Inpatient Alcohol Treatment

Alcohol-Related Deaths

Economists, as well as healthcare and addiction specialists, agree the pandemic and quarantines of 2020 had a significant impact on nationwide alcohol consumption. As a result, statistics from this period may be misleading. Online liquor sales rose 262% year-over-year (YoY) in the first 3 weeks of March 2020, coinciding with most state-wide lockdowns. Liquor store sales increased 54% YoY during that same time period. In a Johns Hopkins-University of Maryland-Baltimore survey, 60.1% of participants reported drinking more alcohol after March 1, 2020. 34.1% report binge drinking at least once; 7.0% report extreme binge drinking. 45.7% report increased stress as a reason for their increased drinking. Other reasons for increased drinking include increased alcohol availability (34.4%) and boredom (30.1%).

How to deal with an alcoholic person?

There are a few things to consider when supporting a loved one with alcoholism:

• Educate yourself about alcohol use disorder and addiction to better grasp the challenges they, as well as you, face.
• Openly communicate your concerns you have for your loved one about their alcoholism.
• Encourage your loved one to get professional help and treatment for alcoholism.
• Support them in every step toward recovery and practice patience, as recovery is a long-term and ongoing process.
• Set clear boundaries to protect yourself while showing them what behaviors are unacceptable and result in consequences.
• Consider going to support group meetings yourself for families with loved ones who struggle with alcoholism.

What is the first step to stop being an alcoholic?

First and foremost, alcoholism recovery must begin with acknowledging the problem and deciding to change. Self-awareness is fundamental to beginning and maintaining ongoing recovery and lasting sobriety.

After deciding to seek recovery:

• Seek professional help
• Connect with support groups
• Acquire and practice healthy coping mechanisms for relapse prevention
• Practice holistic self-care, including proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits

What is a highly functioning alcoholic?

A high-functioning alcoholic is someone capable of maintaining daily responsibilities (professional, home, etc.) while depending on alcohol, but this doesn’t make them any less an alcoholic.

What are the warning signs of alcoholism?

The most common symptoms of alcohol addiction include:

• No control over how much they are drinking
• Increasing tolerance and amounts of drinking
• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, anxiety
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Continual drinking, despite causing physical, social, and interpersonal problems
• Trying to drink in secret or deny drinking habits

What is the difference between an alcoholic and a problem drinker?

An alcoholic is someone with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which is defined by their inability to control how much they drink and their dependency on it despite any resulting problems. Simply put, they have an addiction to alcohol.

On the other hand, someone who has a drinking problem is someone who, when they drink, causes some similar problems for the alcoholic, but they are not dependent on it and can modify their drinking habits.

What is the main cause of death for alcoholics?

Alcoholism can lead to various medical conditions and complications that increase the risk of mortality, including:

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Liver Disease
• Cancer
• Accidents and Injuries
• Suicide and Violence

What are the first signs of liver damage from alcohol?

Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) typically develops silently, with little or no symptoms in its early stages. 

The damaging effects of alcohol dependency include:

• Abdominal Discomfort
• Fatigue
• Unintended Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice
• Swelling of the legs and abdomen
• Confusion (due to toxin buildup)