The world is moving towards modernization where several things are constantly changing. It is an era of innovation where one needs to keep up with the changes. But keeping up with these changes sometimes means living in a stressful environment where people often face issues like anxiety and depression. This leads them to depend on addictive substances like alcohol as a coping mechanism. With these rising responsibilities of constant development, there is also a rise in the number of people getting addicted to alcohol.
What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a few drinks at some social event, a few more at home, and continuous consumption thereafter. Let’s simplify this.
Usually, a person begins with consuming a small amount of alcohol at some event or a party, etc. When the alcohol enters the body and reaches the brain, the brain produces sensations like relaxation and loss of inhibition. These are the positive feelings that then encourage the person to again consume a few drinks, but this time a little more than before. This way, the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption increase, leading the brain to depend on the substance to feel better. The user then neglects the signs of dependency and develops an addiction.
Risk Factors Behind Developing Addiction
Alcohol addiction can be different for every individual depending on various risk factors such as:
- Family history
- Underage drinking
- Gender
- Trauma
- Mental health conditions
These are the factors that can drive the severity of alcohol addiction in a person. The side effects also depend on these factors and addiction treatment can also be decided considering the same.
Health Risks Of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction if left unaddressed can cause certain dangerous health issues. These can be short-term and long-term effects on the brain and the body of the user.
Some of the short-term effects are:
- Accidents due to drunk driving
- Engaging in violent activities
- Unintended pregnancy
- Risky sexual behavior
Certain long-term effects are:
- High blood pressure
- Heart and liver damage
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Weak immune system
- Mental health issues
Overcoming Alcohol Addiction At Houston Rehab
The most recommended way to avoid all these health hazards is by quitting alcohol. But immediately stopping the consumption of alcohol can be difficult to carry out due to its withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to attend an alcohol addiction treatment program at Mallard Lake Detox Center in Houston, Texas. With experts’ supervision, one can easily detox and overcome alcohol addiction. Contact the center today to get more details about drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.