What is Alcohol Addiction?
If you or a loved one struggles with alcohol addiction, consider seeking help from addiction treatment for union members. Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is defined by the Addiction Center as “a craving for alcohol and the inability to stop drinking despite any negative impacts.” Alcoholism creates a dependency on the substance, creating long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Let’s take a look at the different signs of alcoholism.
Table of Contents
- What is Alcohol Addiction?
- Signs of Alcohol Abuse
- Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
- Psychological Signs of Alcohol Abuse
- Social Signs of Alcohol Abuse
- Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Addiction
- Alcohol Addiction in the Workplace Statistics
- Alcohol Withdrawal Explained
- What Human Resources Departments Need to Know About Alcohol Addiction
- Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction
- How Can Union First Help You with Alcohol Addiction Treatment While Being Employed
Signs Of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol use disorders can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much alcohol is consumed in a period of time. According to the Addiction Center, binge drinking is an unhealthy pattern of drinking that increases the drinker’s blood alcohol content (BAC). For women, that’s four or more alcoholic drinks within two hours. Five or more drinks in two hours are considered binge drinking for men.
Physical Signs Of Alcohol Abuse
Physical signs of alcohol abuse may differ depending on the user. However, these are common physical signs of alcoholism:
- The inability to stop drinking
- Continuing to drink despite negative health consequences
- Cravings for alcohol or uncontrollable urges to drink
- Increased tolerance
- Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when not drinking
- Feeling sick or recovering from hangovers
- Blackouts or memory loss due to drinking
- Alcohol poisoning
Psychological Signs Of Alcohol Abuse
In addition to physical symptoms of alcohol abuse, there are also psychological signs to be aware of. These are the psychological symptoms of an alcohol use disorder:
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Relaxation and diminished stress
- Reduced inhibitions
- Problems with memory
- Affected vision, coordination, and reflexes
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Dependency on the substance
- Impaired learning capacity
- Interrupted brain development
Long-Term Effects Of Alcohol Addiction
Research shows that excessively drinking alcohol has long-term side effects on your health. In fact, alcohol use has been linked to at least 60 short- and long-term diseases, including:
- Cancer in at least seven sites of the body, including mouth, throat, liver, bowel, and breast
- Cardiovascular disease and stroke
- Liver disease
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
- Enlarged spleen
- Kidney damage
- Swelling and irritated esophagus
Long-term alcohol dependence can be dangerous to one’s health. If you or a loved one struggles with alcohol addiction, consider seeking help from addiction professionals.
Alcohol Addiction in the Workplace Statistics
Since alcohol is legal and easily accessible for Americans over 21 years old, it’s no surprise that alcohol is the most used and abused substance in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), nearly 14 million Americans abuse alcohol. Additionally, several million more adults engage in reckless drinking patterns, which can increase their likelihood of becoming an alcoholic.
Additionally, a survey done by the American Addiction Centers for Drug Abuse showed that 22.5% of respondents use drugs or alcohol during work hours. In fact, one in four men admitted to using drugs or alcohol in their place of work, while one in five women say they’ve used drugs or alcohol in a professional environment.
Alcohol Withdrawal Explained
If you’re addicted to alcohol, then you may go through withdrawal when you stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when the body tries to rid of the alcohol in the system. The symptoms of withdrawal can vary and depend on how much and how long you drank.
Common withdrawal side effects include:
- Anxiety
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Racing heart
- High blood pressure
- Fever
What Human Resources Departments Need to Know About Alcohol Addiction
Human resource departments should know that individuals are protected in the event that they seek help for their addiction or substance abuse. The role of HR is to advise management of appropriate administrative actions that must be taken if an employee is abusing substances while on the job.
Union Members Treatment Options For Alcohol Addiction
There are options for addiction treatment for those with an alcohol use disorder. The most common treatment option is drug rehab at either an inpatient or residential program or an intensive outpatient program. Studies show that the longer the stay in rehab, the more effective treatment is.
How can Union First help You with Alcohol Addiction Treatment while Being Employed
If you or a loved one struggles with alcoholism, consider seeking addiction treatment for union members through Union First. Union First provides job protection and health services to union members, public union members, and their families. Union First understands the need for job protection while in alcohol rehab. We can help you get coverage for your benefits during treatment, so you can focus on getting better and going back to work as soon as possible. Union First is here to help you every step of the way. We know alcohol rehab can be a stressful time, so we’re here to make sure you have a safe place to stay, get the health care you need, and return back to work when you are ready.
Social Signs Of Alcohol Abuse in Union Members
Not only are there physical and psychological signs of alcohol dependence, but there are also social signs. Typically, people who misuse alcohol socially withdraw and isolate themselves so they can participate in bad behavior without fear of judgment or interference.
Alternatively, loved ones of an alcoholic may set boundaries to protect themselves from the negative behavior and influence of those dependent on alcohol. These boundaries may result in extra space between the alcoholic and their loved ones.