Alcohol Addiction as a Disease

When you are in the throes of active addiction, it can be extremely difficult to step back and take an honest look at your overall quality of life. This is largely because the physical chemistry of your brain begins to change with repeated exposure to chemical substances.

How does addiction develop?

Drugs and alcohol flood the “reward circuit” of the brain with the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that reinforces pleasurable but self-destructive behaviors. After several weeks or months of repetitive substance use, your brain is rendered incapable of producing a healthy amount of dopamine on its own. These inevitable adaptations within the brain leave you unable to derive pleasure from experiences you once enjoyed, like spending time with loved ones, eating a good meal, or watching your favorite movie.

Your brain basically tells you, “Hey! The only way we’re going to have any fun is if we keep using this drug.” It becomes impossible to differentiate the true from the false, and you continue to compulsively use your substance of choice despite the harm it is causing you.

How do you know if you need treatment?

Maybe you have recognized that drinking or drug use has become a problem, but you aren’t completely sold on the idea of seeking professional help. You might be convinced that you can quit on your own if you are presented with a good enough reason to do so. Maybe you don’t feel quite ready to give up drugs or alcohol, or fear of change is preventing you from taking the next step. How can you tell whether or not professional treatment is right for you?

Addiction is a chronic, progressive, and relapsing brain disease, characterized by the compulsive use of a chemical substance despite associated consequences. Like any other chronic health condition, addiction is most effectively treated by a team of licensed medical professionals in a designated facility. Because of the progressive nature of addiction, those who seek help early on are less likely to experience severe and potentially irreversible consequences. We recommend reaching out for help as soon as you acknowledge that your relationship with chemical substances is no longer healthy.

The chances are, if you are considering treatment, your habits surrounding drugs and alcohol are no longer serving you. We encourage you to reach out to us directly to learn more about which treatment options are available to you, or to learn more about the development and effective treatment of addiction.

How to Get Help for Alcohol Addiction?

Making change — even positive change — can be scary at first; especially when you aren’t sure what to expect from the process that lays ahead of you. The good news is that you have access to unlimited support every step of the way. Contact us to learn more about taking the first steps towards a life of fulfilling and lasting recovery.

Our attention to individualized care and therapy programs can be the difference between a lifetime of challenges or a full recovery. Take the first step toward a better, more fulfilling future. Speak with one of our Treatments Advisors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-877-508-2278.