Facts to Know About Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol Dependence & Abuse

When it comes to abusing drugs and alcohol dependence, many people don’t talk about the nuances that exist and the spectrum on which dependencies and substance abuses can sit.

Overuse of something is not automatically an addiction and some people who believe they have a problem don’t realize the extent of it.

It’s important to understand the differences and different needs of people on different levels of dependency.

When many people picture alcohol addiction, they don’t see or understand the slippery slope that can lead to it. One doesn’t just go from being a sober individual to being an alcoholic. A lot goes into it.

Understanding those changes and those sources of pain is the key to succeeding at addiction recovery and treating the underlying causes of addiction.

What is Alcohol Dependence?

Alcohol dependence is as hard of a clinical line as alcoholism.

It’s also the early stages of developing an alcohol addiction.

Signs of a dependence include:

  • an increased tolerance for alcohol (that is, drinking more and more to achieve the same effects)
  • the onset of withdrawal symptoms
  • when you don’t drink you experience insomnia and mood swings
  • drinking to relieve those withdrawal symptoms
  • awareness that your drinking is compulsive, and unsuccessful attempts to curb drinking over longer periods of time

At this stage your alcohol problem is moderate and abnormal, but not a full blown addiction yet.

Early intervention and outside help can curb the disorder before it becomes serious.

Intensive rehab may or may not be necessary at this point depending on your level of dependence on alcohol.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Alcohol abuse is a different animal than alcohol dependence and a lot more serious of a condition with more dangerous health effects and dangers when it comes to intervention.

These are the signs of someone suffering from alcohol addiction:

  • excessive drinking and increased alcohol tolerance
  • drinking alone or in secrecy
  • creating excuses to justify drinking, mood swings or irrationality
  • experiencing black outs or short-term memory loss after drinking
  • experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you do not drink

Ultimately, abuse is defined as engaging in a repeated action or tendency despite its adverse effects on your health and life.

Curing abuse requires intensive intervention and outside help, usually inpatient rehab.

How Do You Know if You’re Drinking Too Much?

It’s not always clear where the line is.

Examine your drinking habits and ask yourself if they’re safe, risky, or even harmful to you or your loved ones?

  1. Are you drinking alone or feeling secretive about it?
  2. Do you drink excessively and/or have a high alcohol tolerance that seems to be a moving target?
  3. Do you find yourself more irritable than normal and sleeping poorly?

Any of these can be signs of alcohol dependency and even the onset of alcohol abuse and you need to talk to someone.

Mile High Recovery Center- We Can Help

Mile High Recovery Center is an alcohol rehab center located in Denver, Colorado that can help you on your road to recovery and help you get your life and happiness back once again.

Please contact us by completing our short contact us form and please remember to add all the details correctly so that we may assist you as quickly as possible. We normally reply to emails within 24 hours.

Or call us for a quicker answer to your concerns.

CALL US TODAY – 303-268-2144


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If you or a loved one are ready to regain autonomy over your lives and well-being, recovery starts here. Let us guide you toward sustainable wellness and sobriety through our personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs and experiences. We look forward to hearing from you!

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