Drinking alcohol every day for an extended period can quickly lead to an individual developing alcohol use disorder if they are not careful. The more that a person consumes alcohol, the higher their tolerance is the next time they go to drink, resulting in the individual consuming larger amounts of alcohol to feel the same effects. Someone who is drinking every single day is likely to have a high tolerance, not following a moderate drinking scale of 1-2 drinks, and have too much alcohol.
This pattern of heavy drinking can cause a person to become addicted to alcohol, and if not addressed and treated, can result in dangerous long-term health problems like heart disease, liver damage, alcohol poisoning, etc. Heavy alcohol consumption can also cause severe mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective treatment programs available for alcohol abuse.
If you have noticed a loved one’s pattern of binge drinking every day, it may be time to talk with them about receiving treatment. It is important to remember that many alcoholics do not even realize they have a problem, and others may refuse to admit they do.
In this case, it may be necessary to set up an intervention where friends and family members express their concerns about the person’s alcohol consumption. The Haven can help you get started.
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
The severity of these short-term effects of drinking alcohol will depend on how much alcohol the individual has been drinking.
Overall, common short-term effects of consuming alcohol include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Problems breathing
- Impaired judgment
- Headaches
- Blackouts
- Upset stomach
- Lack of coordination and trouble walking
- Trouble sleeping
While these effects can be uncomfortable and painful, they are not lasting. Quitting alcohol once you begin to feel these symptoms of alcohol abuse can prevent long-term health effects that may be irreversible.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
If an individual continues to consume large amounts of alcohol despite the short-term effects they have already endured, they begin stepping into dangerous territory. Long-term effects can be detrimental to health and even last for years. It is important to seek treatment before the condition worsens and results in early death.
Below are a few of the long-term effects that drinking alcohol every day can have on your mind and body:
- High blood pressure, stroke, or heart disease
- Liver disease
- Nerve damage
- Alcohol poisoning
- Family issues and broken relationships
- Brain damage
- Malnutrition
- Ulcers
- Mouth and throat cancer
Does Drinking Every Day Make Me an Alcoholic?
Drinking alcohol every day does not automatically make you an alcoholic. For example, if you are someone who likes to sit back after work and enjoy a can of beer or a glass of wine to unwind, you are not an alcoholic. However, having this small amount of alcohol every day can make you more likely to develop alcohol dependence which can cross over into addiction very quickly.
It is important to spread your alcoholic drinks across the week and have some days where you are not consuming any alcohol to give your body a chance to refresh and restore itself. This is seen as moderate alcohol consumption and is not yet a problem. Alcoholism is more about affecting an individual’s day-to-day life to the point where they cannot function without the consumption of alcohol.
Treatment Options for Alcoholism
A treatment center will typically start the patient out with a detoxification process where all the alcohol is removed from the body entirely before starting treatment. People receiving treatment for alcoholism have the choice between inpatient, where they live at the facility full time or outpatient, where the patient returns for frequent scheduled sessions.
Depending on the severity of your condition, it is typically best to detox your body at a treatment center for medical supervision if the withdrawal becomes too intense.
Behavioral Therapy
After the detox process, patients will then begin behavioral therapy sessions with a counselor. There are a few different types of behavioral therapy available for alcohol, and a professional will choose one that is right for you and your specific needs in recovery.
One of the most popular types of behavioral therapies is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the goal is to help the patient identify negative thoughts and actions and replace them with positive ones instead.
This is simply a conversation between the patient and the medical professional and can be effective in just a few sessions. Another type of therapy for alcoholism is dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and this one follows more of a philosophical approach.
It teaches the patient to live in the moment and to quit dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The overall goal of DBT is to find emotional balance in your life. These are just a couple of the many types of therapy available for treating alcohol abuse.
Medication
Alongside treatment, medical professionals at the treatment facility will prescribe patients with medication that can help manage withdrawal symptoms or combat cravings and urges to drink alcohol. Types of medication prescribed to treat alcoholism include Naltrexone, Disulfiram, and Acamprosate.
Support Groups
It is recommended for patients to attend peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to receive continued support even after treatment. These support groups provide a safe and comfortable place for people struggling with a similar situation to share their stories and support each other in their recovery journey.
Group meetings like AA are typically led by a mental health professional who will lead the conversation and encourage everyone to speak.
The Haven Can Help
Getting into the habit of binge drinking every day can quickly develop into dangerous alcohol addiction. With The Haven rehab facility, you do not have to go through this alone. Our team of dedicated medical professionals is ready to provide the support and care you need to successfully overcome your addiction.
Our proven detoxification method and behavioral therapies are exactly what you need for long-term recovery. If you or a loved one has been struggling with alcoholism, The Haven is here to help. We offer both inpatient and outpatient services for a treatment process that works for you.
When you are ready, call (844) 933-4145 for more information.
