Alcohol Addiction

Experts have pinpointed several factors that see an individual more prone to developing an alcohol addiction throughout their lifetime. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Economic factors
• Life history
• Childhood stress and trauma
• Social factors such as sex and race
• Genetic predispositions
• Mental health problems
• Peer pressure

Unlike illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine, alcohol can be purchased legally by anyone of the age of twenty-one. It is often widely consumed in safe and non-pathological ways. However, when regularly consumed, alcohol has the potential to give way to dangerous addictions.

Distinguishing whether an alcohol addiction is present in your or a loved one's life can be difficult. However, several signs essentially determine whether an addiction is present. These include:

• Intense cravings for alcohol
• Drinking in private
• Hiding drinking habits from your friends and family
• Inability to retain information when under the influence
• Experiencing mood swings when confronted about your drinking
• Joking about having an alcohol addiction
• Feeling as though you need alcohol to get through everyday life
• Struggling to keep up with responsibilities, either at home or in your job

There are also physical signs that indicate if an alcohol addiction is impairing your or your loved one’s life. These include:

• Breath that smells of alcohol many hours after drinking
  
• Weight loss due to replacement of meals with a drink
  
• Red marks over the face due to broken capillaries
  
• Yellowing of the eyes and the skin due to liver damage
  
• Increased appearance of aging and wrinkles
  
• Dry skin 
• Brittle hair and nails
  
• Poor hygiene

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, we welcome you to visit our center for a free consultation. Here, we will assess your physical and psychological health and determine whether you require alcohol addiction treatment.

As alcohol addictions arise and become worse over time, various side effects gradually impair an individual's physical and psychological health.

For example, health complications associated with alcohol addiction include:

• Heart damage, including heart disease
• Liver disease
• Sexual problems
• Suppressed immune response
• Stomach distress
• Cancer
• Organ failure

In addition to the above, the effects of alcohol addictions can:

• Increase your chance of developing a mental health disorder
• Cause you financial strain due
• Make you more likely to engage in dangerous risk-taking behavior
• Isolate those struggling from family members or friends
• Act as a distraction method from other problems in your life that you need to address

We understand just how difficult it can be to know what to do when you’re concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol. Although much of our treatment focuses on providing those struggling with alcohol addictions the treatment they need, we are experts within family and social support for those struggling with alcohol addiction.

Even though it can be scary, you shouldn’t be disheartened. You can do several things if you are worried that someone close to you requires alcohol addiction treatment. Below, we have outlined just a few ways to help someone.

• Educate yourself - To ensure that you can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction, it is worth learning more about the treatments and support available.
• Choose a good time to talk - Talking to someone about their suspected alcohol addiction can be tricky. We recommend approaching them in a non-judgmental way at a time when they are less likely to be under the influence. When the time is right for you to talk to your loved one, ensure they know you are on hand to support them and inform them of the available help.
• Talk about what is happening - Focus on the effects alcohol is having on their life and the lives of those around them.
• Seek medical intervention - Although you may feel as though you need to do everything in your power to help your loved one, it is best to seek medical intervention. Here at the Empowered Recovery Center, we provide a wealth of treatments that your loved one needs to beat their addiction.
• Let them know that you are there every step of the way - At the Empowered Recovery Center, we are passionate about family and community healing. You can accompany your loved one to appointments and engage in group therapy with them.
• Talk about what is happening - Focus on the effects alcohol is having on their life and the lives of those around them.
• Seek medical intervention - Although you may feel as though you need to do everything in your power to help your loved one, it is best to seek medical intervention. Here at the Empowered Recovery Center, we provide a wealth of treatments that your loved one needs to beat their addiction.
• Let them know that you are there every step of the way - At the Empowered Recovery Center, we are passionate about family and community healing. You can accompany your loved one to appointments and engage in group therapy with them.

We’re committed to building you back up

We’re here to help your new beginning

"We continually pursue the highest caliber of medical and clinical staff to provide every client with the best chance of reaching their recovery goals. We offer a range of evidence-based treatment approaches, including:

• Family therapy
• Individual therapy
• Initial medical evaluation with weekly follow-ups
• Life skill development"