Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness or Chronic Disease?

Mood swings resulting from bipolar disorder can lead to a wide range of mental and physical symptoms. Recovery Unplugged is a national behavioral health treatment organization with locations across the country that combines evidence-based drug addiction practices with music to help patients more readily embrace treatment. Understanding the prevalence of alcoholism as a mental illness is the first step towards addressing this global problem. By raising awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to treatment, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by alcoholism.

Is Alcoholism Recognized as a Disease?

• Substance use disorder (SUD) is a broader term that includes drug abuse and alcohol abuse.
• The answer to this important question has varied over time, but current US guidelines recommend that men who drink should limit intake to two drinks/day or less and women who drink should have no more than one drink/day.
• When drinking is compulsive, as it is with an alcohol use disorder, other areas of life fall by the wayside.
• Addiction isn’t one size fits all; despite commonalities, everyone experiences addiction differently.

Having a drink while getting together with family or friends is often part of many special occasions. Current alcoholic beverage labels in the US warn of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, adverse effects on general health, and risks for a developing fetus — but there’s no mention of cancer. Heavy drinking can also cause problems well beyond the health of the drinker — it can damage important relationships.

Is Addiction Really a Disease?

• By challenging these misconceptions and promoting understanding, we can pave the way for a more compassionate and inclusive society.
• The treatment provider administers an initial assessment which includes a mental and medical screening and a full medical history.
• A person who is living with psychological effects of alcohol, including a mental health condition, should also receive treatment for this condition.

Around 18 percent of the general population have a co-occurring anxiety disorder of some form.4 Social anxiety disorders have a particularly strong link to marijuana use problems. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. In many cases, symptoms can be treated with a combination of medications and therapy. The reward center of the brain reinforces naturally pleasurable behavior, such as listening to music, exercising, eating good food, or having sex, by releasing the feel-good chemical dopamine.

• Due to the way the body reacts to detoxing, it is important to do so under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals.
• Seeking professional treatment for substance use disorders like alcoholism can help to prevent relapses and ensure long-term recovery.
• This can be done at either a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment center that also offers detox.
• This means that they may spend most of their free time drinking, or recovering from the effects of alcohol use.
• A moderate alcohol use disorder is diagnosed when a person shows 4 or 5 symptoms, and a severe alcohol use disorder involves 6 or more symptoms.

Which Mental Disorder Is Most Commonly Comorbid With Alcohol Use Disorder?

A comprehensive approach to integrated treatment can also be delivered by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and professionals working together on an individual’s treatment plan. Like depression and other mental illnesses, addiction is a very real medical disorder that is rooted in brain changes—but the condition is so much more complex than that. Many of the same treatment approaches and therapies are used to treat substance abuse and mental health issues. Many treatment professionals are integrated providers, having received training in both addiction and mental health treatment. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians and professionals can also provide a comprehensive approach to integrated treatment by collaborating on an individual’s treatment plan.

It encompasses a range of behaviors from mild to severe and is diagnosed based on an individual meeting specific criteria that reflect a problematic pattern of alcohol use. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM is an authoritative guide that mental health professionals in the US use to diagnose mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders are the most widespread psychiatric disorders in this country. The prevalence of AUD among people treated for anxiety disorders is about %.

How Does Alcohol Affect Brain Chemistry?

We will also delve into the prevalence, impact on mental health, and treatment approaches for alcoholism as a mental illness. This perspective fosters empathy, promotes effective treatment, and paves the way for a more informed and compassionate approach to those struggling with alcoholism. Our treatment programs can be the bridge you need to live a healthy, meaningful, and thriving life. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a broader term that includes drug abuse and alcohol abuse. SUD and AUD are behavioral health conditions that can benefit from treatment by addiction medicine experts. Alcoholism is a complex condition with biological, genetical, psychological, and social components that can occur due to both genetic and environmental factors.

She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders. Ongoing alcohol misuse can cause the body to become dependent on alcohol, meaning that it does not function the same without the presence of alcohol. When a person is dependent and stops drinking, they will experience uncomfortable symptoms, as the body is reacting to the absence of alcohol. Along with an alcohol use disorder comes the risk of tolerance, which means a person needs larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the effects they desire. Consuming 3 or more drinks may have caused intoxication previously, but once a person has an alcohol use disorder, they may not even feel impaired until consuming much more than this. When drinking is compulsive, as it is with an alcohol use disorder, other areas of life fall by the wayside.

For them, using alcohol or other drugs brings powerful feelings of pleasure, causing their brain to become hardwired to want more alcohol or drugs instead of natural pleasures. Recognizing the connections between alcoholism and mental health is crucial for effective treatment and recovery. Comprehensive care that addresses both the addiction and any co-occurring mental health issues is often the most successful approach. This typically involves therapy, counseling, and, in some cases, medication.

For your ongoing support, Bayview also has the advantage of sober living residences. The changes in brain chemistry are linked to the brain’s “reward” system and how alcohol consumption influences the production of the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, dopamine. When someone does something that they find pleasurable, such as eating delicious food or hearing a song they love, dopamine is produced in the brain. It is a largely accepted fact that addiction (whether to alcohol or other substances) affects brain chemistry. The way that the brain normally functions is altered to the point where someone suffering from AUD is unable to control their drinking. Relative to those without PTSD, people with the condition are more likely to meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.