If you have a problem with alcohol, talk to your doctor about treatment. Treatment may include medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and other techniques that help you stop drinking or reduce your alcohol intake.

The goal is to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. A good treatment plan helps you build new skills to cope with stress, cravings and social pressure to drink.

Addiction is a chronic disease

Addiction is a chronic disease that is similar to heart disease, diabetes or some types of cancer. Like those chronic diseases, addiction involves complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment and an individual’s life experiences.

A person with substance use disorder (SUD) develops an uncontrollable habit that harms their day-to-day life, showing up as struggles at work or school, conflicts with relationships, legal or money problems. The condition can affect anyone, including children and teenagers.

People with addiction often experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using alcohol or drugs, such as shaking, sweating and nausea. They may also experience depression or anxiety.

Treatment for addiction is a long-term process that can involve many hours of services per week or month. Some treatments require patients to stay in a residential facility while receiving care.

The way your brain develops during childhood can affect the risk of developing drug and alcohol addiction later on. For example, the area of your brain that controls your emotions is still developing when you start using substances.

Addiction is a brain disorder

Addiction changes the way the brain works, causing intense cravings, abnormal movements and other behaviors. It also affects the areas of the brain responsible for judgment, decision making, learning and memory.

It can also change how you think and feel about yourself, and even the way you handle problems. For example, a person with addiction might continue to drink or use drugs even after it hurts their health or family relationships, or because they think they'll get in trouble.

This is a long-lasting problem for people with addiction. And it's a big part of the reason why so many people with addiction have difficulties accessing treatment.

The concept of addiction as a brain disorder can help to clear the air about how the disease affects you. It also can provide a roadmap for treatment. This information can give you more confidence about the choices you make, and it can motivate you to take responsibility for your health.

Addiction is a social disorder

Alcohol addiction affects a person's family, social, professional and legal life. It can lead to relationship or family conflict, custody issues and a range of negative health outcomes.

A person who is addicted to alcohol can also have a personality disorder that is associated with their abuse of alcohol. Personality disorders are characterized by distorted patterns of thinking, inappropriate emotional responses and poor impulse control.

People who experience depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder often use alcohol to numb their feelings. These psychiatric disorders can cause people to drink excessively and ignore the problems that result from their drinking.

Genetics, a lack of positive peer relationships, and culture can also play a role in alcohol addiction. Those who grow up in families with a history of alcoholism have a higher risk of developing a problem. Other factors include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like neglect or physical, mental, or sexual abuse.

Addiction is a family disorder

Addiction is a disease that can negatively impact the entire family. Its impact can be both physical and emotional.

It is very difficult for the rest of the family to cope with the alcoholic's addiction, and it can take time and energy for them to overcome it. This can make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out, as well as irritable.

Alcoholism can also impact the finances of the family. An alcoholic may lose their job, and that can cause them to have difficulty paying for food, housing and medical expenses.

This can cause a lot of financial stress, and it can also inflame other relationship issues.

In addition, it can lead to feelings of guilt and responsibility. These feelings can lead to anger, depression and isolation.