Commonly, people believe the misconception of alcohol dependency and alcohol addiction is one and the same. However, alcohol dependence can occur before addiction is developed. The fourth stage of alcoholism is characterized by an individual experiencing a dependence on alcohol. Alcohol dependence is defined as https://www.excel-medical.com/5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-living-house/ the point at which a person has no control over their alcohol intake. A dependence on alcohol causes cravings throughout the day and can eventually develop into problem drinking. If alcohol dependence is present, it is harder to stop drinking as a person may experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

These drinkers may be new to different forms of alcohol and likely to test their limits. The pre-alcoholic stage is a formative stage; people go in one of two directions. Those who begin using alcohol as a tool someone uses to unwind after a long day, bolster themselves in social situations, or help them fall asleep progress into the next stage of alcoholism. Those who find alternatives to drinking either stay in the pre-alcoholic stage or move away from drinking altogether. His contributions helped frame the way the medical community understands alcohol addiction to this day. Continue reading to learn more about the four stages of alcoholism.

Cardiovascular Health

A person with a higher tolerance may not look intoxicated, despite drinking a large amount of alcohol. Others who have had less to drink may look more intoxicated than a person with a high tolerance. Many factors affect alcohol tolerance, including a person’s biochemistry, race, ethnicity, body mass and how an individual consumes alcohol. The final stage of the Jellinek Curve occurs when the person’s health stabilizes after they stop drinking. The person in recovery has transitioned through detox and immediate treatment to maintain sobriety. They continue to practice sober living habits to change their lives and support their ongoing efforts to manage their alcoholism and regain their life.

• This stage is difficult to spot as it occurs before drinking has caused any problems and is yet to become compulsive.
• Jellinek viewed alcoholism as a chronic relapsing condition that needed to be treated by health professionals and developed a theory on the progression of alcoholism through various stages.
• There are some warning signs that alcoholism displays and a typical pattern of how the disease progresses.

It’s common for people with alcohol addiction to forget the negative impacts of drinking after they happen and instead focus on the idea that alcohol helps them. This is the most dire stage to reach in alcohol use disorder as it begins to severely impact a person’s health, relationships, career, finances, and overall mental and emotional well-being. Someone in this stage needs to seek professional treatment as soon as possible as they are likely to drink themselves into serious health problems or even death. In most cases, alcohol addiction is a condition that progresses gradually over time. Little by little, a person’s drinking can progress from what was once experimental or casual drinking to an addiction that has negative effects on many important aspects of their life. Anyone who suffers from an addiction to alcohol, clinically known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), most likely developed the affliction over the course of months or years.

What Are the Stages of Alcoholism? Identifying the Progression of Alcohol Use Disorder

People may often become defensive about their drinking, deny having a problem, lash out, or withdraw from those questioning their alcohol use, even if they are already wondering themselves. There are many reasons why someone decides to take their first drink. It could be as simple as a family dinner where wine is being served as a special occasion moment. Maybe the kids come across some beers in a basement refrigerator and curiosity takes over when parents are busy elsewhere. Sometimes, someone may feel out of place at a teen party if they don’t drink like others or a friend pressures them to join in the fun.

They begin by experimenting with alcohol and then progress to regular drinking, problem drinking, dependence, and finally, addiction. A person in end-stage alcoholism can expect to have some very major health problems that include liver damage, heart disease, and other alcohol-related illnesses. It can quickly become a cycle of negative alcohol consumption that may be impossible for them to overcome on their own. They may not drink every day, but they drink frequently, and most social activities and nights out involve drinking. When a person regularly drinks alcohol to excess, their body and mind start to physically and psychologically adjust, leaving them open to the progression of AUD.

FAQs About the Stages of Alcoholism

Some individuals begin self-medicating their problems with alcohol. Heavy and long-term alcohol use can cause several medical problems throughout the body, including damage to several vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. The person’s use becomes more frequent and risky, and they may begin to experience negative consequences such as health problems and job losses. A few of the most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms are shaking hands, sweating profusely, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, seizures, and hallucinations. This dependence also means that they have grown a tolerance to drinking meaning they have to consume more to achieve the same effects.