The Four Stages of Alcoholism: Pre, Early, Middle, & Late

The Four Stages of Alcoholism: Pre, Early, Middle, & Late

While support groups are not a substitute for professional treatment, they can be crucial in sustaining recovery. These groups’ shared experiences and accountability can reinforce the commitment to sobriety and provide valuable coping strategies. Individuals in recovery need to explore various five stages of drinking support options to find the most suitable and effective combination for their journey to sobriety. It is essential for those struggling with AUD to seek professional help, as chronic alcoholism can lead to a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break without proper intervention and support.

Who’s at Risk for Alcoholism?

You’ll live in safe, substance-free housing and have access to professional medical monitoring. Our evidence-based full continuum of care addresses the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual factors that contribute to alcohol use and abuse. We strive to help clients achieve whole-person wellness through a comprehensive program that is customized for their unique needs.

Strategies for Dealing with Alcohol Use Disorder: What to Say and Do

• This stage is often characterized by sobriety, self-awareness, and positive changes with the goal of long-term recovery.
• If you notice they continue drinking heavily and blacking out, you have a right to be concerned.
• The primary symptom of stage one is the development of alcohol tolerance.
• Later, it can cause fatigue, bleeding and bruising, itchy skin, yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes and fluid accumulation in the abdomen known as ascites.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) refers to this as moderate AUD.

Seeking treatment during the pre-alcoholic stage is possible but is highly unlikely. It’s often difficult to determine whether someone is in the pre-alcoholic stage. People in the pre-alcoholic stage may enjoy drinking more frequently than those around them but it isn’t overtly noticeable in most people. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is another critical aspect of alcohol addiction treatment. Medications such as naltrexone and disulfiram can help reduce cravings and prevent relapse.

Alcohol Use Disorder Outlook and Treatment

• It starts innocently enough, with an occasional drink—but before you know it, drinking becomes a habit that’s hard to control.
• AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers.
• 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.
• Some common signs and symptoms of cirrhosis include fatigue, itchy skin, weight loss, nausea, yellow eyes and skin, abdominal pain and swelling or bruising.
• Moreover, chronic alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and liver disorders such as alcoholic liver disease or cirrhosis.
• Here, the impact of alcohol on daily life becomes more apparent, with friends and family noticing changes in behavior and lifestyle.
• Today, instead of people being alcoholics, professionals refer to them as people with AUD.

While any form of alcohol abuse is problematic, the term “problem drinker” refers to someone who starts experiencing the impacts of their habit. The first stage of alcoholism is a general experimentation with alcohol. These drinkers may be new to different forms of alcohol and likely to test their limits. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 17 million American adults have alcohol use disorders.

Moderate drinking means two drinks or fewer in a day for men or one drink or fewer in a day for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Doctors and other health professionals are encouraged to talk to their patients about drinking at every appointment.[11] You’re not required to wait for your doctor to bring it up.

• Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica’s empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.
• There are some warning signs that alcoholism displays and a typical pattern of how the disease progresses.
• Even experiencing some problems may not be enough to really see your problems and admit that they exist.
• With excessive alcohol consumption, this important organ can’t metabolize Vitamin D, which could develop into a deficiency.
• Changes in your body such as facial redness, stomach bloating, shaking, sweating and memory lapses start to affect you.
• For those who need help right away, WebMD Connect to Care specialists are standing by to get you started on the road to recovery today.

With the combination of professional alcoholism treatment and sobriety maintenance, recovery is possible for anyone. In order to be considered a binge drinker, men must consume 5 drinks every 2 hours while women must consume 4. However, many binge drinkers will exceed this amount substantially. While binge drinking may seem harmless, this is far from the truth. In fact, binge drinking can lead to serious health concerns such as alcohol poisoning, comas, and even death. Additionally, drinking in large amounts can lead to alcohol dependency or addiction – making it the first stage of alcoholism.

Identifying Early Stage Alcoholism: Signs and Triggers

Research indicates that the effects of chronic alcoholism are not uniform across all individuals, with age-related differences in susceptibility and recovery. Adolescents, for instance, may exhibit resilience to long-term effects compared to adults, suggesting a dynamic interaction between alcohol consumption and developmental stages. It’s important to note that early-stage alcoholism can affect individuals differently, and the presence of these signs does not necessarily confirm an alcohol use disorder.

Graduate School of Addiction Studies