Use of alcohol is nothing new, being the most common item consumed for celebration amongst adults. This has turned it into something of a standard that our society has come to accept as something everyone simply does from time to time. The 21st century has seen more research into the topic though, with findings from 2021 showing that any amount of alcohol consumption damages the brain.
When Drinking Turns Problematic
Even though any amount of alcohol can damage your brain, it’s still a common activity that can be enjoyed in moderation. The largest impact seen from alcohol consumption is prolonged and regular intake of excessive alcohol. The WHO found that this heavy drinking contributes more and more to injury and disease over time. These numbers take a look at the entire scale of alcohol consumption and abuse, with a key distinction between binge drinking and heavy drinking.
Binge drinking is having more than four to five drinks in a single night with the actual amount being specific to the body composition of the user. Binge drinking on occasion will yield more short-term consequences than long-term. Hangovers, poor decision making and injury are common short-term impacts binge drinkers will face.
What Happens When Binging Turns into Heavy Drinking
Heavy drinking is considered to be more than eight drinks a week for women or more than 15 for men. These often coincide with patterns of binge drinking, sometimes leading up to multiple binge sessions a week. This level of alcohol abuse doesn’t explicitly mean that there is alcohol dependency or that the user is an alcoholic, but it could indicate that it’s time to take a closer look at the part alcohol plays in that person’s life.
The Mayo Clinic categorizes this behavior as alcohol use disorder, meaning any level of alcohol consumption that causes excess damage to your body and is difficult to regulate or control the amount consumed. “Alcoholism” falls somewhere on the scale between abuse from moderately excessive drinking to full dependency and addiction.
How Alcoholism Impacts Every Facet of Life
Becoming dependent on any substance is something we strive to avoid, with some common slipping through the cracks from time to time. Two of the most addictive items legally available are drinks. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol, the latter of which invades every part of your life in some manner.
Mental impairment is one of the largest factors that makes alcohol abuse so hard to see from the inside, but clear as day from the outside. Decision making becomes less controlled leading to poor choices that could cause injury or alter your life’s course. Emotions become less regulated and can lead to strained relationships, angry outbursts at menial inconveniences
It’s Not Too Late to Quit
While alcohol abuse is one of the more difficult addictions to break given the ease of access, it by no means is impossible to overcome. America’s Rehab Campuses are equipped and ready to help you stop the cycle of alcohol dependency and get you back on top of your life. Contact the team today to find the right treatment program for you.
