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The Dangers of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is among the most popular addictive substances in the world. Alcohol addiction can cause several health issues, both mental and physical. Dealing with the problem can also be challenging. To deal with alcohol addiction more effectively, you should consider getting professional help from the experts. For mild addiction cases, enrolling in an outpatient program can help. For those suffering from extreme addiction, an inpatient program might be the best solution. Below are some of the many dangers of alcohol addiction.

Alcohol Addiction Can Cause Numerous Health Issues

liver problemAlcohol addiction can have adverse long-term effects on your health. Numerous studies by health experts link alcohol addiction to hypertension, stroke, alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, and increased susceptibility to conditions such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. It can also cause cancer of the esophagus, throat, mouth, colon, and rectum. Alcohol addiction can also result in alcohol poisoning, which can cause immediate death.

Alcohol Addiction Can Impact Your Mental Health

Alcohol can affect brain function in many different ways. For starters, it can cause changes in behavior, mood, and other cognitive functions. It can also cause memory problems and confusion, especially when taken in high quantities. All the mental problems caused by alcohol addiction can make the addict more prone to violent behavior, accidents, and injuries. Statistics indicate that alcohol plays a part in more than half of all fatal drownings, burn injuries and homicides.

Alcohol Addiction Affects Family Life

drunk fatherIf you have a family, your alcohol addiction may significantly affect your family life quality. For starters, you will not be available to spend time or communicate with your family effectively, leading to other issues such as stress and depression. The addiction is also likely to negatively impact your finances, rendering you unable to provide sufficiently for your family’s needs. In some extreme cases, it can lead to divorce and child support cases.

Alcohol Addiction Can Affect Work Life

Being addicted to alcohol can significantly reduce your productivity. You will most likely be unable to handle all your tasks at work or end up doing substandard work. Depending on the addiction severity, you might also miss workdays. That is because you can get too drunk to go to work. Most alcohol addicts usually end up losing their jobs if they do not seek treatment on time. Depending on the type of job, alcoholism can lead to serious injuries. For example, if you operate machinery, your lack of proper judgment and slow reactions caused by alcohol may result in an accident.