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Alcoholism can be defined as a potentially fatal illness that can be linked to physical dependence, craving, and loss of control related to the consumption of alcohol. However, some alcohol intoxication symptoms may not be immediately obvious to individuals. It is important to note that this issue can negatively impact individuals of any age and gender.
Learning about the common indications and early signs of alcoholism can help prevent chronic alcoholism along with mental and physical health problems in the future.
Table Of Contents
Alcohol intoxication refers to a temporary state in which an individual consumes an excessive amount of alcohol. This may lead to certain physical and behavioral traits that may be relatively mild or increasingly severe. An individual can experience one symptom or even several in combination that may indicate that they are intoxicated.
Some typical alcohol intoxication symptoms include:
Simply drinking alcohol doesn’t make you an alcoholic, but the quantity of alcohol that an individual consumes can also lead to milder or more serious effects.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) refers to the percent of alcohol that is present in a person's bloodstream. This is because individual alcohol tolerance can vary from person to person and is typically impacted by factors such as weight. However, this chart provides a rough estimate of the number of drinks ingested and its relation to BAC levels:
| Number of drinks | BAC | Effect |
| 1-2 | Less than 0.05 | A mild sense of relaxation, a lower sense of inhibition, and reduced reaction time |
| 3-4 | Between 0.05 to 0.01 | The ability to judge is impacted along with fine motor skills and reaction time |
| 5-7 | Between 0.10 to 0.15 | Blurry vision and inaccurate perception may occur along with difficulty controlling emotions and displaying irrational behavior |
| 9-10 | Between 0.15 to 0.30 | Slurred speech, poor balance, and poor vision may occur, vomiting and nausea can take place |
| More than 10 | More than 0.30 | Potential loss of consciousness or disorientation along with a reduced breathing rate |
Alcoholism can manifest in small ways — and even then, it may not be immediately obvious. For instance, high-functioning alcoholics may be able to conceal these signs from their loved ones and stay on top of their responsibilities at work and at home. However, some early signs of alcoholism include:
Although they may not be immediately obvious, the long-term effects of alcoholism can be severe and lead to irreversible serious mental and physical health problems, or even death. Because of this, it is vital to spot early signs of alcoholism and take positive action.
According to the CDC, these are some common symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption over time:
If you feel that you or someone you know is displaying signs of alcoholism, here are some commonly shared concerns.
For men, having over four drinks per day or over 14 per week may be a sign of alcoholism. For women, this changes to having over three drinks on any day or over seven drinks per week.
The lifespan of an alcoholic often ranges between 47 to 53 years for men and 50 to 58 years for women, due to the potential health problems that they face.
Drinking alcohol in moderation generally is not a cause for concern, but if it is causing problems in your life or you are consuming it in excess, you may have alcoholism.
Since the signs of alcoholism can be subtle, seeking guidance from a professional is advised. At any stage of your life, finding help for alcohol use disorder is possible. This can include behavioral treatments such as counseling from a health professional, medications prescribed by a primary care physician, or joining a mutual peer support group.
Read about the many potential treatment avenues for alcohol use disorder you can go through at Radical Rehab today.
Gary McKenzie is Radical Rehab’s CEO. He is committed to helping people with alcohol and drug addiction. Gary made it his mission to spread knowledge and resources to those in need.
