with a high tolerance. Many factors affect alcohol tolerance, including a person’s biochemistry, race, ethnicity, body mass and how an individual consumes alcohol. When a person’s drinking problem has begun to severely impact their life, the signs of alcoholism can no longer be denied by their friends and family members.

Stage 4: Alcohol Dependence

Knowing the signs and symptoms of each stage can aid you in seeking help before your problem turns into dependence and addiction. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 17 million American adults have alcohol use disorders. Another five stages of drinking 855,000 Americans ages 12 to 17 years old have alcohol use disorders. It’s important to remember that alcoholism isn’t created overnight. But when alcohol consumption gets out of control, you may find yourself on a dangerous path toward addiction.

Seeking Help

• If this is a normal amount for your loved ones, it’s time for them to seriously reconsider their drinking habits.
• Using alcohol during adolescence (from preteens to mid-20s) may affect brain development, making it more likely that they will be diagnosed with AUD later in life.
• A person with early-stage alcoholism may also exhibit a high tolerance to alcohol.

With so many effects on the body, the usual first step in treating alcoholism is detox—or getting alcohol out of your system. Depending on the severity of the alcohol use disorder, this stage can be mildly annoying or severe. Early withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, nausea, irritability and shaking. If you think a family member or loved one might be showing signs, signals or symptoms of alcoholism, know that it won’t “go away” on its own. Their brain is changing—and without help, there can be serious long-term consequences. As the disease progresses to the middle stage, drinking continues to increase and dependency develops.

• When the normally high level of alcohol in a person’s body begins to drop, they may feel physically ill.
• Furthermore, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can provide a supportive community for individuals in early recovery.
• Stress, anxiety, and other triggers can increase the risk of relapse.
• They might have occasional memory lapses or blackouts, struggle to sleep without alcohol, and neglect personal and professional responsibilities due to alcohol consumption.

Eventually, the presence of alcohol becomes the norm for the body, and the long-term damage continues. A person with early-stage alcoholism may also exhibit a high tolerance to alcohol. Their tolerance may go unnoticed by everyone except the people they spend the most time with. The damage to the brain is often the most severe because alcoholism can lead to strokes, dementia, seizures, and other neurological conditions. Some of these conditions can impair a person’s ability to process and remember day-to-day information. The first of the four stages of alcoholism is called pre-alcoholism.

Severe Alcohol Use Disorder

The DSM-5 criteria allow for a broader range of symptoms and a more nuanced understanding of individuals’ experiences. Alcohol recovery typically involves alcohol detox, medical supervision, therapy, and support groups. Expect withdrawal symptoms, lifestyle adjustments, and emotional challenges. With dedication and support, it’s possible to achieve sobriety and lead a fulfilling life free from alcohol dependence. There is higher tolerance and dependence with the most severe physical damage to the body.

However, during the end stage, the addiction has taken over, and the person may no longer be able to control their drinking impulses. For some, it may take time to convince them of the need for treatment. Alcohol is socially acceptable, so many people do not realize they are in one of the four stages of alcoholism until it becomes difficult to function without it. The best way to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ help a loved one who is abusing alcohol is to get them into an alcohol treatment center that offers medically supervised detox. In one of these programs, addicted individuals can flush the alcohol out of their body in the safest way possible. The last of the four stages of alcoholism begins when a person completely prioritizes their drinking over everything else in their life.

In middle-stage alcoholism, individuals may begin to experience significant consequences related to their drinking. It’s important to seek help at this stage to prevent further damage to their life and health. In the beginning stages of alcoholism, drinking escalates and the individual develops an increased tolerance for alcohol. Those biological changes pave the way for the second stage, which is marked by a physical dependence on the drug.